Test fishing

Today was the last day of the week were we have been restoring Joujoki. Because it was the last day, and we didn´t have that much to do my group were sent out to find a new stretch for test fishing. The stretch we choose were a calm and deep part of Joujoki and we was hoping to catch some bigger fish.

We started with measuring up the stretch that was going to be 100 meters, put up signs so we could see were it started and ended. Then the fishing began. We began the test fishing and it didn´t take long until we had a fish that took the bait. After it had missed a couple of times it finally took. It was a very nice brown trout that measured 27 cm.

Then we moved up a bit and caught two graylings on 22 cm each. The fishing continued and it took some time before we found a new fish that were hungry. This time it was me who were fishing. I felt it take a couple of times before i managed to hook it. It was a really nice grayling on 28 cm and that is a pretty big fish in Joujoki. I was really satisfied with the catch and really happy to not be the only one not to catch fish.

We were surprised that there were so many bigger fish on the stretch were we was fishing. But at the same time it´s really fun to see that there is a bit bigger fish aswell and not only the really small trouts and grayling that we caught

earlier and that we have seen so many of.

This has been an amazing week were I have learned alot of things, not just theoretical stuff but also practical methods to enhance the habitat for trout and grayling. One thing I learned was that when restoring a stream you should think about doing it impossible to fish with a fly in the stream when you are finished. That is actually a really good way to think.

Now we start preparing for next weeks activities wich is going to involve some guiding and cooking. It´s going to been an intresting week, but on the other hand, nothing we do in school is boring.

/Tight lines

Restoration

Today we continued the restoration of Joujoki. We focused on the spawning grounds and were divided into three groups of three to four per group, and was dealt one spawning ground per group. The work started with us digging out all the bigger stones because the gravel has to be in the size 2-8 cm in diameter. The depth of the spawning ground also increased wich is good because the trout eggs need to be under water all winter in order to survive.

We also tried to lead a bit more water into the spawning ground and make some white water to add more oxygen into the water. As well we placed some stones to prevent the gravel to be sweept away by the water.

It has been an intressting day and I have learned alot about the habitat that the fish live in. Even if there is a lot of hard work doing this restoration it´s so much fun and you can really see the difference it makes.

Tomorow is the last day at Joujoki and were going to go and take a look at the hole stretch so we can see what everyone has done during the week and hopefully see all the inprovements we have made.

/Tight lines

Repairing a stream

This week we are doing repairs on a smal stream called Joujoki. The stream is smal and from 2 to 10 meters wide. We do the repairs to help the trout and grayling with spawninggrounds and places for the fish to hide and rest.

So far this week we have placed out a lot of stone in the stream to get as many places for the fish to as possible. At the stretch of stream my group worked on there were alot of stones already but they were placed really poorly, so what we did was that we replaced the biggest stones to break up the stream into smaller sections that go between the stones. We also tried to make as much whitewater as possible to get as much oxygen into the water as we could.

Today we did some testfishing to se what species that are in the stream. The result were surprising, we found brown trout, grayling, quappe and sculpins. I was surprised when we cought the quappe.

We also catch some insects to se what insects there are and how much food the fish have. We found alot of mayflies, both Danica nymphs, some heptagenidae and some other smaller mayflies. Stoneflies are there a lot of and also a lot of caddislarva, both the Hydropsyche and the Rhyacophila. So it seems the fish have a lot of food, both for the smal and big fish.

Tomorrow we are going to make some spawninggrounds before the trout start spawning. That is going to be really intressting to do.

/Tight lines

My new fishing blog

Here you are going to be able to follow my time studying to fishingguide on Tornedalens Folkhögskola. I will also write about me fishingtrips on my freetime.

I will try to update the blog atleast once a week and if I dont it´s probably because we are out on a trip with school or because I´m out fishing.

/Tight lines