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Fresh Water Battenkill River: Many Moods And Doesn’t Give Up Its Secrets Readily
Posted by wrh on August 26, 2006

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Battenkill River Video

The Battenkill is a storied river in American angling and it also happens to be one of the local rivers that I get to fly fish fairly regularly. The river has many moods and doesn’t give up its secrets very readily, but for the adventurous angler (one willing to walk) there are many nooks and crannies to explore. The video that accompanies this fish-tale encompasses three trips to the Battenkill River. The fly fishing took place from both the New York and the Vermont sides of the Battenkill river. The anglers were ChrisR, Shaq, msyelf and a new friend Doug. I have exclusively explored the NY side of the Battenkill river and have had many days of good fly fishing, but not with dry flies. Most of my fish had been caught with streamers and nymphs. Doug invited me to fly fish the Vermont side of the Battenkill river and to see the trico hatch. What a treat to see numerous little 6-8 inch wild Brookies steadily feeding on the size 24 spinners. Although I couldn’t get a good picture of them we really got into the Brook Trout. There were pods of fish rising steadily to the spent spinners. We were using #22 and #24 spinners on 7X and getting a long and drag free drift was crucial. I can’t even count how many trout I missed because of pulling the fly out of their mouths without a

hookset. I have never been a fan of fishing to fish from an upstream position for this very reason, as I have never gotten good at getting consistent hook sets from that angle. However, I had a blast. It had been a while since I fly during a good hatch (early June on the big D). The trips with ChrisR and Shaq took place in July and we fished a few spots on the NY side and had fun with the Brown Trout. None of our fish were big, but there are some nice fish in the river that show up from time to time. I have only been fly fishing the Battenkill river for two seasons and I am by no means a local expert, nor do I know all of its secrets and moods. But the Battenkill river continues to weave its magic on me. I find myself becoming fonder of this water with each trip and new discovery found hidden along the banks of this beautiful fly fishing river.



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Re: Battenkill River: Many Moods And Doesn’t Give Up Its Secrets Readily
by Shaq on August 26, 2006 http://www.theanglersnet.com
great video. Glad I could be a part (cameo at best) of the process. It has also been my experience that The Battenkill is slow to show you it's secrets. Everytime I/we go, I learn more and am looking forward to learning more.



Re: Battenkill River: Many Moods And Doesn’t Give Up Its Secrets Readily
by ChrisR on August 27, 2006
Nice work Robin. Thanks for showing me some new spots on the river that I haven't fished before. I see you found the trico hatch. Sounds similar to the times I have managed to hit it right. Lots of little brookies taking spinners one after the other. Great fishing with you. Hope we can get out again soon.



Re: Battenkill River: Many Moods And Doesn’t Give Up Its Secrets Readily
by rolcast on August 28, 2006
Nice story. I hope to get out that way one of these days.My wife loves Bennington VT. Shes an art teacher so her painting while I'm fishng goes well for a beautiful weekend.



Re: Battenkill River: Many Moods And Doesn’t Give Up Its Secrets Readily
by jeremy on August 29, 2006 http://www.ineedasimplesolution.com
ok .. i am definately callin' you guys next time i go to vermont .. i actually go fairly frequently to the manchester area .. and though i have had great luck on other surrounding rivers .... i have never had great luck on the battenkill .... it looks beautiful, the runs look like i should do well ... but rarely do ... maybe you guys are just what i need for a change of "luck" ...and to help me figure it out a little better .... thanks

ps .. some say that "there are no fish on the vermont side" .... i know it is a wild fishery .. but some say "the river has been damaged because of farm water pesticide run-off" ... and "they are thinking of stocking it"

what is your guys opinions in regards to these things ... has the fishery been compromised .. are they gonna stock the vt. side ... is the ny side stocked? if so, still a good population of wild fish on the ny side and if so ... how can a stockie be distinguished from wild ??? -- thanks



Re: Battenkill River: Many Moods And Doesn’t Give Up Its Secrets Readily
by Shaq on August 30, 2006 http://www.theanglersnet.com
Jeremy, The NY side of the Battenkill is a stocked fishery however has a special regs, artificials only section. It is my understanding that the VT side hasn't been stocked in a great while as WRH said. The VT Trout Unlimited website has alot of good info on the fight to keep it wild. It is also my understanding that the stocked fish will be rainbows. Something that the B-kill has none of at this time so it SHOULD be easy to pick them out but I am sure the Good Ole Bait Chuckers will take some brookies. It is my opinion that the B-kill is promoted all wrong. It shouldn't be promoted as a good fishery, it should be promoted as a tough fishery. Many good fishermen have problems catching fish on the kill so you are not alone by any means. It took me at least five years to find the spots and figure it out. Streamers and nymphs are key on the NY side, the VT side is smaller and a different story, one I haven't begun to unlock yet.



Re: Battenkill River: Many Moods And Doesn’t Give Up Its Secrets Readily
by Bkilldoug on August 31, 2006
Hi guys. A little info on the Vt side .... not stocked since 1976. There was a population crash around 1994 / 95 .. no kill instituted in 200 helped stabilize the population.

vt Fish and wildlife has determined that a chronic loss of in stream habitat has resulted in a river with less than ideal habitat for mid range sized fish .. thus you see lots of 6-8 inchers and few 10 - 14 inchers. Those fish that do find good habitat are big big big .. and not all that uncomon - for the skilled angler, which I am not!

As Robin said, our TU chapter is adamantly opposed to stocking the river for a variety of reasons - check it out at ww.tuswvt.org or drop mea note at ddclyons1@aol.com

Robin is, by the way, a fantastic fisherman, photagrapher (thanks for the great pic of Molly, my fishin dog) and all around good guy.

Take it easy. Doug


 
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