Backcast to October 2006 when I took this lady on a guided trip to the Swift. She could cast pretty well but hadn't had a lot of success catching fish. I rigged her up with a size 14 grouse and flash and all hell broke loose. Most everyone down at the Pipe were throwing size 18 what-ever and beyond but she (a good student) kept a short line and landed 10 rainbows. Was she an expert? NO! Did she fish a fly that everyone else didn't fish? Yes! Did this fly represent an impending hatch? No way!! The fly was different but it had the lifelike attributes of a real insect and that made it a target for the Swift River 'Bows. That's what soft hackles do!!
Salmon have come over the spillway into the Swift. These fish have grown to these impressive sizes by feeding on FISH but they still hit those small soft hackles. Why? The answer is that this fly style is pretty much irresistible to most fish that feed, or have fed, on insects. The resident 'bows of the Swift love them.
I like to fish a grouse and orange above a pinhead or hot spot on the Swift. Trout on this river seem to hit the G&O early and then go to the smaller fly as the water and air warm up. On the Millers and the EB it's the bottom fly below any bushy dry fly.
Soft Hackles rule!!!
Ken
7 comments:
The Swift is swift - higher today than I've seen this season. Over the Pipe is an understatement. It doesn't even leave a ripple till three feet downstream. The flow from the hatchery is backing up. Trout are still taking soft hackles, pink SJWs, and tan caddis larva imitations. Even saw a bit of a pellet hatch. Wading is sketchy - be careful.
Fished.....uuhh...TRIED to fish the Swift on Saturday...3 steps into the river and you were up to your waist belt or higher. Very little access available. There were 5 cars at rt.9 parking area..I think at least 2 were families hiking. Only 3-4 others attempting to fish.
Flow was high and fast...wind was blowing..temps were comfortable...and fish were spotted, including some impressive salmon. If it comes down a couple hundred cfs it might actually be fishable. Check the charts before heading out.
Tom from Orange
I would guess that the bubbler arm may fish well. Most of the flow is probably coming from the spillway and at these times the trout may seek a gentler place. Who knows when the spillway will calm down. I'm thinking that the salmon will want what they have been chasing all their lives - smelt imitations!! A smelt streamer with a large orange soft hackle beneath may do the trick.
Spent this weekend in Vermont on a non fishing company outing. Great time but it's time to do some fly fishing - on the Swift. don't forget the split shot!!!
Ken
Ken you should do a post or two on the blog about tying. A tutorial or even just a "from the vise" kind of thing. Could be a fun column or two over the winter.
Will
Will,
I've done that in the past. Wait until cabin fever season takes over and then look for some tying posts.
Ken
Cool... i should look back in your archives a bit as well...
happy hollidays
will
ps sorry for bad typing here... 5mo son on lap preventin 2 handed typing!
Split shot is out. I was reminded lead shot will be verboden starting on New Years. Any comments on this?
Weighted flies are still legal. In the past I've resisted the complexity of fishing two flies, but with the flows being so high - I think I'll have to seriously adopt a weighted point fly in order to get a smaller dropper down into the feeding lane.
I didn't expect the state would be the one to nudge me toward two fly (i.e. proper Euro) nymphing.
What strategies will others adopt?
Bob O
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