"NhFlyfisher" left a comment yesterday asking if the Millers, at 100 cfs, was too low to fish. The answer is yes and no.
I took a ride to inspect this old haunt for the first time in almost a month. A month ago we had very high water but this drought has a grip on this watershed. The first stop was the Upper Trestle Pool. Over the years this spot always had at least one rising fish but not this evening. This pool usually fishes well during low flows. Not tonight.
So, down to the Kempfield where things got strange. While standing at mid pool I saw a line of bubbles working it's way across the pool towards the shore. "Beaver" I thought but I was wrong. It was an otter with a 15 inch rainbow in it's jaws. The otter crawled up on shore dragging his dinner and disappeared into the bushes. The last of the Millers rainbows? Hardly. I took two and a brown in the next hour and a half and all on dries and all on totally different patterns.
Was the fishing good? Not really and that was because of the low flow. Some favorite runs were almost unfishable. We need rain and this river needs to spike to 200 cfs for a good fishing experience. BTW, all fish fought hard and quickly swam away at release.
Ken
5 comments:
Hi,
I am new to the area and looking for some parking access points along the Millers or Swift to check out. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Ken,
Did you catch any smallies? I always find the millers in that area fun this time of year in low flows catching smallmouth after smallmouth on streamers or poppers... Havent had a chance to fish there this year though...
Will
Will,
No Smallies!! My view is that THIS year has seen a decrease in smallmouth on that river. Used to catch many just a few years ago and big ones too.
Anonymous,
Email me and I'll send you the Fly Fishers Guide To The Millers River.
The Swift - drive east on rt 9 through Belchertown until you see a bunch of cars parked before a bridge. You are at the end of the Catch and Release section which is upstream. Not the best spot but it's a start.
FOLLOW THIS BLOG, BEFORE, CURRENT AND AFTER to find out where the opportunities are!
Welcome to the area!!!
Ken
Ken,
Great article by Thomas Ames Jr in Northern Woodlands Magazine. Great magazine, always worth a look.
http://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/the-hatch
Gene
Bummer on the smallies Ken. They have historically been a lot of fun!
Post a Comment