How big (as in wide and deep) does a stream generally have to be for it to support fish?
ive seen em as little as a few feet with the odd hole a foot or so deep. i think theres alot more factors than just size that matter to support a fish population
Anthony-
A stream you can step across without even jumping is capable of supporting fish. The more important requirements would be constant flow of water, and a macro-invertebrate population sufficient to provide food for the fish.
Taxon
[url=http://FlyfishingEntomology.com:0df98]FlyfishingEntomology.com[/url:0df98]
Just a story,
I traveled back home last year and visited my home waters of the Kings River in Kings Canyon Nat Park. I was fishing a side channel that had some decent flow which brought along several 12-16 inch rainbows. I decided to do some bushwacking and found some shadows moving in a very slow and shallow pool. Im talking inces in depth. The first fish I caught was a beautiful 10 inch brookie. I havent seen a brook trout since I was a kid. Now thats survival if I do say so my self. Its also proof that fish can survive in environments that are not ideal.
Seege
Most mountain steams and beaver ponds in my area will hold some fish if there a a few pools deeper than 4 feet. At the 4 foot level the water will experiance ‘turnover’ a temperature related related change in the density of liquid water compared to the density of ice that allows the water to remain unfrozen. Ponds and slow pools less than 4 feet will freeze solid.
Don’t assume that a small stream can’t hold big fish. I once pulled a 24" rainbow out of a little mountain stream that was less that 30" wide and averaged about 10" deep, it did however have deep undercut banks that concealed pools that were 5-6 feet deep. Most of the fish were 6-8 inch brookies, but deep in on of the undercuts there lurked a lunker!
[This message has been edited by kengore (edited 29 January 2006).]
Kengore, the depth of water needed to avoid freezing solid very much depends on where you are. Around here (Nashville), 4 inch deep water won’t freeze solid in most years. In the last 40 years I can remember 2 or 3 when a grown man could safely stand on the ice. Most years there is no freeze-up at all, except for a thin crust.
There is a small creek that run along the yard next door. It dries up completely but fish always reappear. There is an underground stream into which they can escape.
Ed