Question for PA fishermen

[gman2153]

Yesterday I caught and kept two nice hen Brownies approx 20" for their eggs. They were pretty plump and after hook removal I gave each a little squeeze and out popped an egg ot two from each.

To my disappointment, after I got home and cleaned them, most of the eggs are tiny and still attached to the membrane, not yet fully developed.

Normally mid-late October this area I fished is packed with spawning trout. There were not two many to be found yesterday.

Just wondering what other guys in Pa who are fishing now have been experiencing.Do you think the hot dry summer and low stream conditions we had this year was a factor in delaying the spawn cycle?

[metalslayer]

Those fish were about 19" yesterday:D

[Ditchrat]

Every place i have ever gone to spawn browns for hatcheries from Maine to NJ, Nov was the time of year for spawning, Its a sun light thing not a water temp thing. Browns spawn from Nov to march in most of the america and canada.

[gman2153]

Those fish were about 19" yesterday:D

Heh - I'm a fisherman, whatdaya expect??? LMAO

Metal - you preeeeeekk,,, Honest to God,,,,I first typed 19" in the post above, but then I said to myself, og what the hell - make it 20.;)

[gman2153]

Ditch - then this must a wierd stream and these must be wierd trout.,

p.s. - I thought you told me last week that the Browns you were catching were already spawned out... Maybe I misunderstood you , cause it seemed odd to me...

[Ditchrat]

Ditch - then this must a wierd stream and these must be wierd trout.

Trout are not always ready to spawn when they start there run. Remember that ythe creek your fishing has an obstruction, the fish are getting stuck. As soon as they get ready to spawn they will start dropping back to look for spawning gravel (if the hole you fish doesnt have it, or the right type, or enough of it) Loose eggs does not alway mean they are ready or willing to spawn. Sorry you did get the eggs you wanted, but I would bet if you wait a couple weeks then you might get more or bigger eggs, but then they wont be stuck under those falls right? You would tell me that the fish are in heavist in the end of oct and start disappearing in Nov, right? If so it would fit what you would exspect to happen. If you want rainbow eggs I can get them all winter just let me know and I'll keep a couple for eggs if you know someone who would eat the fish.



p.s. - I thought you told me last week that the Browns you were catching were already spawned out... Maybe I misunderstood you , cause it seemed odd to me...

It seemed odd to me also. I assumed that they were spawned but we didnt keep any to check, the more we have been catching below the falls/dam, the more we notice that they are starving, the fish in the hole/pond above the falls are fat. I assumed that their sunken bellies where from spawning, cause the fish above the falls looked great and didnt want to believe they where in trouble. They still could have been spawned out, I dont know, but Im guessing they suffered pretty badly down below with the low water this summer

[gman2153]

Perhaps I will give you a call and you can join me..

Cammo required :D

[Ditchrat]

Perhaps I will give you a call and you can join me..

Cammo required :D

I got cammo:D

Have you been on the leigh, the water looks good again

[gman2153]

Just tried it for an hour last Sunday afternoon Ditch...

Yeah - they have water in the dam again...plenty of it too.

Too bad the daylight is gone after work during the week..or else I would have more chances to do so... I live right next to it.