Valley Creek Chester County 12/7/2018

[tjsingle]

Fished Valley today for a few hours, about 12-4PM. Ended up only catching two brown trout, maybe 8”, not a banner day. Weather was clear and in the upper 30s, water level was normal, clarity was normal. The bite dropped off entirely by 3PM which is fairly consistent with fishing Valley in the winter. It crazy how much Valley changes in between rain events, the stream constantly changes with the erosion.

Unfortunately I came across a dead 18” brown trout in one of the pools. Easily the biggest fish I’ve seen at Valley. My personal best at valley is close to 15”.

 

[Mike]

Bear in mind that the 18" trout was not necessarily killed by an angler. We have seen moribund post-spawn 18" and larger Brown Trout at this very time of the year on streams where little fishing occurs. If you are out and about at this time of the year you are more likely to see a specific fish that has died because cold water slows natural decomposition. In other words, the dead fish last longer.

 

[lestrout]

Yo tjs - there have been no reports of another spill since this summer, per the VFTU guys who check the stream pretty much every day, so your find doesn't indicate yet another pollution-induced fishkill. I don't know if spawning is tougher on trouts than for bass - larger bass in spawn are surprisingly fragile. Then at some point, fish do die of old age. My personal observation is that the Valley anglers are much gentler on the trouts than most other streams. I am so used to seeing mutilated mandibles on the Tully and Beaverkill, but almost all the Valley trouts I have inspected, big and small (mostly small) are virtually pristine.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

Glad Mike and Les beat me to it, as that would have been my guess, and they know a lot more than me: death by spawning... An 18 inch fish may be very old in that little creek. I caught a similar sized fish a few years ago, probably very early spring, and he was a bit rough, on his last legs.

btw, fished the affected area today, just to scout further upstream than I did early in the fall. Saw some redds, caught a handful in some deep holes, even midged up two YOY right at the confluence of the affected tributary.

 

[tjsingle]

I figured it was due to spawning/old age rather than someone mishandling it. I fish Valley regularly since I live just down the street. Thanks for the responses!

 

[shadspoon]

I'm pretty sure I saw that dead fish on Sunday. As Mike said they last longer and the ones I see in winter grow an algae or moss looking fuzz on the body. It was in an area I see redds.

 

[geebee]

These are the males that perish, is that right ?