Unbelievable!! Every freestone river is totally blown out by this series of late July gullywashers. As I write this my Millers River is over 2000cfs!!!! The whitewater kyak season is back. I think it will be safe to say that our fears of low water conditions have been washed away for the next few weeks. All of this led me to the Swift this past Saturday morning. My plan was simple. The lw flowing Swift would be a magnet for fly anglers in search of fishable water and an early arrival would be necessary. So, out of bed at 4:30am and on the river by 5:45am. I did it! Did I need to do it? Well, not exactly. I saw only one other fly fisher in the next five hours. It was fun anyway. Oh yes, I was at the "Pipe" section.
The fishing - I took around 12 'bows with a orange scud taking most of them. Most were 12 inch+ fish. The other fly fisher took about twice as many and was fishing a 3 fly rig.
I have a feeling that this weather that has sent most rivers to near flood stage will have a delayed effect on the Swift. That's usually the case. Quabbin will be slow to fill but in a few weeks may crest the spillway and raise the Swift to 400+ cfs like late this winter.
I hope not.
Ken
2 comments:
Thank God for the Swift. Now that it is up over 200CFS, is it still easy to wade? What about the sulpher hatch at this water level? Thanks!
200 cfs is still easy wading. I saw one sulphur in the five hours spent there this morning. I had good luck with scuds and small (#18-20 red nymphs. Also had some surface action in the flats far above the "pipe". Need to bring some ants the next time.
Today got pretty crowded by 9am. Yesterday it was empty. ????
Ken
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