Savage River Tailwater Fish Sampling Survey

Type: Nontidal
Region: Western
Location: Savage River Tailwater

We just finished two stations on the Savage River Tailwater � one station within the Fly Only Trophy Trout Fishing Area and one station within the Artificial Lures/Fly Trophy Trout Fishing Area. This was our first fish sampling effort after the Savage River Reservoir was drained last winter to replace the release gates within the dam. The amount of wild trout collected within our sample stations was amazing! I did some quick analysis of the data and calculated that there are about 860 adult trout per mile in the Fly Only Area, and similar densities in the Artificial Lures/Fly Trophy Trout Fishing Area. This density is about 70% of the adult trout population density prior to the reservoir draining in 2009. Brown trout were the dominate species, with many of the fish in the 12 to 16 inch range. Brook trout comprised about 10% of the numbers, and most were in the eight to ten inch range. Most all trout exhibited excellent body condition. Spawning success, however, was poor due to the extreme measures the river experienced during the egg incubation period. With an abundance of large mature trout and good spawning substrate throughout the river � we can expect a good hatch next year.