There has been some chatter about how this heavy snow season will effect our fishing Spring on the Millers and other freestone rivers. Here is an observation.
Let's backcast to the winter of 1991-1992. We had unbelievably heavy snow which allowed me to cross country ski in the woods of north central Ma until mid April. That sounds great BUT the last moisture that fell from the heavens, to any real extent, fell in late March. May through September were very DRY and that hurt the fishing for the Summer. Double haul to 2001-2002 where we had very heavy snow but a drought during the Summer. The Winter of 2006-2007 had a a light snow pack BUT a Spring and Summer that were wet enough to keep the rivers UP and flowing and the fly fishing was great. The 2008-2009 Winter was average but the Summer was a washout. The 2009-2010 Winter was also average as far as snow was concerned but the Summer spelled DROUGHT like we have not seen it in 25 years.
What does all of this mean?? We like to have a heavy snow pack for the winter BUT we really need a Summer that is NOT DRY!!!!!! An average Summer rainfall will work very nicely. That has been the case on the Millers for years. Occasionally Summers will run dry but most of the time we have the rain that will sustain us.
Let's hope for another "average" season on the Millers. Ditto for the EB!!!
Ken
10 comments:
Ken,
I found this forecast and it doesn't look promising for most of the summer but the weather predictions aren't that great from week to week never mind months out.
Ed
http://www.longrangeweather.com/Long-Range-Monthly-Weather-Forecasts.htm
Gents,
This warm spell makes me wonder...
has anyone seen fish in the lower Swift or have they been completely wiped out after Jan 1 ?
How about the "Y" pool?
HOF
HamOnFly,
Again - great name!!!!
The trout on the lower Swift, below rt9, have not been wiped out. They are just harder to catch. The bait/hardware boys are not having much luck either. I have caught trout through the Winter here but the success rate is usually lower. The flow is lower and the cold temperatures with the snow pack will lower the stream temperature to the point that the trout don't need to feed as much. They are cold blooded creatures, their feeding needs are less during the winter even on a bottom release stream like the Swift.
In a month things will change.
Ken
Ken,
I think the question by many is not how this winter snow will Affect the summer fishing but how long it will delay spring fishing. Unfortunately we are no out of it yet by any stretch of the imagination. March always brings at least one more good dumping. Not sure how it is out your way but here we still have substantial snow pack which leads me to believe that many of our NE rivers, especially the Millers, will be delayed due to runoff for at least two weeks if not more. That said, I suspect it will be a very short "spring" season on the water. Hopefully this summer will be more like 2009 than 2010.
-BT
http://fishtalesofnewengland.blogspot.com/
The Millers and the other "big" rivers will be high this Spring but that gives us the chance to spend more time on the smaller water.
Ken
I'm jut hoping for a gradual melting of the snow. Here on the North Shore everything is locked with ice, and the few spots with open water either have no parking or to much shelf ice. I think it's funny when I hear people saying how all this snow will help the drought this summer. I don't think they realize that most of the water flows out to sea around here!
River Hunter,
I agree!! As my post stated, Winter snow fall is no real indication of how Summer conditions will play out.
I would love to see a NORMAL Summer on the Millers. We really have not seen that since 2007. 2008 and 2009 were flood years. 2010 was a drought year.
Ken
Do you think that the Miller's will be stocked less than years past due to the anticipated flooding?
Also, do you think it would be worth it to try my luck at the Kempfield pool in early spring for a chance at some hold-over browns? if so, what flies would work best? I'm thinking small nymphs, WB or maybe even Ted Williams own "Millers River Special".
Thanks,
Ethan
Ethan,
The Millers will receive it's usual number of trout but if the water is high the stocking may be delayed.
A WB worked slow and deep will do the trick.
Ken
Thought you guys might enjoy this little vid i came across on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJRh64Clq0k
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