Members of Trout Unlimited help float stock trout on the Wood River. Volunteers float down the River in canoes and small boats and drop a net full of trout every 50 yards from Rt. 165 to Barberville Dam. Water levels must be manageable to float stock because it is dangerous to maneuver vessels in the swift moving water. This year’s effort is scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. on April 22. Volunteers are welcome.
Most anglers are wondering what impact the flooding will have on fresh and saltwater fishing both short and long term. The beginning of spawning season for many species and opening day for trout season is scheduled for this Saturday, April 10 at 6:00 a.m. and according to DEM it will go on with some adjustments and precautions in place.
I checked in with a few local fishing and environmental experts about high water and flooding and its impact on fishing and here’s what they had to say.
Gail Mastrati, assistant to the director/public information for the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) said (at press time) that, “Trout opening day will take place Saturday, April 10 but with some possible adjustments.” She said that the Carolina Hatchery suffered some fish loss and that anglers should check DEM’s web site prior to opening day for current information. New information would appear on their home page in new release form at www.dem.ri.gov . Visit the Fish and Wildlife page for specifics originally announced a couple of weeks ago.
Captain George Cioe, Narragansett charter captain. “… newly stocked ponds might have trout swept away. And saltwater eggs may have been swept away from the shallows where the water has gotten warm enough for an egg hatch… worm hatch for example”.
Dave Henault, Ocean State Bait &Tackle, Providence. “I suspect rivers may be high enough that DEM may not stock many of them for opening day in an effort to conserve the trout and as a matter of public safety fishing in some rivers many be discouraged or prohibited.”
Angler Peter Nilsen, Trout Unlimited, Barrington. “How it impacts opening day depends on the streams the State stocked before the rain … if already stocked we will now be fishing for “sea-run trout”. I think they may get to stock ponds and lakes but the rivers might be another thing.” In regard to positive effects Peter said, “This year peanut bunker, juvenile bunker, herring and alewives will have no trouble climbing fish ladders compared to low water levels we experienced for the past three years… this will hopefully enhance stripers and blue fishing in the upper Bay.”
Save the Bay. In a statement released last week by John Martin, director of marketing and communications of Save the Bay, “In summary, the short-term impacts to water quality are serious, but we do not expect any long-term impacts on Bay life or water quality... people should avoid contact with contaminated water…. We do not expect to see fish kills. Most Bay animals and plants are well-adapted to spring floods and wide variations in salinity (the Bay is very fresh now)…we expect that the bacteria counts to go down and the water will clear up within two to three weeks unless we have more major rain.”
Captain Rick Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association. “…most adult resources are very resilient and would have shifted to more desirable places as the conditions worsened… shellfish are impacted by pollution because they cannot move… time will tell how this storm will affect the 2010 season.”
The Environmental Protection Agency cautions fishermen to limit contact with flood water due to elevated levels of contamination associated with raw sewage (particularly with the failure of Warwick and Cranston sewerage treatment plants) and other hazardous substances. This means all contact so avoid even spray and splashing, where protective gear… gloves, glasses, etc.
Richard Hittinger, member of the RI Fisheries Council and RI Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) board member. “RISAA is concerned that fresh water and contamination … is going to throw off spring striper fishing in the Bay... herring are already coming into area rivers and the bass are right behind…this changes the herring runs and can adversely impact early striper fishing.”
Captain Rob Roach of Kettlebottom Outfitters, Jamestown. “I am not a biologist but I would assume the effects of the flood would be short term. There are a lot of flounder, both summer and winter entering the Bay to spawn but they usually do not make it that far up the bay until May or June.”
Steve McKenna, Quaker Lane Outfitters, North Kingstown and saltwater shore angler. “I don’t think it has any lasting impact on either (salt or freshwater fishing). More short term on freshwater. Nothing on salt.”
US Coast Guard issued a safety advisory last week for all boaters and paddlers on lakes, ponds and rivers as well as coastal waters. Floods create stronger than usual currents, eddies and rips. Additionally, fallen trees and debris create hazards below the water that could lead to uncorrectable consequences for unsuspecting paddlers and small boats. The water is fast, frigid and unforgiving this time of year. So the Coast Guard advises waiting until things calm down (which I hope will be the case when this column publishes) before venturing out. Check with local authorities, DEM and or the Coast Guard on conditions before launching your vessel.
Where’s the bite
Flounder. Captain Robb Roach of Jamestown related that lobstermen report good numbers of 10 to 12 incude winter flounder in their traps when moving pots. Robb’s lobstermen friends said that there is a lot of life around including a good number of conch.
Cod fish bite still good but spotty during last week’s storms.
Freshwater fishing. On April 22 Trout Unlimited will float stock 600 to 800 trout on the Wood River. This is contingent on the water receding and will be the second stocking, if DEM successfully stocks the first group in time for opening day said Peter Nilsen of Trout Unlimited. Volunteers are welcome and should meet at the "Check-in-Station" on Rt. 165 on the Wood River at 8:00 p.m. Coffee and donuts available.
I checked in with a few local fishing and environmental experts about high water and flooding and its impact on fishing and here’s what they had to say.
Gail Mastrati, assistant to the director/public information for the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) said (at press time) that, “Trout opening day will take place Saturday, April 10 but with some possible adjustments.” She said that the Carolina Hatchery suffered some fish loss and that anglers should check DEM’s web site prior to opening day for current information. New information would appear on their home page in new release form at www.dem.ri.gov . Visit the Fish and Wildlife page for specifics originally announced a couple of weeks ago.
Captain George Cioe, Narragansett charter captain. “… newly stocked ponds might have trout swept away. And saltwater eggs may have been swept away from the shallows where the water has gotten warm enough for an egg hatch… worm hatch for example”.
Dave Henault, Ocean State Bait &Tackle, Providence. “I suspect rivers may be high enough that DEM may not stock many of them for opening day in an effort to conserve the trout and as a matter of public safety fishing in some rivers many be discouraged or prohibited.”
Angler Peter Nilsen, Trout Unlimited, Barrington. “How it impacts opening day depends on the streams the State stocked before the rain … if already stocked we will now be fishing for “sea-run trout”. I think they may get to stock ponds and lakes but the rivers might be another thing.” In regard to positive effects Peter said, “This year peanut bunker, juvenile bunker, herring and alewives will have no trouble climbing fish ladders compared to low water levels we experienced for the past three years… this will hopefully enhance stripers and blue fishing in the upper Bay.”
Save the Bay. In a statement released last week by John Martin, director of marketing and communications of Save the Bay, “In summary, the short-term impacts to water quality are serious, but we do not expect any long-term impacts on Bay life or water quality... people should avoid contact with contaminated water…. We do not expect to see fish kills. Most Bay animals and plants are well-adapted to spring floods and wide variations in salinity (the Bay is very fresh now)…we expect that the bacteria counts to go down and the water will clear up within two to three weeks unless we have more major rain.”
Captain Rick Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association. “…most adult resources are very resilient and would have shifted to more desirable places as the conditions worsened… shellfish are impacted by pollution because they cannot move… time will tell how this storm will affect the 2010 season.”
The Environmental Protection Agency cautions fishermen to limit contact with flood water due to elevated levels of contamination associated with raw sewage (particularly with the failure of Warwick and Cranston sewerage treatment plants) and other hazardous substances. This means all contact so avoid even spray and splashing, where protective gear… gloves, glasses, etc.
Richard Hittinger, member of the RI Fisheries Council and RI Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) board member. “RISAA is concerned that fresh water and contamination … is going to throw off spring striper fishing in the Bay... herring are already coming into area rivers and the bass are right behind…this changes the herring runs and can adversely impact early striper fishing.”
Captain Rob Roach of Kettlebottom Outfitters, Jamestown. “I am not a biologist but I would assume the effects of the flood would be short term. There are a lot of flounder, both summer and winter entering the Bay to spawn but they usually do not make it that far up the bay until May or June.”
Steve McKenna, Quaker Lane Outfitters, North Kingstown and saltwater shore angler. “I don’t think it has any lasting impact on either (salt or freshwater fishing). More short term on freshwater. Nothing on salt.”
US Coast Guard issued a safety advisory last week for all boaters and paddlers on lakes, ponds and rivers as well as coastal waters. Floods create stronger than usual currents, eddies and rips. Additionally, fallen trees and debris create hazards below the water that could lead to uncorrectable consequences for unsuspecting paddlers and small boats. The water is fast, frigid and unforgiving this time of year. So the Coast Guard advises waiting until things calm down (which I hope will be the case when this column publishes) before venturing out. Check with local authorities, DEM and or the Coast Guard on conditions before launching your vessel.
Where’s the bite
Flounder. Captain Robb Roach of Jamestown related that lobstermen report good numbers of 10 to 12 incude winter flounder in their traps when moving pots. Robb’s lobstermen friends said that there is a lot of life around including a good number of conch.
Cod fish bite still good but spotty during last week’s storms.
Freshwater fishing. On April 22 Trout Unlimited will float stock 600 to 800 trout on the Wood River. This is contingent on the water receding and will be the second stocking, if DEM successfully stocks the first group in time for opening day said Peter Nilsen of Trout Unlimited. Volunteers are welcome and should meet at the "Check-in-Station" on Rt. 165 on the Wood River at 8:00 p.m. Coffee and donuts available.
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