Sheep River Nursery

[sir pikealott]

Stopped in at the Sheep River today before heading back to work for the afternoon.
Hit some of my favorite spring holes and runs but found them to be overwhelmed by SMALL Rainbows and Whites.
Spring we catch nice size Bows and Bulls but right now, I think I'll leave it for opening day in Spring.
Despite the lack of size, at least we know the fish are spawning well in the Sheep and just getting out is half the fun!
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo143/sirpikealott_2009/SheepRiverSept0210014.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo143/sirpikealott_2009/SheepRiverSept0210017.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo143/sirpikealott_2009/SheepRiverSept0210018.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo143/sirpikealott_2009/SheepRiverSept0210021.jpg

[Bow flyman]

It seems to be like this everywhere. Crowsnest, highwood, bow, sheep rivers. I have never in my whole life fishing seen so many little rainbow trout. The numbers are unbelievable. Maybe all the wet weather in the summer kept the water levels higher and cooler, which are ideal conditions for nurturing young trout. I don't really know? Theres just a ton of these little guys. They are fun to catch, but I try not to hook too many, so keep mortality rate low and let them all grow up to be big trout.

[Cal]

If what you say is true Flyman I wonder how this will play out for overwintering. Seems to me that in creeks with few wintering pools an unusual abundance of fish could possibly be detrimental but I'm no bioligist.

[Fisher_man#1]

Looks like a hachery truck dumped its load in all these rivers LOL.
My guess is that the fish that you are catching are all the yearlings from the spring spawners like rainbows and they are finally of size to catch and are trying to put on some weight for winter. The fall spawners are starting to go up river now and do their thing soon so there is a gap in the distribution of the big fish. Anyway it still counts as a day fishing so...have fun!

Cheers.

[fluxcore]

If what you say is true Flyman I wonder how this will play out for overwintering. Seems to me that in creeks with few wintering pools an unusual abundance of fish could possibly be detrimental but I'm no bioligist.

I think it would be great bait for the big fish to over winter with:evilgrin:

[Sheepriverrules]

those guys are fun to fight on a fly rod