With the Millers blown out by the canoe race flood the easy choice was the Swift. Even if the Millers had perfect flows the Swift would still have been a good choice. First, I love fishing tiny flies and light lines and I like well educated trout. The Swift fills the bill on both counts!!
"Glossosoma" is the genus name for what I saw littering the surface on Saturday and Sunday. This tiny caddis likes to run around on the surface and trout will chase them. The surface action was light even with the kazillion surface flies. Could the trout be feeding on emmerging insects? On went a #22 pinhead and that was the answer. I took 18 on Saturday and the fellow that I guided Sunday made it to the double digits.
The Swift is truly a great river.
Ken
32 comments:
Ken,
I was there on Saturday as well. I was fishing just above the lop-sided foot bridge where the large tree has fallen over the river. Started the day by losing 3 separate fish on 3 consecutive casts, but re-grouped and caught 6 on a #20 black tent wing parachute caddis. When the 7th one took the fly from the leader, I said "what the heck" and tried a size 16 (all I had left for that fly). I actually got a take from a HUGE bow but he spit it out as soon as he gulped it. Almost as fun as landing the other 6.
Hope to see you out there sometime.
-Nick
So once a big slug of water goes through (like it did on Saturday), how long does it take for the fishing to pick up again? Is it just as soon as the flow level falls to X (300?), or does it take longer than that?
Thanks!
I was also at the Swift for a couple hours on Saturday afternoon. Tried below Route 9 with no success. There are plenty of fish but they are constantly roaming around making it difficult to make a good presentation to any of them. Moving into the fly fishing only section I was excited to find fish actively feeding in the stretch just below the Y pool and took a couple on small nymphs and a couple more on a 24 parachute adams.
Ken, can you describe the pinhead fly you were using?
Newbie,
As soon as the river drops to about where it was before it rose.
Brendan,
I have a picture of that fly on my home page.
Ken
Fished the Swift late today (Tues) and had constant rising fish below the Y Pool and all the way through the flats. Took 7, lost as many in a couple of hours. There was a very active BWO hatch going on. Hard to see the bugs, but when I swiched from a caddis emerger to BWO dun 18 I immediately got action. Moved to a 20 and got it constantly. I think they were mostly taking emergers, but drifted the dun into the chaos of feeding and did well.
Other rivers are just too low.
I also fished the swift on Tuesday. I fished below Rt9 and had an entire stretch to myself for an hour and a half. I hooked more than I care to count, landed about 8, included one slab about 3.5 pounds and a large gold carp?? All fish taken on a aquatic worm midge fished deep.
Good to see that the Swift is producing for those who fish it.
Difficult but very rewarding.
Ken
Anyone having any luck around Wendell Depot? I got skunked there a middle of last week?
I got skunked at the bearsden yesterday afternoon.
Ken,
Not trying to be a wsie guy here, however I am curious whether you have considered changing the name of your blog as it is a bit misleading of sorts. For several obvious reasons, you seem to post alot more chatter of love on the Swift than the Millers. I understand reasons, more consistent and controlled flow rates & water temps, less impact to rains & heat, no canoe races and dam releases... however all that said, your blog name is a bit misleading as you clearly have expanded your fishing boundaries over time to more than just the Millers. Just a comment.
This rain will do wonders for the rivers, and my lawn for that matter. Looking forward to the saturation and healthier April flows
I caught one 12" brown on the Millers at Kempfield the other evening. The river seemed pretty quiet: only a handful of rising fish, and not much in the air.
Browntrout,
I post where the fishing is and, because you are a long time reader, you should know that. The Millers, Swift and the EB are the rivers that I report on. I will be posting about the Millers early next week. The EB will come soon.
If you have read this blog you will see a seasonal change over the years. Winter/Spring=the Swift, late Spring/Summer=the Millers and the EB. Fall= all the rivers!!
I post more "Chatter of Love" ( a weird comment from you) about the Millers than anyone. Let me include the EB on that, maybe the Swift too.
The Millers River Fly Fishing Forum is the portal to three rivers. It has been for a while.
Ken
Ken,
Do you think the low flows have had a significant negative impact on the trout? I'm hoping that the water temp still being relatively cool took the edge off some of the stress.
Here's to the blogs, its the most action i've had in a bit-Cliff
Ken,
You made my point exactly. I have followed your blog for some time now as do others here, and can say that approx. 55% of the reports I have read here are non Millers related. The suggestion was not to rile you but simply ask whether you have considered changing the name from "The Millers River Fly Fishing Forum" (which it is a bit misleading) to something more of central MA origin. Just a thought Ken.
-BT
BT
55%???? That may be because it's hard to fish the Millers in the Winter. Who knows about a name change/format change.
BT
55%???? That may be because it's hard to fish the Millers in the Winter. Who knows about a name change/format change.
Ken,
Dont change a thing,your doing a great job with this blog and all the info you provide.
Mike
I hope you got some of this rain, we missed everything last night in the southeastern part of the state. I think browntrout needs to spend more time fishing and less time on the internet. The blog is perfect thr way it is.
In reading this I may be misusing this blog. I enjoy Ken's comments and the posts from other readers, but
I am guilty of posting a lot on the Swift and even updates on whatever river I happen to be at (Qunnie, Niss, Squanni, Housatonic). I am concious that this is Ken's blog and he dictates the arch of the conversaion, but I do post mostly on non Millers rivers. Please advise.
That said, I caught a 25 inch LLS on a size 20 Olive emerger at Swift. Quite a ride!
Guys,
I started this blog five years ago to highlight the Millers River but I highlight two other rivers AND encourage others to write about their experiences on these and other rivers too. Hundreds visit this site daily and that is a very good thing.
I'd love to hear more about the Squanni. It was my home river forty years ago. I fished the tail of the Quini in the early 1980's. The more that we hear about these rivers the more friends these rivers will have.
Ken
I will bite on the Quinnie. Hiked in away from the stocking points looking for brookies on sat and wasnt disappointed. About 10 native brookies from 4"-10" came to the net. Skating a caddis was the trick. Fish were piled up in the riffles are looking up! Didn't see another person on the water either. Couldnt have asked for a better day out with 3wt!
Eric,
I've done the same, but I am not certain those Brookies are wild. I thought so earlier in the season, but they stocked a ton of brookies this year. What do you think?
Were you upstream or down from Rte 31? I stopped going there when the water went down, but it might be the first I check now that it's up.
Falsecast,
Yes, I'm pretty sure the bulk were Native. A picked up a couple bigget ones(8-10") closer to the road which were darker and had some wear and tear on the fins,they without a doubt were stocked. The further from the road I made it the fish became smaller, ligher to blend in the rocks, and more pristine. the last several I picked up didn't have a blimish on them, and then seemed very "fiesty" and wild.
I was downstream from rt31 and all the major feeder brooks.
Glad to hear it. Those are what I am used to seeing, very colorful, not that big. I did notice a lot more larger stocked Brookies than in the past and agree they're duller.
I also enjoy spots that require you hike into and avoid the bridge mania. Don't often see people back there. One thing I do find, and had a one embedded this year, is Deer Ticks. Be careful. I'll head back this week. I expect another round of stocking before Mem Day. Good luck!
E.Branch swift was fishing great this weekend. All brookies from 5 to 16, yes, 16" :) They were taking a lot of different bugs, but the winners were a #14 ausable bomber and a #14 hendrickson. The hendrickson was amazing, probably my best topwater action on that river in 30+ years fishing it.
Lots of folks out though. some fly fisherfolks and some of the bait brigade. Hopefully a lot of C and R folks...
The rain was very needed. the river looked like late July flow's on sunday.
will
I had a great day on EB Swift Friday. Except for me it was all Browns. Wierd. Some on dries, but mostly a midge emerger.
Anonymous,
interesting on that. Small or medium? Meaning 16-20 or 20+ in size?
It surprised me, the last few years I caught browns 2 or 3 to 1 over rainbow's on the river, with occasional brookies, this surprised the heck out of me, but was a pleasant surprise.
The snow last october made some amazing new blow downs though that should really add cover and insect food, it could really enhance the potential for holdovers (which do happen in there) as well.
I've only been to the EB of the Swift once many years ago. I remember a lot of beaver dams and some rumor about UXB's in the woods? What is the best access point to park?
The EB Swift has been great this year. Several weeks ago I too was catching only brookies. The state listed the EB Swift as getting another stocking last week. I think that explains all my browns, which were not over 20" Will. But it is still weird that two days later you only caught brookies. Access is best from 32A, there is a pull off just north of the bridge over the brook, or from Glen Valley Road.
Anonymous - do you know me? Just curious because I've caught a couple browns the past few years pushing 20-22" in there and your comment makes me wonder if you have heard those stories :). clearly big stockies not hold overs... but lets just say they were pleasant surprises. The all brookies thing was weird, I enjoyed it though. Another access point, is accross from connors pond on 122/32. It's the trustees of reservation lot. follow the trail back through the meadow, bearing left at the cellar hole. it will then paralell the river all the way to Glen valley road. Wide variety of nice water all through there.
I don't think I know you. I mentioned not over 20" because you asked. Quote: "Small or medium? Meaning 16-20 or 20+ in size?"
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