It pays to live close to good trout streams. I'm 15 minutes from Chesterfield Gorge on the EB, 25 minutes from the Swift and 40 minutes from the Millers. The EB is the closest and gets a lot of my evening attention. It's a good, quick fix!
This river is loaded with BROWNS!! I took nine trout last evening and seven were browns and all were on dries. I was fishing the Bliss Pool and the two bows were caught in the fast water at the head of the Pool. The browns were taken only in the calmer mid section of the pool. The bows took a large dry stonefly, the browns fell for what is becoming my favorite emerger pattern - Trela's snowshoe emerger. I used the March Brown style and it is deadly.
The Browns - The EB has always had them but not in this number. I was told that the DFW stocked the EB with some "experimental" browns, whatever that means. In any event this should provide better Summer action if the rainbows don't cooperate. Browns fish best on very early mornings, evenings and on cloudy, overcast days. That's my experience.
The Swift - stayed away last weekend and hit the pipe around 5pm on Monday as two fly fishers were leaving. It was cool with a heavy drizzle AND a heavy mayfly hatch just starting. The fly that was hatching is a bit of a mystery. It first appears in May, hatches all Summer with a peak in early August and then continues into October. It's about a size 14 and is of a dark tan color. It's not a sulphur as some have called it. It reminds me of the Cream Cahill as pictured in Tom Ames's book "Hatch Guide For New England Streams". Anyway, I tied on a tan Snowshoe Emerger and cast
upstream into that small run below the Pipe. I took 5 before I had to leave.
The Millers - 900 cfs as I write this. Hmmm...Let's hope for a week without rain.
I may get ambitious and take some photos of a shoeshoe emerger and post them.
Ken
It pays to live close to good trout streams. I'm 15 minutes from Chesterfield Gorge on the EB, 25 minutes from the Swift and 40 minutes from the Millers. The EB is the closest and gets a lot of my evening attention. It's a good, quick fix!
This river is loaded with BROWNS!! I took nine trout last evening and seven were browns and all were on dries. I was fishing the Bliss Pool and the two bows were caught in the fast water at the head of the Pool. The browns were taken only in the calmer mid section of the pool. The bows took a large dry stonefly, the browns fell for what is becoming my favorite emerger pattern - Trela's snowshoe emerger. I used the March Brown style and it is deadly.
The Browns - The EB has always had them but not in this number. I was told that the DFW stocked the EB with some "experimental" browns, whatever that means. In any event this should provide better Summer action if the rainbows don't cooperate. Browns fish best on very early mornings, evenings and on cloudy, overcast days. That's my experience.
The Swift - stayed away last weekend and hit the pipe around 5pm on Monday as two fly fishers were leaving. It was cool with a heavy drizzle AND a heavy mayfly hatch just starting. The fly that was hatching is a bit of a mystery. It first appears in May, hatches all Summer with a peak in early August and then continues into October. It's about a size 14 and is of a dark tan color. It's not a sulphur as some have called it. It reminds me of the Cream Cahill as pictured in Tom Ames's book "Hatch Guide For New England Streams". Anyway, I tied on a tan Snowshoe Emerger and cast
upstream into that small run below the Pipe. I took 5 before I had to leave.
The Millers - 900 cfs as I write this. Hmmm...Let's hope for a week without rain.
I may get ambitious and take some photos of a shoeshoe emerger and post them.
Ken
23 comments:
Thanks for the update on the EB Ken, think I may hit it tomorrow. I had to kill a couple hours in between jobs today in Northfield, not enough time to hit the Swift or Deerfield so I went down to Wendell Depot. Water was high but I managed to get a nice 15" brown that did one nice tail dance before I landed him. Also caught a pumpkinseed as well. Tons of alder flies (caddis)all over the place and did see some sporadic rises to them.
Was up on swift yesterday Ken, Sulphur hatch was blowing up and browns were hitting them like crazy. Can't get a rainbow to rise for a fly there yet. Might try the Shawsheen today as its on the stocking list and nearby.
Chris,
Browns on the Swift!!! I think I caught 3 there last year. If glad to hear this. Hopefully I'll steal a few evening hours there this week.
Ken
Hit the EB of the Westfield on Sunday at Chesterfield Gorge and brought half dozen browns, 2 bows, 1 brookie and 1 tiger trout to the net along with a bunch of what I think were atlantic salmon fingerlings; all on nymphs. Started off slow but once I dialed it in things went off the hook or on the hook I should say. Not too bad for fishing during bankers hours on a bright sunny day. Only saw a couple other people fly fishing.
Thinking of heading to the Gorge this week for the first time. I don't fish there often, but usually only use nymphs. Teeko's, big Princes--or swing Moby Dicks, Hornbergs, buggers. I am not familiar with "The Bliss Pool", or perhaps I am. Had my best luck in the runs and pockets along the road and the 2 big pools beyond the gate just after you decend the hill. Is there better fishing the further you go? Also, what about the Knightville end and Rainbow pool, is that area still fishing well?
I've pretty much exhausted the Cahill hatch at the Quinnie. It has been the best in years, but is now 70 degrees and getting low. Plenty of fish in the Squannakook and Niss, but I haven't found the dry fly fishing to be as good. Enjoy!
Falsecast, if "rainbow pool" refers to the big pool that has the dedication sign on the tree 1/2 mile up from Knightsville gate, then yes...that pool was fishing fantastic on Sunday. I ended up getting about 6 on an odd looking hornberg that was made up of yellow duck feathers and red ostrich. The rainbows were slamming it...nothing else worked in that pool. I caught a big brookie up near the gorge as well on a caddis. Overall, well worth it to take a trip out there. Water was warm enough to wet wade...but still cool enough for the fish to remain active.
Ken - any interest in publishing a guide to the EB like your millers guide? I only know a bit of the river but would love venture beyond my typical pools with more knowledge and confidence...
Falsecast and YelloowstoneBound,
The Bliss Pool id exactly across from the sign that says you're entering "Bliss State Forest". It is a great evening pool. Above that, on the first LEFT SIDE turn off is a place that I call the swimming hole. On hot days swimmers takeover this place but by evening they are gone and the trout are rising. Between these spots and beyond are great riffle runs and pools that hold trout. You have miles of river to fish and I have caught trout over these miles. The EB is great!! I guided a fellow from Colorado who said "this reminds me of Colorado". Enough said about this place.
An EB guide is in the works.
Ken
Ken
Thank you both! Kozman, yes that is the pool. I thought that was "Rainbow Pool", but could be wrong.
It sounds like it is worth pushing further downstream on that river. I usually go a few times a year, only in the spring, but would like to learn it better and get more dry fly action.
Trying to decide between the Housy and the EB, but based on the posts it sounds like the EB.
As a side note, I fish the Housy, mainly Glendale, Stockbridge and Lee and find it to be quite productive at times--especially the Hendricksons. I notice, however, that it never gets mentioned on this blog or much on others. Do you think it is because of the PCB's? While tragic, it has made a de facto catch and release river and the Browns get very big (they only stock them as Ken wants for the Miller's). Does anyone here fish it? Happy to point out some good runs if not.
I think the Connecticut stretch of the Housy gets most of the attention. Both the Millers and the Housy have PCB problems although the Millers has cleaned itself pretty well. Fished it once but really didn't know where to go. Some pointers would be nice.
Ken
Falsecast, I'd like to hear more about the Housy as well, always interested in trying out new waters and any advice would be helpful.
Tom
I'm up for some Housy info too.
Spent the past weekend on the Gilbertville stretch of the Ware. The rains have given it a nice spring-like flow and dropped the temp a bit. Did alright, 6 bows 2 browns, between a z-wing caddis, flashback hares ear, & swinging a leech.
I did experience a first though. Hooked into a large (2-3lb) dace, which when I brought it to hand I originally thought was a small mouth, due to the gaping bucket that saw. As I was pulling out the hook, I noticed something furry in its mouth. Thinking is was a muddler, that it had taken from another fly fisher, I decided to take it for myself. Lo and behold, it turned out to be a half digested mouse that came up during the fight. I've heard of mice imitations being used for bass, salmon, and steelhead, but I was quite surprised to see a dace cough one up, to say the least. Very glad I was using me hemos and not my fingers...
I find there to be 3 main stretches that consistently pay off. The first section is off of exit 2 in Lee. This is the least scenic area, but produces good fish. If you drive to the north side of Lee all the way until you cross the river (rte 20?)near a self storage area (on right). Parking there, you'll find a small waterfall, fishing from there all the way down to behind the Dunkin Donuts is very good. I warn you there is a lot of trash and it's basically in the back lots of businesses. I wish Lee would clean it up. Great spot for streamers and nymphs. Dry fly fishing is not as good,but there will be rising fish in the flats. The water moves here.
Second spot. At exit 2 go south on (rte 7/102) for only 100 yds or so and you'll see a new supermarket. It used to be a truck stop and you could drive all the way in the back to where the Mass Pike goes over the river. Now you have to park in the supermarket lot or the road and hike back. Great hole right under the highway, still not too scenic, but gets better downstream. Great runs in between that are money during the Hendrickson's using nymphs. Another big pool, with lots of rising trout, all the way under the 2 bridges with pools in between and it heads into the field. During the spring you can keep going, but beyond the bridges gets hot in the summer as it's backed up by a dam.
Best stretch:
It's called Glendale and is miles of good water. I'll direct you to the best, but also most accessible. This stretch is where I find it worth the tough rock hopping for miles downstream and upstream. Take Rte 7/102 right through Stockbridge (stay on 102) then take left onto rte 183 (Glendale Rd). You'll eventually pick up the river. A good parking spot is off of the road across from Dugway rd just upstream from the RR bridge at where Mohawk Brook comes in. This is like Western water. Not tippet shy at all and it's about fishing the slicks behind the big boulders and log jam. Big caddis hatch and Hendrickson, caddis all season. The boulder slick fishing reminds me of the Madison in MT where I've been lucky enough to fish a lot. It's about finding the fishy looking water and working small sections. Upstream is called "The Flats" and is good at night or during big caddis hatches. Downstream is a huge deep pool (weighted nymphs and streamer) and then miles under the bridge of boulders and runs. You can drive further down and park in several other areas and hike in. Crossing the river and following the RR tracks can be the easiest walking.
Prior to when they began stocking just 5 or 6 years ago, this stretch always had 16-20 buttery browns. Some felt they were wild,but the biologist felt they were likely just smart fish that survived in the many stocked tribs and found their way to the Housy. You can still regularly catch these fish as multiple year holdovers. You'll know by the color. The last thing I'll say about the Housy is that the trout water tends to look like trout water, if it looks slow, silty and deep, skip it.
Hope this was helpful. I am thankful and have learned a ton on this board about the Miller's and EB and glad point a few other places that might be worth burning a few hours.
correction the self storage lot in Lee is on the left....
There's no fish in the Housy... just nasty PCB's. Nothing to see here.
excellent info Falsecast, thanks. There and the EB of the Westfield have been in the plans for some time.
Al
Thanks for the detailed info Falscast, I look forward to a trip out there. Its great that folks are providing good information to get us in the right direction on new rivers. I have no issues with telling other fly fishermen what rivers I fish, where I accessed, and what flies I used because I've never seen a "crowd" develop due to it. Granted I may not give away everything, you got to put some effort in. Just look at all the great details on this website, Ken's provided loads of info on the Millers and EB and since I started fishing them 5 years ago I've never experienced a crowd on the water, yet I have experienced great fly fishing. Now giving away info on the areas I duck hunt will never happen, that's where I draw the line.
Thanks for the Housy info, Falsecast.
I'll let that anonymous "pcb" comment stand. It's a prime example of what many thought of the Millers just a few years ago. Like the Millers, the Housy doesn't deserve that label.
Ken
Ken: Have you fished the lower Swift recently?
I was at the Swift last night and a few nights ago. Sulphurs are in full swing--active hatches. Tough fishing, however, they've been on these bugs for a bit. I did catch my first fish of the season on a Hopper. Summer is here!
Tried out the Glendale section of the Housy. This was new territory for me. Ended up catching a bunch of small mouth...no trout this time out. Saw a sign stating that fishing is not allowed from 6/15-Aug due to a thermal. Not sure what part of the river this ban covered. Anyone have any insight into this? I saw a fly fishing school fishing that section of the stream on 6/16 so I was confused on what part of the stream the sign was representing.
Glad you got out there Kozman. It is only for the mouth of Mohawk Brook. It's a thermal area where fish hold. I am not sure of the reg, but it's only for the mouth of the brook, 50-100 ft?
The river does heat up and night fishing helps. It's a pretty stretch of water.
I believe that the DWF regs spell this out for the Housy. I believe that it's available on-line.
Ken
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