The Westfield, Millers and the Swift

During the last two weeks I've been able to fish the Westfield (a short trip but plenty of rainbows), the Millers and two trips to the Swift.

On Friday, the 17th, I found myself on the lower Millers during the late afternoon. A walk up to the Upper Trestle Pool produced one hit. I have to say that this beautiful pool has been "off" this year. The surface action has not been as it was years ago. Maybe next year.

An hour later I worked the Kempfield section. The big, flat water brought 4 browns to the net with another 4 escaping this angler. Again it was the #18 BWO which was the king for the day.

When I started fishing the temperature was about 60 degrees. By 6pm it had dropped into the mid 40's and even though I was dressed for cool weather I could feel the change in the season as I left the water for the walk back to the car. At this time of year I wonder, as I leave the river for the trip home, if this will be the last trip of the season to the Millers River. It's been that way for the last 24 seasons. Hopefully.........

Sunday morning and it has poured all night. I can hear the river outside my kitchen roaring and a quick look at the online guages show that the Millers and the Westfield are blown out again. But the pre-dawn sky is clear so off to the reliable Swift. What a day!! I landed the largest brookie that I have caught in Ma. George said it was 17 inches but it was more like 15 inches and loaded with fall spawning color. Another brookie, about 13 inches followed that, and another 4 more came to the net. All told I had 14 trout, 8 'bows and 6 brookies. I also saw a 'bow that easily passed the 20 inch mark caught by another angler. It was a deep colored fish that had been in the river for some time.

The Flies - SCUDS, #14 and #16.

The days are growing shorter. Flyfish NOW!!

Ken

Birthday Browns

It was nice to have the Columbus Day holiday off. First, it happened to be my birthday, the weather was great and I was chasing browns again on the Millers. The large pool at the end of the Kempfield Section had just enough surface action to keep me busy for the short 1 1/2 that I had to pursue this sport today. A BWO or two, (all around #18) brought the trout up. The result was two browns between 14-16 inches and dark and shiny rainbow about 12 inches fooled by my #18 olive comparadun emerger.

I wish I could have stayed longer.

Ken

Millers River - Sunday, October 5th

An Autumn Brown from the Millers

The Kempfield Pool

It was one of those bluebird days, great for leafbeeping but not so good for flyfishing. At least that is how I feel about clear, blue skies but the Millers had dropped into the 300cfs range and that was good enough for me. My time was limited and not at the prime time of late afternoon so there I was at 3pm with two hours to make something happen.

I began to cross the lower trestle at the top of the Kempfield section when I saw that two fly fishers had taken up the area below the island. I entered the water above them but in 20 minutes they reeled up and left. I fished through their section and saw no rising fish but a glimpse downstream revealed what looked like a rise. Fallfish?? A late season bass?? As I made my way down to investigate more rises were spied. The water was low enough to get into position for some upstream dry fly fishing - the best!!! It was then that I saw them - OLIVES. Nice #18 sailboats gliding down the current. It didn't seem like BWO weather but I didn't complain. In short, 5 browns and 1 dark, handsome rainbow came to the net.

Soon it was over and so was my time for the day. I had no complaints because this is what I dream about all year long. Autumn on the Millers with clear, low water and rising trout. I had done well in that short time and that memory will hold me through the long winter which is just around the corner.

Fish the Millers now! Water levels are good and will stay good if the rain holds off.

Good Luck,

Ken

Flyfisher 3 Great Blue Herron 0

Took the last hour and a half of the days light to fish the lower Swift. I took three very dark, heavy rainbows on scuds and hotspots. My companion was a blue herron who on three attempts missed snatching his trout. This bird was not as large as some I've seen and was probably born last Spring and needed to acquire some better fishing skills. The Swift can be difficult for all of us, human and bird alike. This guy had no fear and at one time was about 15 ft from me. Next time I'll take a camera along.

The Millers is coming down - slowly.

Maybe Sunday...

Ken