One begins, on these long Winter days, to think of places that mean a lot to us. Places that have etched a memory of Spring days and Summer evenings into our mid Winter brains, where the trout are willing and the surroundings where these trout are found are just too beautiful to describe in mere words. The East Branch of the Westfield is one of these places. In fact it may be at the top of the list of those who love this river.
Beauty and Solitude. - The EB has it all. Beauty - I guided a fellow here who was a Massachusetts native but had spent the better part of twenty years in and fishing Colorado. He was back on vacation and wanted to try the EB. After two hours he said "I feel like I'm in Colorado!! This looks like Colorado and I'm in the Baystate" We caught trout on that early Autumn day but it was the surroundings that blew him away. Solitude - We fished alone that day although I knew that there were others there. We didn't see them! That's the EB.
This is a GREAT Spring and early Summer river and if we have a normal/wetter than normal Summer the fishing lasts and lasts. It's a great river for exploring endless pocket water and has plenty of smooth runs and pools for terrific dry fly fishing.
There are MILES to fish on this river which can intimidate someone new to this river. It took me two years to say that I actually KNEW this river. I would find some great stretches and then find some more. Like any river there are stretches that are less productive than others. Putting the time in (I live close by)is required and having someone who knows the river works even better.
So let me think of the EB, of late May days working pockets and runs and of June evenings with rising 'bows and browns. It will make this Winter a bit more bearable.
Ken
14 comments:
Ken:
I have never fished Colorado, but I can relate to your comments in the post. Every time I fish the EB I have to remind myself that I am in the Bay State. I think, for me, it has to do with the STEEP hills on either side of the valley that the river flows through.
Thanks for another great post…
Scott
Lots of water to fish on the EB, both above and below the Knightville Dam. The Gorge when "on" can be very good, however the window is generally not that longand can be very tempermental depending on heat, rains and drought. The mile or two below the dam is seldom fished and being a tailwater holds up much longer.
Browntrout,
The water below the Knightville dam is not considered a tailwater. It is the same as Birch Hill on the Millers - a holding pond used during times of high water. There's no cold water release like on the Swift which is a tailwater. Most of the fishing season the "pond" behind the dam is a field with a stream running through it.
The section that you mentioned below the dam gets pounded by all kinds of anglers. That's why I fish the Gorge!
Ken
Ken,
I was not speaking of the water directly below the dam but a bit further down. There is a ton of quality water. You have to hike a bit to get in, however its worth it with lots of pocket water and some deep slots and pools. If/when you have the time, check it out. Think of it as the "bondsville section" of the Swift!
-BT
I'm excited to fishing this river next spring for the first time. I keep hearing such great things about it.
Anyone have any info about the flow drop on the Swift the past couple of days? Think it will stay at that rate throughout the weekend?
Does anyone here fish the Deerfield in the winter? I checked that gauge too, and it's been all over the place recently, w/ 1000cfs seeming like the norm. Not liking the looks of that at all, but I know that those rates are not predictable, to say the least...
Any thoughts?
~Pete
Hello Ken,
Could you post your pattern for the 'Hot Spot'?
I sure would appreciate it.
Have a great winter!
Pete,
The flows on the Swift - I saw a guy working on the gauge station on the Swift on New Years Eve afternoon. He said he was adjusting the equipment because of a spike that was recorded a few days earlier. The flow did not change but the gauge said that it went from the mid 50 cfs to around 90 cfs. He said that the release didn't occur. It was an equipment malfunction. The readings have said that the flow dropped in the last couple of days. Unless someone saw a drop in flow it may be an equipment problem. We should keep an eye open on this.
The Deerfield is ALWAYS all over the place. A great river but not for the wading fisherman. There will be opposing comments on this and I welcome them.
Parker James,
Stay tuned for the hot spot. It's coming!!!
Ken
Hit the swift yesterday midday. Had the pipe to myself for awhile. Tried afew combinations of nymphs with minimal luck. Eventually hooked abunch on a small size 18 partridge and orange. Broke that off and didnt have another of equal size so moved to a size 14. The trout didnt seem to mind the step up as they took that willingly as well.
Ken, im interested in the Hot Spot too! Looks like simple grey dubbing with a band of some form in the middle but my eyes arent that good.
-Dave
I love the deerfield and love to wade it, but during low flows only. I find that once the flows get above 800, its not too fun (or safe) for my tastes.
It seems the flows are pretty reliable and fishable for the wading angler most often late spring, summer, and early fall during a stretch of good weather. There is usually a release during the day but you can time it to your advantage by starting down river in the 2nd catch and release area. Once the high water reaches you there, take a nap/lunch and then head to the dam for the afternoon and evening.
But it does seem that the levels in the late fall, winter, and early spring are too high most times for enjoyable wading, at least for me.
/marc
Thanks Marc. I've been a few times, in the spring/summer, and had good luck. Some really nice fish in there. It's just too long of a drive for me to do too often. I was thinking that the flows would go down in winter, as I can't imagine that people are boating, and the air conditioner electrical demand isn't there. But, I guess I didn't take into account the electrical heating demands...
Ken,
Something's definitely wrong w/ the gauge station. They've got some sort of contraption running from the station about 15 yards upstream, through the woods and into the water. The flow is unchanged.
Had a productive few hours on Saturday morning in a few different spots. It was super crowded though, w/ 7 vehicles at the gauge parking lot when I left. Tough to find solitary water, so I stayed away yesterday, figuring it'd be much of the same. Would love to be out there today though, instead of being behind this desk.
~Pete
The Millers is alive and well....and very fishable right now. Spent a couple of hours fishing the Orcutt Brook section on Sat. and Sun. with my cousin. The flow was near perfect. We didn't land a ton of fish, but the fish that were caught were all big. Had a few break off too.
When was the last time that anyone can say that they had productive days on the Millers on Jan. 12th and 13th? I'm hoping the weather holds off because I have a 3-day weekend coming up. No need to drive to the Swift when I have the Millers 5 minutes away.
Hope for warm weather.
Tom Salahna from Orange
good to see that the Millers is still fishable. This comment is late. I spent a week in Florida NOT fishing, just soaking in the sun and eating way too much food. That is now over. It's time to fish.
Ken
I am going to be fishing thE EB for first time this spring. What is the average depth so I can decide to purchase hip boots or waders. Also where is there parking in the Huntington area to access the stream? Thanks for any info.
ken...
so true what you said about the Deerfield being "all over the place"...
and its also so easy just to step out past a leadge and be in 12 or more feet of water!!1
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