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#21 Guest_Marshall_*

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Posted 26 September 2008 - 01:59 PM

Does the Turners Falls dam have an underwater viewing area on the fish ladder? I've been meaning for awhile to go check out the fish ladder at the Amoskeag dam in Manchester.

You're right about zooMass haha... I wouldn't want to go to school there, but I do get jealous of their course loads, and all the concerts at the Mullins Center.

I can definitely think of a lot of good places to go collecting in that area. This spring the Mill Rive in Northampton was teeming with small fish, I think mostly black nose dace. My girlfriend actually managed to catch a couple with her hands one afternoon while I had the fly rod out for a few casts.

Edited by Marshall, 26 September 2008 - 02:31 PM.


#22 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 26 September 2008 - 03:16 PM

Yes the Turners Falls dam has a really nice underwater viewing window. Last time I was there, somebody, I forget if it was the UMass students or F&G, had a spotting scope set up on the upper deck zeroed in on a bald eagle nest. They were letting the visiters check out the baby eagles.
It's a very cool place to check out, especially in the spring. I believe the power company that owns the dam built it all.

#23 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 26 September 2008 - 03:33 PM

There's a viewing window in the fish ladder at the Holyoke Dam, too, so you can see all the stripers, lampreys and shads moving upstream. The original goal was to watch restored Atlantic salmon moving, but that's a small number of fish; I'm not certain if any are still making it.

And you're right about UMass/Amherst, it's an odd campus; some of the dorms are like sticking a project out in the middle of Happy Valley. But like Mike said, there are some kinda OK streams in the area (I admit I'm spoiled by being in the Tennessee Valley).

#24 Guest_nativecajun_*

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Posted 27 September 2008 - 09:13 AM

POPPYCOCK [-X There are many native fish that are as easy, if not easier to keep than tropicals, and don't require a heater either.



I agree. Natives are much easier to keep than tropicals in my experience.

#25 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 27 September 2008 - 11:16 AM

There's a viewing window in the fish ladder at the Holyoke Dam, too, so you can see all the stripers, lampreys and shads moving upstream. The original goal was to watch restored Atlantic salmon moving, but that's a small number of fish; I'm not certain if any are still making it.

And you're right about UMass/Amherst, it's an odd campus; some of the dorms are like sticking a project out in the middle of Happy Valley. But like Mike said, there are some kinda OK streams in the area (I admit I'm spoiled by being in the Tennessee Valley).


I think the few salmon that return are trapped, possibly at Holyoke or maybe Enfield and trucked upstream. Every once and awhile one gets by and is recorded at Turner's Fall. I'm going by memory here so don't quote me.

#26 Guest_JakeLevi_*

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Posted 20 December 2008 - 09:56 AM

Back to the original topic, keeping trout in aquaria.

Generally the info provided is accurate. But, there are major differences by species and genera.

Rainbows are probably the easiest kept without chillers, fingerlings can be kept well in 55-75 gallon tanks with excellent filtration and water movement to keep the oxygen up. Brownies next, but again size means newer and bigger quarters. Both can do alright in an unheated tank in a cool area.

I have kept both, plus Brook Trout in 55-100 gallon aquaria in grad school to keep brood stock and didnt have a chiller on them.

Chillers are now available much more reasonably, a few under $200.

Heat is not as great a danger as low oxygen is, and pollution.

I'm planning a small home project this spring with Brookies, in outdoor stock tanks, 300 gallon size and air pumps and filtration, meanwhile I am going to be looking for a source of both Grayling and one of the Cutthroats. These tanks will also be shaded. These for sure arenot 10 gallon tank fish.

Generally the three, Brook Trout, Cutthroat and Graylings have similar requirements with the Grayling the least tolerant of high temps and low oxygen.

I am in the NE part of Michigan, last year we didnt have a single day hit 90F here, and only a few in the mid 80s, very few.

For home keeping of natives all the ones listed are very good, my own favorites are the Sunfish family, I love the Lepomis.

Trout are not impossible, but they are with low oxygen, and poor water quality. They can be tolerant of warmer temps if the other parameters are in line. By warmer I mean up to 80 for short periods. For Rainbows. The others the mid 70s would be as high as I'd let them grow, and not above 70 for Grayling. Preferably in the lower 60s.

#27 Guest_adirondackpond_*

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Posted 20 December 2008 - 06:11 PM

Jake, Do you have any hatcheries near you that have Tiger trout?, I have some in my pond and they seem to be very hardy plus real sharp looking, also very fast growing. Might be a nice addition.
Posted Image

Edited by adirondackpond, 20 December 2008 - 06:39 PM.


#28 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 20 December 2008 - 07:52 PM

Heat is not as great a danger as low oxygen is, and pollution.


Except for that whole temperature dissolved oxygen relationship. Without injecting oxygen and saturating the water, increasing temperature will always limit the maximum dissolved oxygen.

#29 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 01:05 PM

Except for that whole temperature dissolved oxygen relationship. Without injecting oxygen and saturating the water, increasing temperature will always limit the maximum dissolved oxygen.


I think this is what Jake means. The heat does lower the oxygen, but it is that loss of oxygen that is more stressful than the heat itself.

#30 Guest_Tull_*

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Posted 26 December 2008 - 09:34 PM

Buttonwood Zoo in New Bedford actually has a nice brook trout pair. Looks like a successful spawning pair too. There was some 4" fry in there too.

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