Syracuse.com - Opening day update: Grout Brook trout fishing action is slow for most

[HuntingNY-News]

The water was up a little and stained. Only a few anglers interviewed said they had caught fish. One angler said he caught and released five fish -- the biggest was more than 26 inches long, he said.

Action on Grout Brook this morning was slow, with few anglers getting fish on opening day.

I did run into one lucky angler, Zach Anderson, of Marcellus, who was getting ready to leave and had a nice 22-inch rainbow on a stringer. Anderson said he caught it on an egg sac.

"I fought him for about 4-5 minutes," he said. When he got him on shore, Anderson said, he dropped his pole on the ground. Just then, the fish flopped back in the water.

"I went in after him and got my jacket all soaked," he said. "I threw it back on the bank. I had to. It was sure worth it. But now I'm all soaking wet."

Evan Shirley, of Scott, said he scouted out several holes the day before -- including one where he spotted 8 fish. He said he started fishing at 6 a.m. and hadn't had a bite.

"They're here. You just can't see them," he said. "The water is too dirty."

Jarad Popoli, of Homer, caught his nice rainbow, which he said measured about 26-27 inches. It was the largest of five fish he said said he caught and released this morning on Grout Brook.

 

Jared Popoli, of Homer, said he caught and released five fish this morning, the biggest one weighing about four pounds. He estimated it was 26-27 inches long.

"Got them all on egg sacs," he said. "I got them in holes I'd scouted out beforehand."

Young Jordan Michalowski, 13, of Marathon, was fishing Grout Brook with his grandfather, Dave Rawson.

"I had one this morning and it came right up to the net. And then it opened its mouth and let go of my egg sac and got away," he said. "It was about 15 inches. It was huge."

When I first arrived, the anglers here were fishing as the snow fell.

"This morning it was raining, they said.

While I was interviewing anglers, one guy pulled up in a pickup truck and stopped near me.

"Hey, want to see some monsters?" he said.

"Sure," I responded.

"April Fools," he said, smiling, and then drove off.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

[HuntOrBeHunted]

I know I took a shot at throwing some spinners in and didn't have any luck. Thursday looks to be a nice one. I'll be out bright and early.