Neil Hagstrom Farmington river anual report.

[Magnet]

The state of the Farmington fishery seems to be doing well. The average trout in the TMA acording to Neil Hagstrom is 13 inches to 16 inches. The density of large trout can be explained this way. There is a 16 inch or larger trout in every 25 feet of water in the TMA. Wild propagation numbers are down due to the low water conditions. They have been mixing wild browns from the Farm river in East haven with the Farmington breeders to get a more genetically diverse lineage. This information is from www.fraa.org. If you fish the Farmington you might want to be a member of this organization. They are the stewards of this beautiful watershed for us, the angler.

[frankm205]

Great post Bob, thanks for sharing. !6 inch fish in every 25 ft of water!! WOW outstanding fishery to say the least. The state does a great job of managing this fishery. i only wish the dips^%#! in NY would do the same.

[Magnet]

It is in danger if they implement the use of barbed hooks.in the TMA. The concept just doesnt go with catch and release.

[Esopus Guy]

I ditto that Frank. Absolute Mo's over here.

[Magnet]

The DEP does a great job in CT. With input from groups like FRAA they get alot of input and usually do whats best for our fishery. They are even since 2008 taking the genetic stock of wild browns from another river and mixing them with the survivor strain brood stock. Neil says these fish have noticable redish markings on the sides and red on the caudal fin. I caught a few of them below the TMA in New Hartford. They were like 8 to 9 inch fish last year.The thing that I cant for the life of me understand is while doubling the TMA water, they want to reintroduce barbed hooks.

[Esopus Guy]

I understand where your coming from Bob but sometimes you just have to be happy with what you have and you have a really good one barbs or not. Come fish my home river this spring which has an amazing wild rainbow fishery, arguably the best in the Cats. and one of the biggest runs of Bows in the state and it will bring tears to your eyes. Once the crown jewel of the Cats. is now the red headed step child. The fish are still there but so is tons of silt being pumped down stream by the DEP/DEC, even after loosing law suits for knowingly polluting a trout stream. That's right! The people in charge of our fishery are polluting the water. That's messed up to say the least.

I'll also add that NY is one of the only states in the northeast with no plans to ban felt soles even with the didymo we have. They only care about water getting to NYC and not the fish or anything else in the rivers..

You are truly blessed in CT.............. Barbs or not. 8)

[frankm205]

I hear what Bob is saying but you're right, it is still light years ahead of the Esopus. So are most other streams for that matter. Imaging fishing to 16 inch fish every 25 feet!! Yet you go to the Westchester Cty streams and they are well managed, so go figure.....

[Magnet]

I know I dont have to tell you 2 guys, but for those who come to the Farmington from known didymo areas or to any uninfested rivers for that matter, please disinfect your gear. Its so easy to say "Im not going to hurt the environment. Disinfecting is a waste of time" or "Its not my river so what do I care."

[DrBob]

I went out Sunday afternoon with my son. We got there a little too late in the afternoon. One thing we noticed was rock snot. I haven't seen it in there until Sunday. Just walking across the stream fouled the river below for a few minutes.

[Magnet]

You would be the first to indicate an encounter wiith this invasive species in the Farmington. I have never seen it and everyone I know who fish there on a regular basis have never seen it there. The state DEP, who moniter this river have never reported it.Where exactly did you notice it. I'll go there and take some samples for lab identification purposes. Is it possible that you may have misidentified the algae you and your kids saw?