Browns in Brookie Creeks

[Brookielvr]

Native brook trout are being demolished in my local creek by the rising brown population, they are considered invasive by definition, not from this country even and spreading quickly and destroying native species. I am planning on fishing a barbless hook with nightcrawlers to rid the creek of browns as much as I can. (I'm a die hard fly fisherman but I'm tired of the browns) Think I could chuck the small ones on the bank for a coon? It's a creek that runs on private land if it makes any difference. I sure do like the taste of wilds too! Anybody want to help by cleaning out their creek?

[cvllebanger]

I would fish with you

[icemole]

It is against the law to kill undersized trout(public stream or private). Maybe you could install some type of barrier to prevent the Browns from moving upstream. I have one Brookie creek that has a granite waterfall about 3' high that stops the Browns(stocking starts 1 mile below there). So far it is not an issue on my other Brookie creeks in my area.

I do have several creeks that have only wild Browns in them and I enjoy catching them as they are a bit more challenging to catch. On all my wild waters I do practice selective harvest(not much.. not a fish eater). I have one Brookie creek here in the SE that has a good supply of 8-10" fish(even a few bigger) where I'll keep a few every other year or two. Bigger fish get released to spread the good DNA(both Brooks + Browns)


 P.S. ..... Invasives that have no protections ie. white perch/snakeheads even flatheads I will kill with impunity

[fishingpaul]

Don't kill wild browns.

I know where you're coming from, you just want to protect the native Pennsylvanians.

See if you can get permission to move the browns. I know some folks who had the same problem. A few hours fishing, a cooler some ice and a bubbler they cut the problem in half.

[me]

yeah do not kill those browns. That is just wrong and a true fly fisherman would not do it.

[sgrim]

I would suggest a legal call with someone from Fish & Game to discuss a reasonable plan before you embark on a crusade to eradicate brown trout from any water. I have a hard time reconciling your claim that you are a die hard fly fisherman with your desire to catch browns on worms (with barbless hooks? you're trolling us, right?) and then chuck them on the banks. The whole idea seems poorly conceived to me. Or the post is pure BS.

[Brookielvr]

No BS at all. What people don't understand is that browns are not supposed to be here. They are from Europe. Sure they are wild now, but there's tons of creeks that have been completely wiped out by browns. Don't give me any of the "well people are from Europe too". It's completely on private land. I own the land. It's a fish and game club. We keep a record book from all the visits, and before browns were reported in the creek, there were 14" brook trout being caught consistently. Browns came and there was a 20" that came out close to headwaters (maybe 8 feet wide and 2 feet deep). Very rapid decline in brook trout then. Up near the very headwaters they have not been able to reach and I do not think they will. They already made it up a 4-5' waterfall with no problem. Nobody knows about it then it's fine right?

[adio]

We know about it.

[sgrim]

Aug 25, 2017 20:01:46 GMT -5 Brookielvr said:

No BS at all. What people don't understand is that browns are not supposed to be here. They are from Europe. Sure they are wild now, but there's tons of creeks that have been completely wiped out by browns. Don't give me any of the "well people are from Europe too". It's completely on private land. I own the land. It's a fish and game club. We keep a record book from all the visits, and before browns were reported in the creek, there were 14" brook trout being caught consistently. Browns came and there was a 20" that came out close to headwaters (maybe 8 feet wide and 2 feet deep). Very rapid decline in brook trout then. Up near the very headwaters they have not been able to reach and I do not think they will. They already made it up a 4-5' waterfall with no problem. Nobody knows about it then it's fine right?

Yes browns were introduced from Germany in 1800 something. They've been here longer than half of my own lineage. I get that. But you'll have a hard time getting the state to acknowledge them as an "invasive species" and a harder time getting them to accept the practice of chucking them on the bank.  Go the legal route. Contact the PFBCB or Trout Unlimited and discuss your concern; Find out what legal (and ethical) options you have for private waters. 

[icemole]

I need the name + location of this creek to BELIEVE in 14" native brookies !(it's all private so nobody can legally be there except members)  About the only place in Pa. that I ever saw brookies that big(maybe) was at the old Fly Fishing only section of Big Spring Creek out past Carlise Pa.

[fishnmusicn]

Strange thread, browns are originally from Europe, regularly catching 14 inch brook trout, you own the land, want to decimate the brown population. Nobody knows about it so it's fine right? Then why do you ask - if you're part of a fish and game club, don't you think that you and the others could come up with a better solution? Sounds funny!

[sgrim]

Sept 28, 2017 19:46:19 GMT -5 fishnmusicn said:

Strange thread, browns are originally from Europe, regularly catching 14 inch brook trout, you own the land, want to decimate the brown population. Nobody knows about it so it's fine right? Then why do you ask - if you're part of a fish and game club, don't you think that you and the others could come up with a better solution? Sounds funny!

Yeah I call BS on that whole thing.There is nothing about his story that makes sense.