Syracuse.com - Trout stream profile: A look at Limestone Creek (second in a three-part series)

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Much of it runs directly through the town of Manlius and the villages of Manlius and Fayetteville, which is a highly residential area. It runs by a golf course, through several parks, behind people's houses. It's kind of an urban or suburban fishery, said one angler. Watch video John Berry/The Post-StandardJohn Dobricki has been fishing Limestone Creek for about 30 years.Year-round streams Since 1996, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has permitted anglers to fish year-round in designated sections of more than 30 trout streams. Three of those streams are in Onondaga County: Butternut Creek, Limestone Creek and Chittenango Creek. May 18: Butternut CreekToday: Limestone CreekJune 1: Chittenango Creek John Dobricki says the unique thing about Limestone Creek is that, in some spots, it gives the illusion that you’re way out in the middle of nowhere while fishing it.“Actually, much of it runs directly through the town of Manlius and the villages of Manlius and Fayetteville, which is a highly residential area. It runs by a golf course, through several parks, behind people’s houses. It’s kind of an urban or suburban fishery,” he said.The state Department of Environmental Conservation has purchased only some 1.6 miles of public fishing access along its meandering 25-mile course from its headwaters at the DeRuyter Reservoir to its mouth. However, Dobricki points out, trout anglers have little trouble finding stretches to fish.“Access is pretty good, although a lot of the stream banks are privately owned. There’s very few posted signs,” he said.Dobricki, 50, of Taunton, said he’s been fly fishing Limestone Creek for about 30 years. The stream contains both wild and stocked brown and brook trout. He practices catch-and-release fishing.His biggest trout on the stream to date was a 17-inch brown he hooked using a hare’s ear nymph.“I was dragging it deep that day in a hole. He hit and cleared the water twice,” he smiled.Dobricki said most of the stream can be fished easily with hip boots, although a few deeper stretches call for chest waders.He said the stream offers a wide variety of challenges and varying depths and width.“It’s not consistent. You’ll have fast waters, pocket water, deeper pools ... in some stretches it gets skinny; in others fat,” he said.“I’ve been told there’s a 700-foot drop in elevation from Edwards Falls (in Manlius) to the village of Fayetteville, which makes it great trout water.”The extensive canopy and occasional steep banks shield the angler’s views of nearby buildings and houses.“Like I said, it’s easy to forget where you are,” he said.LIMESTONE AT A GLANCE:Limestone Creek, located in Onondaga and Madison counties, consists of a main branch and a west branch. The main creek/east branch starts as an outflow of the DeRuyter Reservoir and flows northward. The west branches merges with the main stem in Manlius and the main creek then continues to its confluence with Butternut Creek, which then flows into Chittenango Creek. The year-round section, where fish can be kept year-round — limit of five fish, with two no longer than 12 inches —stretches from its mouth (where it combines with Butternut Creek) upstream to Route 20. Type of fish: Limestone offers stocked and wild brown and brook trout. The Onondaga section of Limestone’s main stem (from Route 20 north to Fayetteville) is stocked with more than 8,000 one-year-old browns; 4,200 two-year-old browns (12-14 inches) and 1,000 one-year-old brook trout (9-11 inches). The main branch, south of Route 20 in Madison County, is stocked with 1,000 one-year-old, brown trout (8-9 inches). The west branch in Onondaga County is also stocked with 500 one-year-old browns; 175 two-year-old browns and 200 one-year-old brook trout. Hold over fish are common in the main creek and occasional 20-inch fish come from the lower section. Public fishing: There are a number of easy access points and little posted property. Most stretches can be fished with hip boots. The upper section of the stream and the west branch are narrow and brushy. The main stem/east branch is the better fishery of the two. As you get north of Route 20, the main steam stream becomes wider and more open. The area from Route 20 to Fayetteville has the most suitable habitat for trout. From Fayetteville downstream the stream slows down and widens further. For maps and more about this stream, see the DEC Web site For the fly guys: The stream varies in width and open areas. Overall, it’s moderately challenging for casting. Moderate insect hatches. Best artificial flies, depending on the time of year, include caddis, sulphurs, streamers and nymphs. The best fly fishing can be found in the stretch from Manlius to Fayetteville.

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