Two weekends ago I spent a very good morning at the Swift's "Pipe". The "Pipe" is the section from the hatchery outflow downstream for maybe 20 yards until that flows into a deep pool that locals call the "Tree Pool". It's a strange place because of the way that the trout behave. It seems that in the early morning (sunrise) the trout are found mostly in the tree section but as things warm up, or as hatchery activity increases, the trout move up to the pipe stretch. That's where I expected to find them at 10 am yesterday just like the last two outings.
NOTHING!!! The Pipe was barren of fish. I worked my way down to the Tree Pool and there, on the bottom, were dozens of trout (and some BIG suckers) just sitting there.
Pinheads, scuds and hotspots all worked in sizes 16 through 22. I landed 23 rainbows but the real story was the 20+ inch sucker. This brute blasted around the pool scattering trout wherever he went. He won the battle of the 5x and I lost him. He took a #16 scud.
Why the trout changed their pattern is something that I probably will not solve.
By the way, this section, once rivaling the Y Pool in popularity, has been underfished over the last year even though it has plenty of fish. I guess I don't understand fishermen either!
Ken
14 comments:
I thought the bait fisherman wipe that area out at this time of the year?
Mike
Mike,
Nope, there are plenty of trout in that section.
Rainbows feeding on the sucker spawn?
anonymous,
I have no idea but it's a good question about a possible rainbow/sucker connection. My guess: they (the suckers) took a tiny nymph which was the same that the 'bows took. Maybe a tiny egg would take more 'bows. Who knows? If someone does then write in.
Ken
Last weekend I caught a rainbow sitting below a pod of suckers. His mouth was full of sucker spawn (literally pouring out of its mouth). Changed to a micro egg that was close in color (not exactly)and had the fish chasing it down the river as it drifted by.
Hit the Pipe area yesterday and while not 23, the Tree Pool was productive. No action near the pipe outflow, but there were a number of fish, including one really big sucker, that spread out upstream of the Pipe in very clear shallow water. I caught a young brown at the tail end of the tree pool which I thought was interesting. Have never caught brown trout in there. Also fished Bondsville upstream from Depot Street bridge which fished really nice with nymphs. Some good sized bows. Almost didn't recognize the water with so many new trees down.
John
I've always wanted to fish that Bondsville area but never have. What's the river like down there? Is it easily waded?
John,
Maybe you hooked that sucker that I had on. A "Swift River Freshwater Bonefish"!!
Brendan,
The Bondsville section is very different from the C&R sections above and below RT 9. First, it looks more like a trout stream in the traditional sense than the upper Swift does. There are riffles and pools with rocks that change the currents. It is a great place not only because of the trout but because it receives very limited fishing pressure. Also be reminded that the water always remains cool even during the heat of Summer. It has a boatload of native brookies that like a dry fly.
I like this lower river.
Ken
Ken,
What do you think of the water above the pipe and below the tree pool? A couple of times I have been there and with two anglers out is crowded. Is there admitting else worth fishing out is it better to move the car elsewhere?
Mike
Sorry of the typos...the last line should read...is the anything worth fishing or is it better to move the car elsewhere
Just below the tree there are a couple of pockets known to hold not only 'bows but also native brookies. Have picked up fish in and well past the next riffle, and had a horse of a fish break my 5x after running upstream at a good clip. Upstream of the pipe, there is plenty of good water - pools, riffles and runs - in several areas that will remain nameless, and all of which produce fish. Often I start at the pipe, but end up fishing upstream once the crowds move in.
I fished above the pipe last weekend and found a few trout and loads of suckers - more than I can recall seeing other years (but perhaps I've just not been there for the spawn).
Mid last week finally I took a number of bows from the run below the pipe after they rejected many offerings. The ticket was a small egg (#16) that probably resembled sucker spawn.
I even took a large sucker on the same egg. They put out a husky fight.
I'm interested to see how the trout behaviors again change after the spawn passes.
Tight lines.
Mike C,
As Mike said the runs above the Pipe produce well. The run just below the gauge has always produced well especially in the Summer. Don't forget the Crib Dam.
Ken
Where is the pipe on the Swift River? It sounds like a good spot and I would love to fish it. Is it below the route 9 bridge?
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