It started in 2004 when a "local" decided to "rename" some famous pools on the upper river (Bears Den) of the Millers. It was strange BECAUSE these places ALREADY had names that stretched back a half century!!!! I thought that baloney sank without a trace but it's back with an internet presence. Out of nowhere came the name "McKenzie's Pool" in place of the "Gorge Pool". Where did that name come from?? I had 20 years of fishing that river(at that time) and I had never heard of it. Neither did any of my local fly fishers friends who fished with me "back in the day". The late Bob Roleau, a local commercial fly tier and instructor NEVER called it "McKenzies Pool". When researching my Millers guide I fact checked the name of that pool and he said "It's the Gorge Pool and we called it that back in the late 1930's" Rodney Flagg of Flagg's Flies backed him up: "My dad and I fished the Gorge Pool in the 40's and 50's until they stopped stocking the river". Red Sox great Ted Williams and Heavyweight Champion Jack Sharkey, who fished this river in the 40's and 50's, would NEVER recognize the name "McKenzie". They would know the name "Gorge Pool".
The McKenzie label and any other labels are 21st creations. They lessen the legacy of this river that goes back at least 80 years and add unnecessary confusion to new generations of fly fishers.
Why do they do it?? Your guess is as good as mine. Me? I like a sense of local angling history. It's important and I don't feel the need to make it up. It's like renaming the Y Pool on the Swift and calling it "Kens Pool". We fished the Gorge Pool long before anyone tried to rename it!!
I'm glad to see that the Gorge Pool is now a favorite section. Since I first wrote about it in 2008 I've received many emails about this place. I've brought many fly fishers there too. If Ted Williams were still alive he would know where I was talking about. "McKenzie Pool"??? Ted wouldn't know where that was!!
The above photo is of the GORGE POOL!!
Ken
13 comments:
Yes Ken, that would drive me insane as well!! I'm old school when it come to things like this.
Anyway, well put........DRYFLYGUY
I agree with your post Ken, but have one concern. While I too like river history, what I don't like is FF snobery (not at all accusing you of that), but some of the "exclusivity" of names and runs does cause the myth that fly fishers feel they "own" the river.
Case in point, the misinformation around the Bondsville dam. Many people think that has to do with clandestine fly fishers. Kind of like the "Berthers" with the President, it's just misinformation that many grab on to.
I fished the Swift for 15 years before I learned the name "crib dam" or "mattress pool". I referred to it once as "broken tree pool" or some term that I made up and got a snarky response from someone. Not trying to rename it, but just called as I see it. E.g. I call the "cady lane" pool , the elbow pool.
Just trying to point out that with FF, it's what works for you, being outdoors, enjoying yourself with your chosen hobby that matters and some of us (not on this board) beleive that there is one way to do this. I think it give FF an undeserved "bad name". On another board there is this guy who posts how many fish he catches and kills with worms on the Swift as if he is putting it in our face and asserting his rights on the water. I asked him why is he doing this and his answer was "you guys own the river the other times of the year and "we" own it now." Catch and release is very important, as we know, but some kill fish just to spite fly fishers. Something is wrong there, and it might come from people making bait fisherman feel unworthy or something. I never do, unless they are breaking the regs. I also believe in sharing information if it helps someone elses day turn positive which some people seem to think is taboo.
I haven't read any of their stuff recently but a lot of the misinformation I have read in regards to the Bondsville dam (upper) is the b.s. put out by the "save the dam" group.
I am one for the keeping of the old historical names of pools. If the waters had stayed clean and fishable on the Millers during the 60s and 70s there would probably be more fishermen around to support the old names.
In regards to the "Cady Lane" pool, I know that as "The Warden's Pool". Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not sure if I got that from you Ken or some other "old timer" I've met on the water ; )
Al
Falsecast,
I "save the names" because it is important! That's what fishermen called these pools and runs 60 years ago. How they fished is their business BUT they knew the names of the famous pools.
Al,
The "wardens pool" on the Swift?? That's new to me. So is Falsecast's "mattress pool".
The "crib dam" is what it is, a crib dam used to divert water into a canal to power machinery. You can see the dam and the remains of the industry that was there. The "Pipe Section" is where the hatchery pipe spills in. The "Tree Pool" is where that low hanging tree finally fell into the Swift about 6 years ago about 60 yards below the Pipe. I call the section below all of that until the road crossing "Cady Lane" BECAUSE Cady Lane (the short road) is in the middle of that.
I didn't make this stuff up. I learned it by asking over the years.
Ken
Ken,
Went to the Bears den shop expo in Taunton on saturday. Was surprised to find that last minute change from the Holiday inn to the shop as expo site. Nice shop, like to check it out when its not so packed. The snow squalls were fun to drive through.
CLIFF
Ken,
I admire you for that and am always glad to use the historic names. That is one thing I like about your Miller's guide. I've fished my whole life here, but not the Miller's. This board is the first I've heard of Trestle/Kempfield/Rendez, etc. I just take your word for it. If I was on another board, I could see ending up calling it McKenzie.
My only point is that many of these are only "known" by people so I can't blame someone for making a mistake. Trying to "rename" something is, of course, foolish.
The Mattress Pool is the one upstream from the guage. I remember when the actual mattress was in in it. I have heard that name used quite often on the river.
Falsecast,
Well said!!
I think that the "mattress" may have been a temporary "fixture" that may have been removed by high water (probably not) or by some good clean up crew.
There is a place on the lower Millers that I was told was the Bridge Pool. It's on Bridge Street in Farley/Erving and it's under a bridge (makes sense). I almost wanted to change the name to the "Hoover Pool" because of the half dozen vacuum cleaners that someone dumped of the bridge years ago! I first saw those relics 25 years ago but they seem to be gone now. I called it the Bridge Pool in my Guide to that river and it is a GREAT PLACE. When I guide there everyone catches trout!
Mattresses and vacuum cleaners come and go. Dams and bridges seem to stay longer.
Ken
Ken, I believe the bridge pool is the one basically at the end of Farley Flat's correct? Now, after that pool, if you work down stream, it's a fast drop, then there's a deep pool with a ledgy rock on the north side. It runs (if my memory is correct) 75-100yds. Does that spot have a name? It's a real nice spot - that I admit I've just "burned" on a public board...
Will
Will,
I first fished that pool back in 1985. At the time the pool was crisscrossed with cables and slalom gates were attached to the cables. It was a kayak training course. The cables made it hard to fish so I would slide a few out of the way to cast. I called it jokingly the "Cable Pool". The cables are long gone but it's still a great place to fish.
Ken
Mr Anonymous,
Way uncool. Grow up or go find somewhere else to play.
-BT
Ken,
On another note, whatever happened with the petition for browns you had been working on. Its been some time since we heard anything on it positive or negative...
-BT
To The Fly Fishers Who Read This Blog:
Backcast about two comments ago and see what I put up with. Some bozo who can't spell "hypocrite' decides to call me the same. For what?? Talking about our rivers, giving reports in a timely fashion, of good days and bad days on these rivers??
This blog is a success! Thousands read it every week. It's honest and sincere. Only the truth is found on this blog!
I have had some vicious moments in the last year and I don't know why they write them. I have fished the Millers for 28 years (from the 1st year that stocking re-started) I know this river better than then anyone who is alive today because I have more years fishing this river than anyone who is alive today. I give that knowledge to anyone who asked for it. My blog highlights the popular and not so popular sections of this river. Does TU do that? No way! Does any other person/group provide this?? Again, NO WAY!!
I love the Millers, the Swift and the EB. Tough if you don't like it!
P.S. To whoever "threatened" me. Crawl out of your hole and email directly. My email address is on this site. Email me!!! Let's see what you're made of!!
KEN
Brown Trout,
In December I posted the results of our "who fishes our rivers" survey. It is important to our argument but it took a season to complete. Currently I'm drafting a proposal supported by evidence. It's not an overnight thing.
Ken
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