This was fun!! The Millers was low and clear on December 2nd. This is rare (20+ years of observation backs this up) so that is way we were there. I caught nothing. My friend landed a good sized bow in the Erving stretch and lost two others. It was good to be fishing this river in December and it was good to be watching the Patriots beat the Dolphins in a Millers Falls bar afterwords.
A good day, fishing and afterwords!!!
Ken
14 comments:
Ken what was the key for your buddy? Thinking about making the pilgrimage (2hrs) up there in the next week or so if they weather is still decent and the flows good
Tony
Wooley buggers
Ken
Spent about an hour or so fishing the Crescent St. extension section of the Millers Sunday mid-morning. Caught a half dozen. 1st caught was a brown, around 11-12 inches. Next 5 were all rainbows...most around 13-14 inches..fat and healthy and full of fight. I have begun to figure out that nice section of river.Blue wing olives were coming off and a few fish were rising, but no takers to my BWO offering. Still curious if there are any salmon running up the west branch of the Swift.
Drove by this morning and saw a "regular" getting in his car. Guess I need to take a drive there soon.
Tom from Orange
Tom,
Good for you to fish this neglected part of the river. Years ago it was a catch and cook early season fishery BUT you have proven otherwise. I never mentioned it in my Fly Fisher's Guide because, well, it didn't seem to be a good spot. You have proved otherwise BUT I will not put it in the Guide. Only the readers of this blog will know of it.
Tom, Thanks for the update and for being a contributor to this blog!!
Ken
Thinkin about checking out the millers tomorrow. Flows at Erving are around 447 and are 221 around south royalston. Unfortunately I'm not familiar enough with either sections of this river to know what this means in terms of fishing conditions. Care to lend some knowledge?
Thanks !
Nate
Nate,
447cfs is about the extent of the Erving section, it may be a little swift especially with fridgid air and waters.
IF you do stay safe.
Ken,
You have done a neat job with the "best river" posts the past few years... how about a "top 5 flies of 2012" to add to the "season review" concept...
Will
Let me weigh in on the best flies of 2012 for the Millers. Early spring finds the Wooly Buggers, mostly in olive, sometimes in black, bring fish to the net more than any other selection. Stone fly nymphs worked well this spring in either orange or black/brown. The olive Gotcha nymph works well anytime. Blue Winged Olive works if the fish are rising to, you guessed it, a BWO hatch. Elk Hair Caddis are a midsummer favorite.
The past few weeks have found me landing fish with black wooly buggers, dark colored stone fly nymphs, and 0ccasionally BWO (the warm weather has prompted some recent hatches).
As I write this I think of other productive flies. Muddlers caught plenty of fish throughout this season.
I know I have listed more than 5, but it all depends on where and when you fish the Millers. I'm sure other fly fishermen/women have their favorites.
Tom Salahna from Orange
Well...
Given that I am a converted nympher who is now an inveterate wet fly guy (progression or digression? you decide)I would say the most successful fly for me in the latter part of the season was the Silver Invicta 10 or 12. Not an easy tie but if there are any pin fry about the trout really take a shine to it. Besides, where else are you gonna use Blue Jay hackle?
BTW - I would like to echo Ken's sentiments to Tom - keep up the good work Sir, your posts keep this weary fisherman sanguine and looking forward to the next trip North West.
Thanks Guys!
Scott
Scott,
I believe that I devoted a post to wet flies a few years ago. It is a style that is mostly forgotten or even in disrepute in this age. Too bad because they have their place during the season.
The Season - it's almost over as far as the license is concerned. It was a GOOD season.
Ken
My most recent trip to the Millers was this past Sat. Hit the Crescent St. extension section around 12:30 under sunny skies. There weas actually another fly fisherman there. Surprised me. He worked his was upstream and out of site while I worked the 75-100 yard section that I have come to really enjoy. No action on the wooly buggers or stone fly nymphs. All of a sudden there were a few waves of Blue Winged Olives flying upstream and I noticed a few fish rising. Changed over to a BWO (size 16 or so). Proceeded to land 3 nice rainbows, all fish that I had seen rising and cast to. Lastly,the BWO enticed a nice brown....17-18 inches...not bad for Dec. 15th on the Millers...catching trout on dry flies.
Even with the recent rain the river is just over 500cfps...still very fishable. I think I will be taking a trip during this week.
Tom Salahna from Orange
Tom Yours is an excellent and very encouraging report. Thank you for sharing.
Bob O
I fished the Millers today for a couple of hours during the "height of the day" (11-2). Sun never came out and temps never made predicted 40* mark. Frozen feet, frozen hands but 1 good size brown to show for it and had the place to myself.
-BT
Merry Christmas to you Ken. And to all. And a very Happy New Year.
I continue to appreciate your blog and that of most of your contributors. I am looking forward (still) to fishing the Millers.
2013 will be the year.
Yesterday, at midday, after finishing my Christmas shopping, I landed a couple of nice bows from the Swift's Pipe area on a #16 scud/sowbug pattern. 'Twas a bit chilly out there.
Tightlines.
Bob
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