Whilst reading various threads on the forum lately I've noticed a recurrent theme. How little rain we've had and how low and clear the rivers are. Here in East Anglia we kinda expect to get the best of the sunshine and we got no hills to draw down rain. Usually we just get the little that's left after the clouds have dumped all over Wales and the NW. No complaints there as I like it warm. But our rivers don't have a great pace to them as a rule. Other than tidal stretches my local river only gets going for a few weeks in winter. It generally needs a harsh frost followed by a solid downpour to clear the weedgrowth which is prolific in a rural farming area. Nitrate leakage and all that.
Anyway to my point. Poor fishing conditions on our rivers because of low flow might have a delayed benefit. The absence of winter last year and exceptional warmth this month seem to have produced spectacular spawning success. I have no proof but I do sense there are 2 cohorts of fry in amongst the reeds and lilies. Last years hatchlings will have been less prone to being washed out to sea and may therefore shoal more strongly with greater chances of mutual survival. This could lead to a boost in stock levels. Who knows what this winter will bring. Maybe any perceived benefit I imagine will be wiped out by 3 months of torrents of chocolate coloured water tearing the streams apart.
What have you observed? And what do feel about more, but smaller fish in our catches for a few years?
Anyway to my point. Poor fishing conditions on our rivers because of low flow might have a delayed benefit. The absence of winter last year and exceptional warmth this month seem to have produced spectacular spawning success. I have no proof but I do sense there are 2 cohorts of fry in amongst the reeds and lilies. Last years hatchlings will have been less prone to being washed out to sea and may therefore shoal more strongly with greater chances of mutual survival. This could lead to a boost in stock levels. Who knows what this winter will bring. Maybe any perceived benefit I imagine will be wiped out by 3 months of torrents of chocolate coloured water tearing the streams apart.
What have you observed? And what do feel about more, but smaller fish in our catches for a few years?