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North Branch Wiscoy Creek (2006)

Fisheries Survey Summary

North Branch Wiscoy Creek Brown TroutNorth Branch Wiscoy Creek is located in south-central Wyoming County and is one of the main tributaries to Wiscoy Creek. North Branch Wiscoy Creek is not stocked (has not been for at least 50 years) and has a population of wild brown trout. Although there are 0.3 miles of Public Fishing Rights on this 4 mile long stream, Anglers should be prepared to ask permission to fish North Branch Wiscoy Creek. Fishing can be challenging due to the narrow stream width and abundance of overhanging alders.

Electrofishing the North Branch of Wiscoy CreekAn electrofishing survey at three sites in August 2006 found that there were an average of 1,424 adult brown trout per mile of stream. However, one site with excellent in-stream habitat had over 3,000 trout per mile (Table 1). This site included man-made stream improvement structures legally constructed by the private landowner via a permit and advice through the Bureau of Fisheries. Other parts of the stream would benefit from habitat improvement as that seems to be the limiting factor for trout. The largest brown trout collected was 17.5" in length. Numerous young-of-year brown trout were also collected. Not only are the trout self sustaining in North Branch Wiscoy Creek, the stream serves as an important nursery stream for Wiscoy Creek brown trout. Water temperatures, monitored throughout the summer, never rose above 69F in 2006, which not only benefits trout in this stream, but also greatly helps water temperatures in the upper Wiscoy Creek.

While water temperatures were ideal for brook trout, none were collected in the 2006 survey. A survey in 2005 sampled two sites in the headwaters of North Branch Wiscoy Creek, upstream of the sites sampled in 2006. All trout captured in the 2005 survey were also brown trout, except one young-of-year brook trout. It seems that brown trout have simply out competed brook trout in this stream.

Table 1. Numbers of yearling and older wild brown trout (BT) captured, and population estimates in N. Branch Wiscoy Creek in 2006 sampling.
Site BT Caught Length shocked (feet) Estimated #/mile
Below RR crossing in Village of Bliss 126 432' 1,536
PFR section below Gary Road 18 400' 237
Below Brown's Trout Hatchery 129 210' 3,450
All three sites combined 273 1,045' 1,424