There is No Such Thing as Coaster Brook Trout in Lake Superior

Posted on May 4, 2012 by
Categories: Conservation, Environment

At least genetically speaking…

…Let me clarify.  I’ve always heard and read about Coasters.  They are spoken of here in Michigan in hushed tones.  Coasters are lake dwelling brook trout said to exist only in Lake Superior.  They grow to mythic proportions and ascend tributaries each fall to spawn.  While most are probably about twenty inches long and three pounds, they can grow to thirty inches long and ten pounds.  .  In times past they were said to be numerous, and sportsman flocked to UP river mouths to catch giant brook trout.  I have always been told that they are an endangered subspecies of brook trout native only to Lake Superior

This isn’t true…

…So let me be clear.  Coasters do not exist, not as a genetic strain.  Coasters do exist as a phenomenon of Lake Superior, the ultimate brook trout pond.  This distinction is important, as it shifts the focus (and resources) from trying to identify and save a genetic strain that doesn’t exist, to preserving habitat and promoting regulations that will foster strong Coaster numbers once again…

Read more via: Fontinalis Rising

Episode 5 “A Fishing Year Along The River Vindelälven Valley”

Posted on April 30, 2012 by
Categories: Fly Fishing, Video

Welcome to the fifth part (Part 5 of 6) of: A Fishing Year Along The River Vindelälven Valley “. In this episode we follow Erik and Stefan who go up to Gargnäs/Råstrand Fishing Area to try to catch salmon. They have heard that salmon fishing can be very painstaking and in order to improve their chances they ask for help from the local expert, Daniel “DJ” Jonsson. He is the one who has the best knowledge of all the pools in the river and where salmon are found at the moment.

What they could not guess was that the DJ had another ace up his sleeve, a local method to get the salmon to strike. Let’s watch and see if they succeed in their fishing.