Salmon?

[Tynan]

Anyone know what is going on with the states Broodstock Salmon? The website still lists the winter of 07/08 stocking info. Fished a normally productive spot up here and did not even get a trout never mind salmon.

[albacized]

I don't think they stocked trout in a lot of the ponds around here. I fished Hopkington several times this fall and got zilch. It would be one thing if it were just me:rolleyes:...but I haven't seen other fishermen out there and the fish aren't rising in the mornings or evenings. I asked the question at Natick Outdoor yesterday and they said a number of places didn't get stocked.

So far this fall, I've only caught two stocked rainbows - one in Peters Pond down the Cape (which I knew beforehand that it was stocked via some intel I received) and one in Wachusett while laker fishing. When I checked the official MA site, I didn't even see Hopkington, Cotituate(sp), Whites, Walden and a few others listed as being stocked. But there was a comment at the bottom of the page stating that they have not been able to update the page.

As far as salmon, this is the time they're supposed to be stocked and I'm going to call tomorrow as I didn't see anything about salmon listed on the official site.

In fact, I wanted to go trout fishing yesterday. But given the lack of fish in the local lakes, I opted to take a chance on some urban holdover stripers and it sort of paid off (in the form of one fish and 10 frozen toes)

[albie1guy]

The trout have been stocked this fall in Ashland and Hopkington. I spoke with the state last week and they were waiting to hear from the Feds about the salmon. Last year the salmon were sick and the program was cancelled.They do not list the fall stocked lakes it is on the spring stocking list. I live right down the street from Ashland. the fall fishing was a pick, with good and bad days but they are there. Rich, your old little boat has done well with the trout so far.

[JKelly]

Here are 2 brrodstock salmon from this past weeekend taken on smelt patterns.

[keithJ]

Awesome fish man!

[ShaneY]

Hopkinton was very off and on the few times I was there... the fish would rise for a bit and get aggressive and then they would shutoff for a while. All the fish I caught were out in the middle and none were taking flies only spoons and I got two on gulp earthworms when the fishing was slow. Do they stock salmon in there? I have never caught one and would love to take a shot at it.

[albie1guy]

The fish acted very funny when they were first put in they would free jump all over the place but were very hard to catch, then when the water temp hit 50 they were very active. I lost 4 times as many fish that I caught, they hit the trolled lures so hard then come unbuckled. Did much better at Ashland than Hopk. As a rule they put salmon in Hopk.

[uptonfloyd]

I've only seen broodstock caught in Hopkinton Reservoir (lost one through the ice a few winters back). But it will soon be tough to drop a fly in there soon with this cold snap...

[Tynan]

Here are 2 brrodstock salmon from this past weeekend taken on smelt patterns.

Are those from CT then?

I was wondering on the health of the Salmon the state stocks. I also heard that the fish are diseased like last year. I was looking for a confirmation they are.

[Cheju]

In 2007 two wild Atlantic salmon returning to the Connecticut River were detected to have pancreatic nicrosis, a highly contagious disease. The USFG decided to destroy all of the 141 returning fish for that year and destroy all of the eggs they produced also. FYI all returning wild Atlantic salmon to the Connecticut River are trapped and used for broodstock.

Most of the eggs from returning salmon are stocked in the rivers after fertiization. Some of these eggs are allowed to grow to maturity and are used to raise more broodstock. After their usefulness as broodstock is completed, these fish are the ones that are stocked in rivers, ponds and lakes throughout New England for sport fishing. All of the wild Atlantic salmon returns are released to the ocean after several spawns.

None of the fish that were exposed to pancreatic necrosis in 2007 were released as broodstock. There was no pancreatic necrosis detected in the 2008 returning fish.

Cheju

[bdowning]

Yes, they do stock broodstocks there, but it is a year-to-year decision based on availability from other states and other factors. Officially they didn't put any in Hopk last year, but sometimes what they publicize is not necessarily what winds up happening.

In any case, I live two miles from the reservoir and haven't caught a brood there since the program started. In contrast I've caught several from Cape ponds over the years. I'm not sure what that means though. Could be nothing more than blind luck :confused:.

-bd



Hopkinton was very off and on the few times I was there... the fish would rise for a bit and get aggressive and then they would shutoff for a while. All the fish I caught were out in the middle and none were taking flies only spoons and I got two on gulp earthworms when the fishing was slow. Do they stock salmon in there? I have never caught one and would love to take a shot at it.

[ShaneY]

Well gee BD all that does is give me more of an excuse to fish the cape ponds more--127-3- I spent a day just cruising around the ponds this fall and nailing trout, they are so different from the ponds around me it's really great I will definitely be fishing them more.

[Soundking]

I went down to White this morning before work. They're not in there yet. In my opinion that is probably the best water for them around 128. Most winters before the ice they are readily sight fished in there.