Kensico Wish List?

[lionpshark]

Ant- That's interesting, especially since I also spoke to Ron Pierce before
he left and he didn't think the Brown's reproduction was succesful.
I will get in touch with Ron's replacement Ryan Coulter and see if he can verify this.     

Has anyone spoke to the New DEP biologist to findout further details on there findings towards the reproduction of Trout in Kensico and some of the other Res?

[KenH]

Waiting for a reply although I only enquired about Kensico.
Officially I think Croton Falls is the only one recognized as
having succesful BT reproduction. But I've caught 5 inch BT parr
in November (couldn't be from a stocking) in Cross River myself,
and Muscoot probably has the potential as well. Of course we'll have
to see what DEC says, but fish biologists may require a constant
repeatable spawning and reproduction enough to affect species populations,
to say hat nbatural reproduction occurs, and they may dismiss the
"occasional" succesful year.   

[bluefish]

Ken
Like you, I'd really be (pleasantly) surprised if there was natural brown trout reproduction in Kensico.   Honestly, who knows?    I remember years ago (1970s) an uncle of mine claimed to have caught trout well into that stream that feeds into Kensico near Nannyhagen, of a size that was larger than could survive as a "holdover."     I have also heard (anecdotal) reports that brown trout make a failed attempt at spawning in that "canal" off the Cooney Hill Road pumping station  (the place at the very end of the dark hollow area, which whole area is closed to fishing now anyway (and too damn far to row to anyway)   -   I think this was something discovered by a DEP worker or something.    But all hearsay.   

It would be awesome if there was natural reproduction, though.   With the natural predation, the mortality of the stockies, etc., I don't know that we will ever see another 18 pound caliber brown taken out of Kensico.       

[KenH]

bluefish,

I think that Kensico, once known for it's big browns but now an overly succesful
Lake trout program may eventually turn around again. The DEC reduced the size
limit from 21" to 18". And every year they were reducing the number of Lakers
stocked with 2010 being he first year that ONLY Browns were stocked. Lakes go
through cycles and changes so Kensico probably will too. At least I hope, anyway.

[lionpshark]

What kind of Cycles? good ones I hope!

[bluefish]

Ken

What is depressing is hearing some of the stories of the guys who used to fish Kensico in the 80s and earlier (I started in the 90s).    10 pounders were commonplace, apparently.    And browns over 15 were taken, each year.     I've never done better than 11 or so lbs on Kensico (I C&R), and I was stunned to get one that big.    I did see  -   but not hook   -   a brown that I estimated at about 34" chasing bait one morning near the bridge, but again that was over 10 years ago.

I hope you are right about the cycles.  Neil at Cross River Sportsman says the same thing.     Would love to see someone get a 15+ brown.   

[Ant73]

Bluefish, Don't give up there ARE BIG BROWNS in Kensico,  Smelt have made there way into the Res. and the browns are packing on the pounds, I have personally seen a increase in Brown trout over ten pounds being caught. In 2010 my friend caught a brown that was 17.5 lbs. Once smelt enter the system the browns will focus on the smelt , Maybe they taste better then Sawbellies , who knows?   It goes on at Croton Falls too, I practice catch and release but friends that do eat the fish have noticed there bellies full of smelt,some of theses smelt are 5-7 inches long.  I fish mostly off shore but buddies of mine that use the row boats have switched over to lead line and Sutton spoons , they fish the long thin profile spoons and are having success.  The DEC decision to reduce the lake trout stocking in Kensico was fantastic , we should see a gradual improvement.   

[bluefish]

Ant, I hope you and KenH are right.    I still do catch big browns out of Kensico (up to 10lb class), but NOTHING like a 17.5.   (CFalls is a different animal   -  if anyone put in the time, they would catch a 10 pounder, easy).

 And it just seems like the ratio of Kensico browns/lakers has changed significantly the past 15 years.   It may have been 3/1 years ago, and now it is 1/5 or something.     Maybe the smelt, and the lessening of the laker stocking will  help.   

But despite this, I still maintain that Kensico is the best "overall" reservoir, when you consider it is a great trout, bass and panfish lake.     Not too many other lakes are like that.

[Ant73]

I wish they would stock larger class browns so they could survive better,  8-9inch stockies are Trout food. Dropping the trout off Rye lake bridge don't help either. 

[bluefish]

Ant, someone told me they once saw the stocking truck (years ago) stocking near the Rt 22 bridge, and that the lakers were visibly waiting for the stockies to be dropped in.    Who knows if that's true, but I am certain the big trout, and the commorants, take their share.

What I'd like to see them try is to put in some "Seeforellen" brown trout, the kind that apparently grow to enormous size.   That would be cool.

Lastly, I don't know when whirling disease will be considered "eradicated" in this country, but I'd really like to see Rainbows stocked in Kensico again.

[lionpshark]

I wish they would stock larger class browns so they could survive better,  8-9inch stockies are Trout food. Dropping the trout off Rye lake bridge don't help either. 

Do they just dump them in off the top of the Bridge? Thats like a 60ft drop!

[Biz-R-OWorld]

how about those triploid rainbows from Canada? 40+lbers!

[bluefish]

That would be wild.   But honestly, assuming browns and rainbows cost the same to raise, I don't see why they don't reinstitute the stocking of rainbows.     Never have taken one out of Kensico, and the last I heard taken was around 2000.   

[Ant73]

Blue, I heard the same thing , there might be some truth to it , i have caught some big browns and lakers in march/April right around the rye lake bridge, my biggest laker was 15lbs and it was caught near the bridge.    A few years ago a 24 lb lake trout was caught right near the rye lake bridge in early April.   Seeforellen browns were stocked in cross river many years ago , but i never caught or heard of any Seeforellens caught.