Atlantic Salmon Fingerlings. I nailed them today

[dreamboy2010]

Was interested to know if anyone around this forum has ever encountered antlantic salmon fingerlings whilst fishing upstream of any ont tribs and creeks? I so happend to be fishing a West creek coming from the main river about 10kms downstream.The area was loaded with resident brook trout and antlantic salmon. I had to pinch my hook barb and i even ended up using my spinning gear as a fly fishing rod to catch these little ones. they were biting like crazy. I caught atleast 30 atlantic salmon fingerlings and about 5 brooks. i only took 4 pics.Please comment and lets hear your experience .

first cast. hooked this one unexpected in 1 foot of water.




then after these brookies altlantic like crazy




and too many more of the same size.

 

[fenwickfisher]

In a few years im sure those guys will be a blast to catch....too bad they aren't as abundent as the pacifics

 

[[email protected]]

its most likely you found a stocking place on the river, best to avoid these areas and let these rare fish grow

 

[AaronKrick]

Nice job but please don't actually fish for them again. See pic #3? That one with the hook in the gill? That things probably gonna die amoung many others you caught, they're just so delicate. IMO a size 14 or smaller hook or don't fish for em, too high kill %.

 

[Knuguy]

I guess I would have moved on after catching a couple.

 

[Kit]

If you head to the Forks you will catch Atlantic's all day.. Ignore the brook the bottom two are Atlantic's. I had another photo of a bigger one but cant find it on our facebook page..

 

[fishing89]

Awesome! I caught one atlantic fingerling on one of my east tribs, way way north of the mouth. In fact it was as high as the river goes before a 12 foot dam. I wish to catch a full grown one of these someday

 

[cptpronin]

Good job as always Naturehasit. Love the par marks and spots on the Atlantic. Don't forget to keep those hands wet when handling every fish.

Dusted off the ultra light gear yesterday after going unused all summer, but was only able to get practice swings on the bumper crop of chubs, suckers and dace.

 

[steelhead101]

let those fish be, survival rates of little fish like those when you pick them is is next to none. buy a small basket net and a small pliers to remove the hooks and don't take them out of the water.

 

[jc53]

I guess I would have moved on after catching a couple.

I agree with this statement

 

[cptpronin]

let those fish be, survival rates of little fish like those when you pick them is is next to none. buy a small basket net and a small pliers to remove the hooks and don't take them out of the water.

Hate to jump on the dog pile too, but that is a good point. Consider a small trout net that clips on to your vest. The mesh should be like fine bug netting and made of nylon or rubber. A decent trout net runs the gamut of $15 - $25. Forceps are the best for quick, gentle hook extraction, but definitely your pinched barbs make a big difference too.

 

[dreamboy2010]

its most likely you found a stocking place on the river, best to avoid these areas and let these rare fish grow

its not that i just found a stocking place. I actually found a whole long stretch of creeks at different areas with thousands of them. Every corner of the creek u cast with a piece of worm abd u will hook either a small rainbow or countless atlantics. there are many more stories to this but i talked to a local who lives right behind one of the spots, said since the atlantics have been stocked, the brookies have been dissappearing. and i found this to be true. today i went at the same place and more stretches and i naile the brookies and as usual atlantics and small rainbows.

 

[dreamboy2010]

Nice job but please don't actually fish for them again. See pic #3? That one with the hook in the gill? That things probably gonna die amoung many others you caught, they're just so delicate. IMO a size 14 or smaller hook or don't fish for em, too high kill %.

its not hooked in the gills. the hook shank is short. it only look so on the outside. and by the way these creeks are loaded with thousands and thousands of them. everywhere in the creek at different areas. u will find atlantics. they are stocked between the brookies upstream and with the rainbows lower stream.

 

[dreamboy2010]

Good job as always Naturehasit. Love the par marks and spots on the Atlantic. Don't forget to keep those hands wet when handling every fish.

Dusted off the ultra light gear yesterday after going unused all summer, but was only able to get practice swings on the bumper crop of chubs, suckers and dace.

Lol. i can take u for a hike if u like to discover some undiscovered areas.

 

[dreamboy2010]

I agree with this statement

Guys. Guys. u have to understand that i was not looking for atlantics. i was looking for brookies and only today i nailed them(brookies.) note that the atlantics are all over the watershed where the brookies live. i really cant avoid them. they are like creek chubs at every corner. if no one believe me, i can take u all to the areas and u will see for your self. they are in the creek which covers more than 20kms of water, loaded with atlantics and rainbows.

 

[dreamboy2010]

Good job as always Naturehasit. Love the par marks and spots on the Atlantic. Don't forget to keep those hands wet when handling every fish.

Dusted off the ultra light gear yesterday after going unused all summer, but was only able to get practice swings on the bumper crop of chubs, suckers and dace.

Today i went back on the same stream. Got myself 4 brookies, 2 browns and countless atlantics and rainbows .Also saw 2 pike. in teh same stream at different places. these places are untouched. and heavily stocked for years.the brookies and browns are wild. Pics up later.

 

[JDean]

Sure hope you are not fishing that live bait rig in a regulated area

 

[rich_ace_G]

I don't know which area you are fishing but just letting you know that most zones have Atlantic Salmon close - all year -.

 

[rybak]

It's good to see that the fish are thriving at least, regardless of the species. I'm going to simply *slow-clap* my way out of this thread.

 

[rich_ace_G]

Guys. Guys. u have to understand that i was not looking for atlantics. i was looking for brookies and only today i nailed them(brookies.) note that the atlantics are all over the watershed where the brookies live. i really cant avoid them. they are like creek chubs at every corner. if no one believe me, i can take u all to the areas and u will see for your self. they are in the creek which covers more than 20kms of water, loaded with atlantics and rainbows.

hope you don't fish for suckers where trout fishing is close for the season....