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You've probably caught used trout
Despite opening-day images of stringers hanging full of and creels packed with dead trout, a pair of newly released studies show anglers in Pennsylvania release most of the trout they catch. According to Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission/Penn State studies, anglers fishing stocked trout streams in the spring caught about one trout per hour and released 63.1 percent of those fish. Similarly, during the course of the legal fishing season on wild trout waters, average catch rates varied from around one fish every two hours for brook and brown trout on large streams to nearly two brook trout per hour (1.76 fish per hour) on small streams. Anglers released 92.7 percent of those wild trout. "In evaluating fisheries, we consider average catch rates of one trout for two hours of fishing time as 'good.' The fact that both wild trout fisheries and stocked waters averaged, and in many cases far surpassed, this measure is exciting," commission executive director Doug Austen said.
Carson Rivers, Calif, to be planted before Labor Day
BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF: Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (530-694-2930): Both Upper and Lower Blue were fishing strong with a number of limits. Shore fishermen using inflated nightcrawlers or Power Bait.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF: Randy Picton of the Bridgeport Reservoir RV Park and Marina (888-377-1677): The fish have moved out of Buckeye Bay into the Rocky Point and Rainbow Point areas of the lake. Bait fishing is still best with nightcrawlers and cheese baits. Vary leader length or fish the top down. Fly fishers: Midges, Damsel larvae, Callibatis or mosquitos are now starting to appear. Trolling is still very good from the Marina north to the dam. Try silver/black Rapalas or red/gold Buoyants. Three to six foot depth, slow troll.
CARSON RIVERS AND NEARBY WATERS, CALIF: There will be two fish plants before Labor Day by Alpine County, in addition to the normal plants by DF&G.
Conditions right for fly fishing
The lower main-stem Skagit from about Sedro Woolley down, and its South Fork, are producing some nice fish, according to Bob Ferber at Holiday Market Sports in Burlington (360-757-4361), along with a few smaller Dolly Varden. Fly fishermen are scoring on yellow or black number 6 Knudson spiders, bucktail coachmen, and various minnow-imitating patterns, Ferber said. Popular spin-type lures include number 1 or 2 Mepps or Vibrax spinners in reds, chartareuse, brass/red and small Dick Nite spoons with a light split shot. Worms are always popular. "With the river as clear as it is right now, flies and hardware will probably outfish bait," Ferber said. "And you want to look for 'softer' water than you would fish for steelhead - the current edges, eddy edges, sloughs, and snaggy spots. Basically off to the edges of the main river." There's a rough launch for small boats near the Conway bridge, he said; one above Gardner Bar on the upstream edge of Burlington, off Gardner Road; and one below the bridge in downtown old Mount Vernon, above the forks and above Spud Bar.
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