To play catch up, you can read the past progress reports here.
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In the past week I’ve wandered over to the Blackberry Creek Dam Removal site three times. I have over 50 photos to go through and a brain full of crap to sort out. Neither of which I’m in the mood to do. I’ll get to it.
First and foremost, the dam is gone and Blackberry Creek is dam free for the first time in over 175 years.
But my initial ventures to the creek were for fish. Documenting things would come later. I wanted to catch something, see if the fish were up here, patiently waiting. I got out one day before the water was flowing.
I caught a couple of these.
A couple of these.
And even one of these came out to play.
To put things in perspective, on Saturday I went to the two other creeks to see if fish were finally moving in. They were high from the rain, but clear. I could see the bottom clearly in five foot deep pools and I could see clearly that they were still devoid of life. I should clarify that.
I saw a minnow.
But that was it. I walked them and fished them and cut it short, the water was ice cold. I knew I was wasting my time.
Saturday was when I took the photo at the top. Of course I was there to fish, not explore. Fish were in, carp after carp. I even hooked one in the mouth and landed it, but it was camera shy. Which is fine by me, I hate handling those slimy things. After rolling and foul hooking another 30 or so, I gave up. The carp were in too thick.
What a difference between the creeks. One teeming with life, the other two barren. I have my theories. Springs on the other two, those two also dried up pretty good in last year’s drought. Other theories, but the fish always come back. Just have to be patient on the one hand and there when they arrive on the other.
Sounds easy enough.
And, for those that need to know… a three inch Producto Spring Grub, in Pearl, on a plain head 1/16th ounce jig with a 1/0 hook from Cabela’s. It catches everything, even carp.
Why switch now.
bob
15 Apr 2013hallelujah, man, hallelujah
Howard Levett
15 Apr 2013Great news! I can’t wait until things green up and things have a chance to settle down.
Ken G
16 Apr 2013Me too Howard. Right now it looks like a massive bomb went off in the area. Nature does tend to return quickly. Might look half way decent by mid-summer.
Ken G
16 Apr 2013Saw a few carp heading upstream already Bob. I’m assuming others are following suit.
I did do a little happy dance…
Kevin
16 Apr 2013I fished the creek Sunday morning, got skunked, but saw a whole bunch of carp that made their way to the old dam site. Looking forward to the bridge being completed so I can cut 15 minutes off the trip!
Ken G
16 Apr 2013Once the carp move in thick like that Kevin it seems like everything else leaves. I timed it just right the week before, not so many carp. That will change back soon.
I talked to a couple of local people, they’re so used to the bridge being shut they’re not sure they want it fixed. 5,000 fewer cars going down that road, no more drag races. The people that live in that stretch are using it as a bike and walking path and enjoying it. Can’t blame them.
Jim McClellan
17 Apr 2013Are the carp native or invasive?
Ken G
17 Apr 2013These are all common carp Jim. The Asian can’t get in this river system, there’s a 26 foot tall dam and I don’t think even they can jump that high.
I guess the common carp were considered invasives 200 years ago.
They do make good garden fertilizer.
walt
17 Apr 2013Ken,
Gotta love that picture of a damless stream! Congrats for seeing it through.
Ken G
17 Apr 2013Now for the fish/fishing documentation Walt, the part I’ve been looking forward too. The area really does look destroyed, so I’ll be documenting the comeback of things green too.
Probably not every week though. Can’t stand sitting around watching grass grow.