Penobscot Valley Fishing Report: September 12, 2007

On Monday, with the help of our fin clipping crew, staff from other hatcheries and regional fisheries offices and our research office, we will begin the annual fall fish marking at Cobb Fish Hatchery in Enfield. This crew will mark more than 90,735 Brook Trout and 20,350 Splake. In a week’s time, 111,085 fish will be netted out of the raceways, loaded onto a truck and transported to a holding pool. Then the fish are netted out, placed in a trough with an anesthetic, and then the anesthetized fish are then are netted and placed in a trough to be clipped. After this, they are sent through a pipeline back to the pool were they started. In most cases, the fish go through this complete process in about 15 min. It is quite a process to see. If your happen to be in the Enfield area this week stop by.

After this week of fin clipping, the hatchery staff here at Cobb Hatchery will begin the task of stocking more than 116,260 fall fingerling brook trout; 4,950 fall fingerling splake; 17,900 fall yearling brook trout; 1,600 fall yearling splake and 5,000 adult brook trout. It is truly an amazing feat that they can stock over 145,000 fish in less than two months. The start of fish marking signifies to us here in the office that summer is over and fall is here. Lets hope for some great fall weather with plenty of rain to bring the flows up in the streams and rivers as well at the water levels up in the lakes and ponds. Get out and enjoy the great fall weather. The trees will be turning soon.