The Brook Trout

Family: Salvelinus

Diet: Mayflies, leeches, worms, crayfish, and minnows

Average size: 1-5 lbs

World record: 14lbs 8oz

The Brook Trout, besides it's name is a Char, a very close relative to True Trouts. Besides being my favorite fish, is one of the only native trouts of Chars in New York (The other being the Lake Trout). In fact, there are no native trouts in New York State since the Lake Trout is a Char, too. It genarlly lives in small, swift, brooks (hence it's name) of New England. 80% of its diet is insects, and the other 20% is random things, such as worms and leeches. It is known for being one of the most beautiful fishes in North America. It has been introduced into Northern Europe. It tipically lives in unison with the more populous and tolerant Brown Trout, Which also lives in cold, swift rivers. It is generally smaller, too. It is very sensitive to habitat change, and is genarlly the first to go if a creek is polluted. In the Saquoit Creek, A river about 20 miles away from our house, almost all the native Brook Trouts have been killed by pollution from a meatal factory

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A drawing of a Brook trout

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A Brook Trout caught in Wyoming

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A Brook Trout

The Black River Canal and More...

I'm sorry, I guess it wasn't the last post of the year! But I think this one will be the last. For A biking trip, we biked along the Black River canal. The canal is called black because the is so much iron in the water that it makes it look black! Same with the black river. Since we biked along the canal I figured I could go fishing in it once and awhile. Early on our fishing attempts were futile and in vain. We had given up all hope (and a few lures). We figured it was too late in the season. Finally about 7 1/2 miles into our 30 mile trip we came to a pond.It looked good for fishing so I cast my line out. Michael said he wouldn't go fishing unless I caught a fish. Within two casts I was reeling in a member of the Esox family and Michael was sprinting for his poleThis is a Chain Pickerel, or Esox niger. It is similar to the carnivorous Northern Pike, or Esox lucious (get the pun), but a little smaller. This one here is an average sized one. They feed on everything they can get there mouths on. There have been reports of them biting wader's legs!After the sprint for the pole Micheal reeled in a humongous pickerel! I have never seen one so big before! This is about the size of a northern Pike! Love the face!Another pickerel caught by me. Good size, but when I tried to take a picture, It went nuts! That's what's happening in this picture. Someones a little picture shy! Note the color of the water in the background. After that catch we continued on along the trail and eventually merged into the Black River. The Black River has a variety of environments, ranging from rapids. The part of the river we fished in happened to be rapids, as you see here.A nice size brown trout Michael caught. Such a pretty fish.A smallmouth bass I caught. As you see we're using spinner bait. After another 15 miles Our trip was concluded, BUT......Micheal's pictures from his Florida trip came in. Down in Florida he caught a Tunny Tuna. Little compared to other tuna, Tunnies generally range from 7- 10lbs. This one Michael caught was 15lbs! Sorry about the poor picture quality. This is a picture of a picture, since he used a disposable camera.

The Ending Season

As winter approaches, the fishing season ends season ends. Today I made my last fishing attempt. As it rains and pours, the fish go to the deeper part of a body of water, and become mostly inactive. Trout are for the most part active, but their season ends in September, when they breed. Perch and sunfish can be fished for all year. Later in the year you might find some posts from Ice fishing for perch. I'm sorry I haven't made a post in a very long time, but then again, we haven't gone fishing in a very long time.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/YellowPerch.jpg

Some Yellow Perch

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A Bluegill