Don't they dump the brown trout fingerlings sometime soon??
 

I'd like to see more Browns stocked in relation to Rainbows. This year there was one stocking of fingerling Browns compared to three stockings of fingerling Rainbows. In addition there was a stocking (early August I believe) of surplus Rainbows from the Pleasant Gap hatchery that were larger fish (6 inches or so). So all told that's four stockings of Rainbows vs. one stocking of Browns and most buys prefer the Browns. While I certainly enjoy the Rainbows that's not why I go there.

ORIGINAL: lunker49

years ago when i fished they would come around and take scale samplings. back then according to what one gentlemen said the river is very self sustaining so in my opinion I love it when they stock the fingerlings. it makes the other fish bigger

Well Lunker, I agree and I don't. My reason being I have noticed a big drop in the walleye caught the past few years. I do agree the water and the fish as far as walleye are concerned probably could self sustain themselves, but not at the tailrace and here is why i say that:
1. During the walleye spawning time the dam fluctuates up and down constantly due to snow melt off, trying to reach summer pool level, heavy rains. Then they switch from the bottom to the top gates which sometimes makes the water temp go up 8-10 degrees in a day. Walleye as well as other species spawn during certain water temps, and if the water temps started to reach the desired mark just before they make the switch then that spawn is basically gone.
2. Tons of trout. Say the walleye do spawn and have some walleye fry.. those walleye fry are basically bait to any predator let alone 100,000's of fingerling trout waiting as well to gobble them up.
3. Large harvest rate at the tailrace. The tailrace is a very good location to harvest walleye from shore. Any walleye that is over 15 inches usually goes how with its catcher.

I think self sustained walleye populations at the tailrace area would fail. Further down stream like Tidioute area, it has been producing a lot of yearling fry.. so that is good news, but I think the walleye pop will drop yearly if they aren't stocked in the tailrace area.

Think of it this way. year after year trout get dumped in by the 1000's. Practically every fishermen that fishes for trout in those waters practices catch and release. So if you keep putting in, and nothing is taken out.. I think there wont be room for the walleye eventually. Just my point of view.
You are absolutely correct when you say the fingerlings are great bait and make the other species bigger. You posted earlier that you caught a 7 pound eye with an 8 inch trout. well that walleye was probably what.. 27-28 inches long? I caught one last year that was only 21 inches and it had a 8.5 incher in it. I took a pic and would post it, but i fear it would gross everyone out.

Well I don't know about the trout and their ability to self sustain themselves. Especially the rainbows. Maybe if they slacked off on the rainbow and put in more browns then possibly, but I really don't know if that will fly.
The last sampling of the walleye study will be done this October. I have been talking to the fish commission and they have listened to our plight and we are sending letters to address this issue and so far the fish commission seem to be listening, but all the studies they are doing are far below the tailrace and I'm sorry but what happens in tidioute doesn't mean the same thing is happening at the tailrace. its a completely different ecosystem in my opinion.

i think the fish commision realizes that "most" days you go there to fish , there is about 20 trout fisherman to 1 walleye , pike , bass fisherman especially after july when most trout waters heat up past the trout comfort zone

Heading up this weekend...HOPING to get out and stretch the old fly line...something tells me the boss won't have much none of it. It's a "working weekend" at camp.

That is one common misconception. A lot of trout anglers think this because that's what they see... during the day. Most of the people fishing for walleye leave before you get there (shortly after dawn) or arrive after you leave (after dusk) I know, I fish there every night. You would be amazed at the traffic that travels the road on the hemlock side. I myself sometimes don't show up until midnight. Trust me there are more walleye fishermen then anyone realizes mainly because we dont come out until after dark and in a month or so, those shores will be filled with walleye anglers.

yeppers. already getting the itch.

Another big brown. 26 inches.

He fought like a beast, but really wasnt very heavy - long and lean.

pics?

Way to hammer em 'tracker, they just ain't safe around you! It's brown, it's down!
Nice feesh.

Ubers' pics...

ORIGINAL: D-nymph

Holy wow!  Nice fish man.

Especially that first one.  I like the big browns with less spots the most.

The first one is the one I caught a few days ago.. the last one on the page in my winter duds, was caught this spring. He is the longest at 29" Only weighed 8 pounds though so I was disapointed in that due to the fact that I caught three the year prior that were 26" and weighed 8 pounds.. one was even 8.5. When i measured it and saw 29" i was think "oh yeah, 10 pounder but, nope.. only 8"

great fish

All of them are awesome of course but I really like that fourth one down. Great colors on that one.