There were two sets of tire tracks in the inch of new snow as I made the turn off of River Rd.onto the Pipe access road this past Friday afternoon at 2:30. That meant two things. First, there were two cars in the lot or second, that someone had come and gone. The second theory proved correct as I followed the coming and going footprints down to the Pipe. The footprints never entered the water which meant that a bait/hardware angler or some sightseer had paid a visit. I saw no other footprints on either side of the river which confirmed the rumors - the fishing has been very slow here. I had the place to myself.
I rigged up a #16 Swift River Scud and started from the head of the Pipe and worked down to the Tree Pool. No runs, no hits and no errors and from my vantage point I could see no fish. Time for another walk through. This time I got a "follow" from the top of the pipe. The next cast resulted in the same thing! A half dozen casts to the same area were ignored so I switched to a #18 Swift Serendipity. Everything changed!! That fish came up and was landed. The next CHASED that fly for two feet before it made a grab and hooked itself on the side of it's head. I'll count that as two landed. The third inhaled that Swift Serendipity and then came to the net. All were dark rainbows, survivors of this brutal winter.
I had to give up at 4ish to make the trip to see my daughters. I didn't feel bad about leaving since the evening would be great and I didn't really expect to catch anything if the rumors were correct. The 'bows were a bonus.
By this time next week the Swift should get it's first helping of trout. Why it hasn't yet is a mystery. Plenty of anglers of all types will be there. It may be the last time that I will fish that section ALONE at mid afternoon until next winter! I will not complain. I can't wait for a 70 degree day on that river. When the crowds come I'll just find a place, work the water and catch some trout!!
Ken
22 comments:
Ken, Good on you! Fooling some holdovers that evaded the hook-and-cook crowd is always a treat. Like you said, it's surprising that more waters haven't been stocked yet. Looking back on my records going back 20 years or more, the Squannacook has just about always been stocked by the end of March. Water is cold, but levels are great, so let's hope the fish get put in soon. Tight lines, Gerry
Gerry,
Good to hear from you!
There were a lot of trout in the Swift in early December then they disappeared. With water levels being perfect you would of thought we would have seen more.
Ken
Beautiful fish.
I can't wait to get catch one fly-fishing.
I am what you refer to as a hardware type but am expanding my horizons.
Ed,
You're heading in the right direction if you want to catch more trout on the Swift this season.
Watch other fly fishers to see what they do and follow this blog!
Ken
Ken,
I find the stocking, or lack thereof, weird as well...Western mass has stocked their rivers this past week...What is weird is they STILL have snow on the peaks of the mountains, and I was snowmobiling only 2 weeks ago!!!!! Here, we haven't had snow in near a month and the rivers aren't stocked yet.. Hell, the Quuabbin area has not even stocked their lakes yet! Very very weird!
Just spoke with Mark, the central district fisheries biologist and he said they "might" stock rivers this week depending on the rain we are getting... Seems odd as some rivers are already showing signs of "early summer" flows...Would think they would want to stock fish when water is high so they can spread out more and be more difficult for the worm dunking bridge warriors to get...
Good for you getting out Ken. That serendipity is a winner.
I was over in the West Branch of the Westfield in Chester on Saturday.
Great water level - no fish.
Nice just to be on the water.
Lots of cased caddis stuck to the rocks.
Bob,
Westfield rivers were stocked last week... hmmm?
I also stopped by the EB Saturday. Unless they're trucking fish in with 4 wheelers by the 5 gallon bucket... I'm not buying the DCR stocking status reports.
Curious as to why they would lie then?
The Ma. DFW site claims that they stocked all three branches of the Westfield along with other western Ma rivers. It almost sounds like they messed up their press release.
Ken
My point above was in regard to the rather large snowbanks still preventing non pedestrian traffic on the road (EB.)
I believe the state's nomenclature included "planned" & "unforeseen circumstances."
Ken,
Since you have provided some good information I thought I would pass along this: http://www.flymage.net/english.ph
The pictures in this magazine are beautiful and for those of you who do tying then you will truly appreciate these photos.
Ed
Ed
Flyimage.net is a great link.
What photo's !! Thank you.
Hey Ken,
I'm enjoying the blog.
I fished the pipe today with no luck do tried out the bondsville area.
i really enjoyed fishing the riffles and pockets but no fish seen.
What do you think about the Upper Bondsville Dam removal ? - are you for it or against it ?
won't it improve the wading fishing above and below cold spring lane ?
but will it kill the fishery from the y pool to the pipe ?
Mark,
Removing the dams in Bondsville will not effect the Y Pool at all just as the removal of the structure at the duck pond had no effect.
I'd like to see the dams removed.
Ken
Those 2 dams really don't serve any useful purpose anymore. The only flood control issues would be caused by how much flow is let out at the Windsor Dam (the bubbler and the spillway). Due to their age and condition, it's just a matter of time before they have to take them down or repair them; and for the prior stated reason, they shouldn't spend the money for anything but removal. Unless, of course, they hire the eng. firm that oversaw the Big Dig (and now are overseeing the assembly of the new T locomotives).
Al
I believe these dams are relics of old mill sites. The mills are gone and the dams should come down. There will be resistance from property owners along the ponded sections and some boaters may not like the idea BUT it will (should) open up a few miles of natural river (pools and riffles).
Ken
Hi Ken, whats a wadeable flow for the EB of the Westfield using the USGS Gauge at Knightville. It currently reads 800cfs.
Tom,
The gauge for the Eb is below the flood control dam. It doesn't mean that the Chesterfield Gorge C&R is running at 800cfs. The gauge may show the flow being released after it is held back for flood control reasons. It's safe to say (to a point) that the river above the gorge may have lower water. The Gorge MAY be wadable too. I've waded with normal caution at 500cfs. It may be worth your while to check it out. They, the DFW, say that they stocked it (?).
I like that section beginning in May.
Ken
Ken, how do you fish your serendipities? With some split shot/heavy fly to get it down or unweighted near the surface? Do you ever swing them? Thanks, I rarely have luck with them.
I like to fish serendipities in the riffles with a short line and a micro shot if needed . I seldom swing this fly.
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