Printer-friendlyIschua Creek
2004 Fisheries Survey Summary
Ischua Creek was surveyed in July and August 2004 at three sites near the Village of Franklinville. Extensive stream temperature monitoring work was done on all of Ischua Creek in 2002 and found temperatures in the Franklinville area never exceeded 70 degrees F and overnight low water temperatures always dropped under 65 degrees F. Because the stream supported a substantial wild trout population, had good public access and excellent water temperatures in the Franklinville area, in October, 2004 a 2.2 mile long catch and release section was instituted. The summer 2004 survey was done to obtain pre-regulation trout population data that can be compared with sampling in future years to evaluate the effects of the catch and release regulation.
In the 2004 survey, sampling sites had average widths of 31, 36 and 30 feet. Water temperatures at the time of sampling were 61, 64 and 64 degrees F. Site lengths were 630, 800 and 960 feet. The estimate wild brown trout biomass for all three sites combined was 27 lbs/acre and the estimated hatchery brown trout biomass was 9 lbs/acre. The estimated number of adult wild brown trout was 424/mile and the estimated number of hatchery brown trout was 115/mile. When the stream was last surveyed in 1997, the wild brown trout biomass was estimated at 39 lbs/acre and the estimated number of wild brown trout/mile was 536 fish/mile. Low numbers of hatchery brown trout were also found remaining from the spring's stocking.
In the near future Ischua Creek will again be surveyed to monitor the wild brown trout population as well as how the numbers of hatchery trout remaining in the summer responds to the catch and release regulation. Angler surveys will also be performed to evaluate angler use, catch and satisfaction with the regulation.
