Do THIS if you want more Trout in your River

Whether your trout stream is a tranquil English Chalkstream, a lush spring creek in the Driftless or a freestone river in the Rocky Mountains, USA; large woody debris is one of the best things to ensure you have more (and larger) wild trout to fish for. That woody material is an essential ingredient in trout stream restoration. This video shows work carried out by Action for the River Kennet (ARK) in partnership with the Wild Trout Trust (WTT) on the River Kennet at Brimpton, UK. Even a single, simple intervention can be seen to have a massive impact on habitat quality - just check out the drone footage at the end of the short film for proof! Some of the most significant reasons that habitat structural changes are important for healthy trout populations (and healthy river corridors overall) are also explained in detail. There are many typical, negative impacts on rivers arising from human modifications to the land and river channels. Straightening meandering channels, dredging and removing gravel, cobble and boulder materials, cutting down trees and mowing bankside vegetation - as well as increasing the amount of nutrient-rich silts entering these rivers - all create negative impacts for stream life (and wildlife living on the surrounding land). When any trees that have escaped being cut down end up falling naturallyl into rivers - it is common in England for them to be removed from the channel amid fears of increased flood risk (no matter if the woody material in question is stable or actually creating a protective effect against flooding). This appears to contrast quite strongly with approaches in the USA, where local chapters of Trout Unlimited (as well as governmental fisheries scientists and other organisations) commonly undertake tree planting and addition of large woody material and debris dams in many trout streams. Some fly fishers (perhaps especially on chalkstreams) have come to regard fallen and sunken trees as "mess" in the river - and may even be worried about losing flies on trailing branches. However, this video aims to show how important and productive complex habitat can be for sustaining excellent wild trout fisheries - from spawning, through juvenile and large adult trout lifecycle stages; wood in rivers is a surprisingly powerful force for good. The video and the habitat works themselves are the handiwork of fly fishers and habitat conservationists. The film highlights the highly inter-dependent linkages between terrestrial and aquatic habitats, food chains and - ultimately - wild fish populations and their predators. Paul Gaskell, WTT and Fishing Discoveries