Little Mahoning: Indiana County 10/6/2010

[stevehalupka]

Heard rumors of the fall stocking and moseyed up after class today. Water was low, with a little color, and though the fish were still in pods, they were spread out by the commission rather well, and already sipping midges.

We threw streamers with success. Aggressive chases on the strip. 3 cars throughout the entire project. Colorful, spawned out brooks.

Commissioner told us 500 fish were added, mostly males, and the females were all milked prior to the stocking.

 

[JackM]

Interesting about the females all being milked prior to stocking. Are those fish healthy when they are stocked? Do they build up their health in the hatchery after milking and before release? What are the males gonna do for fun once put into the stream with all these barren females?

 

[stevehalupka]

I have some pics I'm going to throw up in the general forum. I went back out this morning. Should clear all that up!

 

[troutslammer]

alot of the trout in that stream lay beside the stream improvement poles along the banks and sip stone flys early in the season , had a blast there early in the season

 

[JackM]

By the way, Steve, I cannot resist asking you to compare the crowds at LM the two mornings you fished it. Seems you should have encountered throngs the next morning. Have you been back since?

 

[stevehalupka]

Jack,

You're funny, but I'll answer anyway!

the first day we fished was the day they stocked. That was the day we got pelted with the rain and it was a bit cold. We only saw one other fisherman, despite the commissioner telling us 15 cars were following the truck.

The second morning I fished (thursday), it was again desolate until noon, and one other fisherman was on the stream.

The odd thing... I took my buddy back on Friday around 2. There were cars along the entire project. We stopped and talked to a older gent and he was fuming. Said he was disgusted that he didn't even see a fish.

We had to work to find the fish... they seemingly disappeared! All the fish were stacked up too. I guess I and a few others have put the beating on them. Time to give it a break I suppose. Just hope the fish aren't getting poached, though that seems what is going on. There were substantially less fish on Friday.

ps... a few people across some other forums did go after my initial post, but I wouldn't attribute it to them patrolling for info, as I talk to them daily. Soooo yea, I would say my report did bring some increased traffic that wouldn't have been there otherwise. I'm surprised at the amount of fly fisherman I meet that do not even mess with online discussion boards.

I wonder since I'm dumb enough to post pics of my mug that people don't recognize me... "Is that halupka?" I know I would recognize any of you that have posted face pics.

 

[JackM]

I am glad you found humor in my question and that you tried to answer it to yourself carefully. It all sounds like your word-of-mouth method of stream braodcasting had as much impact as the glowing stream report and reminder about a recent stocking in our forums.

Now you are being funny-- suggesting that maybe you and your friends put down all the recently stocked trout making everyone else have a tough day Friday. Clearly everyone knows that it was poaching by bait anglers that changed everyone's fortunes.

By the way, I did not know your trip was on stocking day originally. Just wondering if you went up that way to help with the stocking, or just to catch the fish?

 

[stevehalupka]

i look back at my post and don't even remember writing those words... hmm..

anyways, the fish weren't as apt to take a fly the third day.. my stream report was for the day after the stocking that I did not participate in. Skipping an in-class essay to spread out stockies.. naa.

 

[JackM]

stevehalupka wrote:
....my stream report was for the day after the stocking that I did not participate in. Skipping an in-class essay to spread out stockies.. naa.

I'm confused, didn't you write:

"the first day we fished was the day they stocked."

In any case, hopefully the fish that survived the poaching are back to feeding again.

 

[stevehalupka]

yes, I fished the day they stocked... however, my stream report was from the following day.

haven't been back since, don't really care to... better fishing elsewhere

 

[JackM]

stevehalupka wrote:
... better fishing elsewhere

More recently stocked streams? 😎

 

[stevehalupka]

well, once stocked, yes..

 

[JackM]

Nice.