So what has been happening?? Here it is.
The Millers is into an early morning/evening mode which is normal for this river. My game plan is either to hit this river very early (6am) or wait until the evening rise. I did see rising browns at two in the afternoon just a day or so ago but this is not the norm. I'll be fishing this river in the evening for it's rising browns!
The EB is HOT but it will become an early morning/evening fishery soon enough unless the flow stays high. If this river reads 200cfs or greater than fish it during banking hours but below 200cfs it's an early morning/evening fishery. I have had great luck using a large dry (stimulator) or such through the fast water. I took a 17 inch brown doing just that this past week.
The Swift - The trout are there but not in the usual places. The Pipe? forget it! The "tree pool"?? Same thing!! The trout are there but they are downstream and there are many of them and many are BIG. The Pipe was stocked July 1st but they were spread out all the way down to Caddy Lane. Chances are they will end up in the usual spots over the next few weeks. C&R rules until New Years below route 9.
BTW, the temperature below the Pipe stood at 64 degrees at 9am. This "high" temperature is due to the overflow which is still running into the river. This will end shortly (hopefully) which means that the temperature will drop into the mid 50's which is what we want for the Summer.
26 comments:
Was the Y-pool section of the Swift also stocked on the first of July?
And here's a quick question about fishing for trout at the kempfield pool section of the Miller's, or just fishing for trout in general. I was at the kempfield pool the other day and there were a few trout rising to what seemed were invisible bugs. The rises were splashy and loud with the fish often jumping almost completely out of the water. Do you have any idea what they may have been eating/chasing so vigorously?
Victor
On my last two trips to the Millers I have seen browns chasing damsel flies. The flies were skimming and touching the surface and the trout were chasing them. Even the bass got into the act!!
By the crowd at the parking lot I would same that the Y Pool has been stocked recently but probably not July 1st.
I've been to the Millers, my favorite pool below Wendell Depot, and the anticipated evening hatch has not happened. The water has been great, but no fish rising. Last attempt was July 2. Have other pools around Wendell Depot been the same?
And, has anyone else seen river otters in the lower and upper catch and release areas? I'm pretty sure they aren't "catching and releasing."
Well, I fished the Orcutt Pool area last Saturday night from 7pm to around until dusk, great looking dry fly water right now, but no fish rising to my fly either... A check of the water temp read 70deg at the mouth of Orcutt Brook, and 72deg in main pool.... with the recent string of hot days, and the flows coming down, I think the fish are still in their favorite deep hole until much later on in the evening (i.e after dark...). I'm starting to think that early mornings are a better bet right now, since the river will have had time to cool off more over night..I'm also hoping for a little rain to perk things up....
P.S. I haven't seen any river otters, but have seen several blue herons they past few outings....
I'll chime in....I fished the Trestle pool after 8pm on Sat and sight casting to the few risers caught 2 Browns on Elk Hair Caddis. Water felt unusually warm. I don't have a thermometer.
I did, however, see fish chasing the damsels that were skimming the water. Wonder if they'd take a Crane Fly imitation?
On Sunday waded from S. Royalston down a few miles and caught about 20 little silver suckers on my nymph, no trout. Noticably cooler water, however.
The Millers is done until fall...
Been fishing the deerfield...fish up to 25''...yes, 25''...
Anonymous,
25"? with or without a guide and driftboat?
Anonymous,
So you think that the "Millers is done until Fall"? Good, we need more horned pout fishermen!!!
I've got four years of reports on this blog and over 25 years of experience on the Millers that says otherwise. Sorry if you haven't done well.
Ken
Orcutt Brook is strange because it has never been a place for good Summer evening fishing as long as I've been fishing the Millers. The Upper Trestle and the Kempfield overshadow it.
I've always said that July through September are the best surface action months on this river. I'll be there as I've always have.
The fishing during mid-day has held up nicely. I've had people that I've guided take RAINBOWS at the Bridge Street Pool at mid morning. we could of caught more if we stayed longer. I've also seen rising browns at 2pm this past Saturday in the blazing sun. The fish are there. It's just harder to catch them.
Ken
It has been my experience, and that of many of the oldtimers I speak to, that Orcutt is best fished AFTER dark. Heard stories of men waiting on the bridge...looking downstream...and literally watching the fish come in to feed...and THEN climbing in the river to fish.
I've had continued success from "the point" and downstream some 75-100 yds...just when the sun hits your neck in the a.m. and once the sun sets in the evening.
It has been my experience, and that of many of the oldtimers I speak to, that Orcutt is best fished AFTER dark. Heard stories of men waiting on the bridge...looking downstream...and literally watching the fish come in to feed...and THEN climbing in the river to fish.
I've had continued success from "the point" and downstream some 75-100 yds...just when the sun hits your neck in the a.m. and once the sun sets in the evening.
Anonymous,
I am one of those "old timers" who began fishing that section in the mid 1980's. The best spot on that section in the late evening during the Summer is the very tail end before the rapids.
It has been a habit of mine over the past 20+ years to drive over Holtshire bridge on my way home from the Kempfield at night. Months go by without seeing anyone at that spot.
Orcutt is the home of the mythical "Hercules", a 10lb brown that is the product of the fertile imagination of one local "old timer". Don't believe everything that you hear about Orcutt.
Well I have been dying to fish the miller's for weeks (since I went with Ken). I think I might give it a shot tonight and post how I do.
still waiting to hear more about the 25" fish!
I did make it out to the Miller's last night. By 7:00 pm I found myself alone in the upper trestle pool. Fished until 9:00 pm. The were a few sporadic rises in that period (maybe a dozen in two hours). I had one nice on (but lost him ...I am in some sort of fish landing funk). I had another short strikes. All of this occurred on the end of the swing fishing Ken's Dry/Wet stonefly techniques.
I certainly was expecting more rises...maybe next time
Browntrout,
I float the deerfield weekly with friend and outfitter, GS OUTFITTING. Our biggest thus far has been a 26.5'' bow in the dryway section...on pink san juans...Also, when rivers are UP, make sure to hit the Green and North, some brutes in there...
The lower deerfield has been on fire too with fish regularly hitting the 24'' mark. We have landed 3 17'' tigers as well.
Leave that bathtub called the Millers alone and hit a real river...the DEERFIELD.
Did I mention you dont need to wait till evening or get up at 4am to fish it, like you do the millers?...We are throwing size 2 and 4 Madam X's and Chubbys at rising fish ALL DAY LONG...
Anonymous,
I haven't been to the Deerfield in a few years. I have a bit of drive to get there, but when I first started fishing at Fife Brook area (and downstream near that campground) I did pretty well, but never got into the "brutes". I also got burned with water flows. Any advice on how to plan a day trip there? Appreciate any tips as I am driving from Boston area. Also, is it worth considering a float in mid summer? I feel like there is a ton of water you can't get to accept by boat.
Thanks
Also I believe GS Outfitters was started by a couple of Umass alums as I seem to remember seeing an article on them in the alumni mag. Is that correct?
Falsecast can check the scheduled water releases for the Deerfield here:
http://www.zoaroutdoor.com/schedule.htm
However, any major rain event can also result in greater CFS flow and/or releases.
Anonymous,
I completely agree with your assessment of the Millers. As it was already warm back in May, it must be practically hot by now. As the temperature rises to some unholy number regularly, the Farmington and the Deerfield remain the only viable options. Even if this means more than two hour drive for those of us near Boston.
Anonymous of 26.5 inch fame:
Hmm...what kind of "fly fisher" would trash a river like the Millers by calling it a "bath tub"?? I guess that would be YOU! You might as well trash the EB, the Squannacook, the Quinnie and any other freestone river in Ma. that are not controlled by dam releases BUT provides Summer long fly fishing but not 26.5 in 'bows. I know that the Harrison Anglers, the premier fly fishing float guides on the Deerfield, would never do that. So fish the Millers and the above rivers WHEN IT'S EASY and then go to another place when the going gets tough (read "interesting").
Ken
Ken,
I have been a wall flower for a while on here and finally have started posting. Over the years I have noticed you become very defensive when someone speaks ill of the millers...I never said I DONT fish the millers, nor did I trash it...But to me, 75 degrees is bath tub water and THAT is what the millers is at right now. I should retract my statement about disregarding it as a "real" river, as this spring I spent many days on it. However after hearing my drag screech uncontrolably and my fighting arm sore for days after due to 24''+ trout on a regular basis,I tend to regard the Deerfield as a better river... Those "mythical" hercules trout you speak of on the millers are REAl fish on the deerfield...
You're speaking to someone who fishes the Quinnie, Squanny, and the Eb on REGULAR basis...If you are this so called "millers area veteran of 25 years" you would know the areas in which each river has spring coming into it whether it be from a brook or a spring UNDER the river...I do well in ALL streams in the summer except the Millers...I would rather spend the extra hour and drive tot he Deerfield and catch trout ont he surface ALL day long rather than a few "noses" here and there on the millers at sun up and sun down...If we counted ANY fish as doing well, I would blow up the charts on the millers..However, msot dont like to hear your day consisted of 25 freshwater tarpon and 1 brown...
Calm down Ken...
Anonymous,
I remember what Edward Hewitt said about the three phases of fly fishing: First phase means catching a lot of trout. Second phase is catching big trout and the third phase is catching difficult trout. The third phase is the goal. Many of us don't need a boat load of monsters to be satisfied and that is not a knock on those that do. What we want is something beyond size and numbers. Sorry that you don't do well on the Millers during the Summer.
Why don't you start a Deerfield blog?
Ken
Anonymous,
Your not comparing apples to apples here. For all practical purposes, the Deerfield has become a float only river. Like the Millers this time of year, it does on occasion lend itself to some limited early morning and late afternoon wadeable hours. But for those who have to drive any distance to get there and are unwilling or unable to afford the $400 every time they want an opportunity to get into those "freshwater tarpons" your point is moot.
Prior to the FERC re-liscensing many years ago, it was a fantastic wading fly fishery. The flows were fairly consistent during the days and early evenings and you could access much of the river. Now however its lends itself more to that of a white water or float only destination. That said, without access to a driftboat or knowledge of how to float it, its not worth discussing. Two summers ago I made my last run there. I got up at 4am and was on the water fishing by 6:30. The flows were perfect running at 200cfs. I took several nice fish between 6:30and 10am including a nice 18" bow in the run just above the Trestle pool. Then the water came up. In the next two hours I counted 47 rafts come down the river. Mixed in with that brigade were 3 drift boats. Not exactly the out-of- doors fly fishing experience most would want or be willing to pay for. That was my last run to the Deerfield-5 hours of driving for 3.5 hours of fishing.
I think its important everyone here understands the differences when reading your comments.
All of the rivers mentioned here are fun to fish. We should all be happy that fly fishers are able to enjoy a variety of different experiences here in Western Massachusetts.
Ethan
".....hearing my drag screech uncontrolably and my fighting arm sore for days after due to 24''+ trout on a regular basis....."
That's more hype than any self promoting Flyfisherman Magazine article I've ever seen written on the Deerfield.
I agree with browntrout - what the Deerfield is now does not compare to what it used to be.
Al
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