Most of the time I get good reviews about the content of this forum but every so often I get an email questioning why I am so liberal about disclosing the location of certain "spots" on various rivers, namely the Millers, Swift and the EB of the Westfield. The emails usually run the course of "now there are more flyfishers there" and how I might be "ruining the fishing". First, I'm not ruining anything. Maybe there's been an up -click on the traffic but most of the time I fish alone or with the customary traffic after running this blog into it's third season. I flyfish these rivers every week and I haven't been forced off my favorite spots yet. That brings me to a pet peeve that I have with some of the "forums" out there. Their "rules" say that you can't disclose the location of a pool on a river even though the great evening that you are having has been witnessed by a number of anglers. This is especially true for the Farmington River and the forum(s) that center on it. What's even more amasing are the forums centered around striper fishing!!! Some anglers have withdrawn their posts concerning coastal locations because of the deluge of private PM's that they get, all not positive.
I do this because I like to share experiences and hope that others can enjoy the same. Nobody, including TU, wanted to get into a "where to go, what to use" dialoge concerning the Millers even though few of them actually fished the river on a frequent basis. I'll tell you where to go and how to position yourself for a good outing.
Years ago, when I took up this sport, I would read about the great rivers of the Catskills, the Beaverkill, the Willow, the Niversink. All of the literature spoke of magical times on the great pools and runs of those rivers. " A great evening on Cairns", "Lost a monster at the Wagon Tracks", it goes on and on. Those storied places were popular back then but it didn't stop those great writers from writing about them and creating the legacy that those river deserve. Are we so tight lipped about certain rivers that we don't want anyone else there even though we may fish it infrequently?? I hope not.
I will continue to "fish and tell". If you fish these rivers after reading these posts I sincerely hope you will have an experience equal or better then mine!!
Hit the Millers!!! The flows are right!!
Ken
26 comments:
Ken,
Don't stop! There is so little time to explore these rivers. Your blog helps in good way.
Phil
I had plans for the Millers today until I saw the outflows increase at Royalston last night. It rose from about 150cfs to almost 600cfs over a period of about 2 hours. I knew that would have to effect the Erving flow and this morning Erving is at 550cfs and rising at 5am. Zero percipitation in the Royalston area yesterday - what gives with that? Also, blasting out the Bear's Den with such a dramatic flow increase in such a short period of time has to be detrimental to all forms of wildlife in the river. Oh well, another day with the rod staying in the closet.
Al
Ken,
I appreciate your information on specific locations, and hope to fish them some day. I fished the Swift for the first time on Sunday, with what I thought was great success. I caught 2 browns and a nice rainbow in the vicinity of the Y pool, and 4 others broke off. My next trips will be spent exploring and looking for some of the other locations you mentioned. As Phil said, there is so little time to explore rivers. Your insight is exremely helpful. Thanks for all you do.
Dave
Ken,
As much as I enjoy reading your personal fishing experiences from time to time, I beg to differ with you on this particular topic. Continually bringing attention to specific locations on certain rivers is simply not necessary. I have no issue with your describing a particular experience you had on a particular river and the success that came with it. And there is certainly plenty of ways to extoll your outing in a pleasing way but I see no upside to you describing in detail the exact whereabouts of a certain stretch of water or pool, what you used, where you stood etc... It only brings more exposure to these particular spots and puts more pressure on the fish which in the end makes for a less enjoyable experience for all.
Part of the enjoyment in fly fishing is the journey itself of self exploration and learning as you go. I for one prefer and would rather see fly fishermen do it the old way...as Smith Barney once said, they EARN IT. As for your specifics, I would prefer to see you keep them where they belong in the privacy of your fishing journal rather than on the world wide web.
Sorry Brooktrout, but this is the way it is. How many times have we read an article in Flyfisherman Magazine detailing a particular river? How many times have we purchased and read a guide to a particular river (the Farmington and the Housy come to mind)? As I stated, I have been beating the drum for the Millers and the Westfield for a while now but still usually fish alone on them. I don't mind if you or anyone else fish my favorite spots. I should mind, I guess, because for YEARS I was the only one there!! I guess it's just the way I'm wired. I've met some good people on these rivers and I've guided anglers on the Millers and now they can enjoy it on their own and they do as witnessed by the emails that I get.
In the big picture this is all a good thing.
Ken
Anonymous -
They're playing games at Birch Hill with the flow again. I called two years ago when the flow was shut off and they blamed it on beavers!!! Maybe they are working on something. If it continues I'll call again.
Ken
Ken,
No need to apologize as I won't. We agree that we disagree. A couple comments here;
1)just because a monthly or seasonal magazine post articles does not make it right and in no way justifies you adding to the publicity. 2) Even as such, most of these magazines are subscribed to, so people who search out and find these stories are willing to pay for the information. 3) Most fly fishing magazines are published every 4-6 weeks. 4)Your information is being provided to anyone and everyone for free and is reported in a much more frequent fashion keeping viewers focused on specific locales in rivers. In closing I would simply add that not everyone lives as conveniently to many of these rivers as you. Your proximity allows you to go during less busier times (early morning, at dusk)... while many others do not have this luxury and can fish only during the height of days 9-5 on weekends, holidays or by taken a day off more often when the masses you do not see but driven by your information are more obvious.
Brooktrout,
We agree to disagree and that's a good thing. I too fish these rivers during banking hours and on weekends but still have not been driven off by the "masses" which don't exist and maybe never will on the Millers and the Westfield. The Swift is another story as it has been over the 30 years that I have fished it.
I hope that some day you find yourself on the Millers ALONE after I post about the browns in front of the three rocks at the tail of the riffles at the head of the Kempfield Pool. I am a guide even if I'm working a keyboard instead of the current.
Good Luck and don't forget the olive emergers!
Ken
I appreciate your descriptions and comments and hope to make use of them on the millers soon. digger10r
Ken,
I agree with your approach and appreciate your kindness by readily sharing so much of what you've worked very hard to learn and discover. I believe that all true flyfishermen belong to a "brotherhood" and that we realize there's no place there for ego, secrecy or selfishness. I don't think any of us were born with "divine" flyfishing knowledge. Some of what we learn along our flyfishing "journey" may come from "self exploration" and "learning as you go", but none of us can deny that we've all had to learn "the other part" from somebody else. Thankfully, there are others that know more than us that are still willing to share their knowledge. As they say: "it ain't about the catching". If you don't understand that then you're missing the best part of flyfishing.
Keep up the good work!
Ken
Just found your blog and love it. I fish the same waters as you plus a few more. And as you do when telling of my fishing trips tell where, when,and on what the evenings catch was caught on. In my 35+ years of throwing fur and feathers I've introduced dozens of fisherman to this wonderful pastime. Keep up the good work.
Mike
Ken,
As someone who Uncle Sam just transferred to the area, I can't stress how much I appreciate someone who's so open with locations where you can have a great fishing experience. As I will not have the years (gone in 4) to be able to find all the "best places," your postings help in a big way. In addition, it may spark interest in someone to take up the sport. The more folks you fall in love with trout fishing, the more folks that will get behind conservation efforts when these fragile habitats are threatened.
Keep up the good work, I'll keep reading!
Shad
Diversity is what makes the world go round I guess. Well, I guess going forward, next time I'm on the Millers I'll make sure to post here and on several other local NE websites my results of where, when and how many fish we there. It appears everyone here is looking for a free lunch, so I guess lunch will be on me.
Results about the Millers are already posted on many sites. Anglers from all New England states, Ny, Pa. California and Oregon, Germany,to name a few, have fished the Millers already. Funny, but I never run into them on the river, just through email.
Hope I meet you there.
Good Luck,
Ken
P.S. thanks guys for your support!!
A comment for Brooktrout - next time you want to try a new water and have to drive more than 2 hours to get there, I hope no one provides anything for you. You also sound like the type who stations themselves on their sweetspot from sunup til sundown, never yielding to anyone - especially to the one who is new to the water and has driven along distance to fish it.
Keep your secrets, don't let anyone know what you see or do. If the fishing goes bad for whatever reason, no one will listen to you because you held on to your secrets. As the good Atlantic Salmon fishing was dissappearing in the small rivers of Maine, there were not enough voices raising concerns to bring any meaningful action. And now they're gone.
I'm of two minds about this question. A lot of my fishing is done on small streams where the brook trout population could be wiped out in a day by a non-catch & release fisherman. I tend to be pretty tight-lipped about those places, but they often require a fair amount of bushwacking to fish so that keeps the number of fishermen down.
For bigger rivers like the Westfield, hey, there's lots of river to fish, and on a stocked catch & release section, there'll be fish somewhere.
I've only been fly fishing for about 3 years, and some of the best advice I've gotten has come from the few other fly fishers I've met on the river.
Reading about other people's great days on the river makes it a little easier for me to get through my days in the office.
Thanks!
Casey
Casey - I agree with you about small streams with native trout. I wrote a post about it back in April of '08. These places are fragile as they are special and I don't "fish and tell" about these locations. Never will!! I'm glad that you feel the same. Public stocked waters, especially C&R areas should be shared.
Ken
Keep on keepin' on, Ken!
Miller's river fisherman are very fortunate to have the quality blog that you offer.
The Millers is fished more than it was several years ago but it is far from overfished. I never feel crowded and enjoy sharing experiences with other fisherman that I come upon.
BTW, having a fun vacation week on the river and catching my share in this beautiful weather.
Pete
Gents,
If we were talking about wild trout in fragile terrain, I would be concerned with "fish n tell", but hatchery fish in trout parks are not endangered as long as the state keeps up their end.
Even with the best advice, it still isn't always easy to take some of the those midging veterans on the Swift.
My only concern is that this info may make it easier for the poachers to find new opportunities.
Mike
Ken
The information and reports you and other's give is invaluable. Work and family commitments keep me off river more than I'd like, so it's always fun to do a little "arm-chair" fishing so to speak. I'll be fishing the Miller's next weekend and hope to share some good reports.
Sam A
Ipswich MA
Ken,
I appreciate your approach to this blog. Frankly, the people who would take time to stay up to date on your blog are the last folks I worry about screwing up the fishing. For those who will take the time to flyfish in July -October there has to be some place to share info.
Thanks...I'd sure like to see similar blogs covereing some other rivers.
Skip
I enjoy your posts as I am new to the area, fishing wise. Hit the Swift Sat morn. and last night. Fished Sat. at the Y pool and just downstream. Found the fish extremely difficult to catch, yet extremely easy to site. Gin clear is an understatement. Lots of people. Went further downstream, hit the river just below a dam just off 181 (Thorndike). Wow!!! We caught a bunch of 17-19 inch bows and one of the nicest brookies I've seen in some time. Very productive spot. Was fishing a stim with a #20 copper john dropper. Used the stim as a strike indicator mostly. The fish couldn't resist my little copper john. Was just me and a friend all evening. Thought I'd share. Good luck out there.
Anonymous - That section of the lower river off rt. 181 is in Bondsville and is a very good place. It's very different from the upper river with a greater variety of insect life. Also it has very little angling traffic. Downstream there's good water behind an industrial park.
Yeah Bondsville. Anyhow have been back there (Depot Street Bridge) a couple times since and have not seen another person yet. Seems the further up river I scout, the better it gets. One good run after another. Last night was particularly notable. Just upstream of the bridge there is a area of calm water that looks like it serves more as a swimming hole. Anyhow as the light was really dropping it seemed every fish in the river was rising at onece. Never have I seen so much top water activity. Was quite surreal. I'll have to check out downstream. Thanks for the heads up.
Hey Anonymous August 14th,
Your clueless. I hike 3-5 miles a day when I'm on the water as I have no problem continually exploring/learning new water on many of the rivers I fish. Part of the fun in fly fishing is the journey taken that day and the reward thats gained from the learning experiences that from it.
That said, I'm certainly not going to throw it out my efforts free to you. Your more than likely the guy we see on the water that looks for free info on sights like these, then ends up sitting on a "new hole" all day afraid to try and learn on your own.
Oh by the way, next time your on the Swift at the Hatchery Pipe try a chamois fly. Tie up a size 20-22 hook with a small cut of beige chamois cloth wrapping from back to front with short overlays. Tie off the head in black thread. When wet it absorbs well and sinks on its own. A killer midge pupae pattern on that river.
Happy now?
Ok, the final tally for this blog post is: many in favor of this blogs philosophy, one against. For those who want to know the "Where, How and When" of a particular river I say thank you and continue reading the entries. If you disagree then don't read this blog.
This blog entry is closed.
Ken
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