"There are three stages to fly fishing. First is to catch as many fish as possible. Second is to catch the largest fish possible and third is to catch the most difficult fish to catch" Edward Ringwood Hewitt
You knew that it was going to happen - another rainy day although our river of destination, the East Branch of the Westfield, was flowing low at 153 a 6am and it would take a lot of rain to make it unfishable. I was hoping for some dry fly action but rain can put a damper on that thought and it did as the drizzle turned into a light rain. What to do?? Keep fishing!
It was a day filled with the occasional rise, the light "tap" of a trout and the changing of flies to see what worked. My Kens Caddis Emerger brought a hit or two but nothing in the net. It wasn't until we threw on a BWO Wet that we got our first trout, a good rainbow.
The BWO Wet to the right is made with a body of olive floss, Uni-Flex 1X olive to be exact, and a wet fly hackle from my prized wet fly cape that I found in the bargain barrel at a fly shop. Always check these sources out!!! BTW, it's a size 16.
You have to love this time of year because the WORLD is in bloom and the Rhododendron will take center stage as it should! You will find them everywhere.
The Rivers
I mentioned that the EB was at 153 on Sunday and it rose with the rain to 524 on Monday and as I write on Tuesday morning it's a very fishable 272. Keep that in mind. It goes up and down quickly.
The Swift is dropping (272) and I want to fish below Route 9, especially Cady Lane. What I really want is 60 cfs!!!!!!!
The Millers? It went up again (607) but it's fishable if you know your spots. Watch the USGS gauge for this river.
Book Me
We are leaving the Spring season and heading into early Summer which means that the best hours for fly fishing will be in the early morning and in the evening unless you only fish tailwaters. This condition is perfect for the three hour trip( 8: 00am or earlier to 11:00am and 5pm to 8pm).
Happy Summer (Friday 6/21)
Ken
7 comments:
Took a lunch break from work yesterday (I love my job) and drove by the Swift on my way back from Springfield to see if I thought it was wade able. From the bridge, saw a couple of aggressive rises (more like an attack on something on the surface). Worth a shot. Hiked about halfway to the Y-Pool, where the crowds seemed to be, eased into knee-deep water and for the next hour had lots of hits. Brought a rainbow and brookie to the net, using a #14 Royal Trude. Still learning this river (with all the helpful hints on this blog). Definitely wade able, if you are careful. Mid-stream current--top of thigh deep--was strong at 284 cfs. Can't wait to have another lunch break there.
Charles
Charles,
I like 60 cfs and not 280, certainly not 780!!!
We are getting into that range!!!
Ken
Ken
Did well on the Ware with a stimulator last night. The flow was perfect!
GW
GW,
And we did well on the EB with stimulators too. It's that time of year!!
Ken
Action was (finally) much better yesterday with surface flies out here in Central MA. Not a whole heck of a lot of bugs, but the fish were chasing bugs and at least looking up. Most of my damage was done with traditional catskill patterns in grey or cream.
Fished the Millers yesterday from 5:00 until dark. I was the only car at the Bears Den lot. Hiked up beyond Buckman's Brook and worked my way back down. Brought three browns to hand swinging your gray caddis that I tied up.
Peter
Peter,
That section of the Millers is classic water and I'm glad the caddis is working for you.
mattk,
They are looking up in Western Ma too, especially on the EB
Ken
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