At noon it was close to 90 degrees and by 5:00 pm the temperature stayed steady with a spike in humidity. I wanted to fish but where to go. The forecast spelled t'storms which would cut out the longest drive to the Millers. I had a score to settle with those rising 'bows on the Swift and I figured that the hot weather would keep the swimming crowd on the EB longer than usual. The Swift was the choice. (55 degree water on THIS day had an influence on the decision).
What was the score that had to be settled? I was skunked on Saturday by trout that seemed to be cruising around picking sulphur emergers when they felt like it. I dreamed of seeing a steady rise. I got THAT and some scary weather.
5:45 found me below RT 9 ready to work some riffles as the skies began to darken to the west. The riffles showed some active surface working trout. The appropriate low lying dry was tied on and I was quickly on to a good fish. It got darker accompanied by the tell-tale booms of thunder but more 'bows were landed.
Don't believe the old saying that trout will stop rising when lightning is in the immediate area. I rose my last fish when the sky exploded above me with a bolt of lightning and that crackling sound that says "get out of here". I did. The skies opened up by 6:45 with buckets of rain with more lightning. I was on the way home.
I took eight rising bows in that short time. All casts were in the 15 to 20 foot range with a sulphur emerger fished on the surface. The score was settled.
This river is full of fish and when I say "this river" I mean below RT 9. It amazes me that so many people still fish only above RT 9 when downstream is so much more interesting. The bait boys have become a fading memory and in a week it will be catch & release. Besides, the hardware guys fish in only one place: the tree pool. The rest is ours!!!
Time to go check out the Millers. That will happen very soon!!
Ken
9 comments:
So, I read this post after the Bruins game last night, and I must admit, it made me feel a little better after what I had just witnessed to realize that I brought 2 fish to the net, and lost three more, on the Swift on a day when a much better and more knowledgeable fly fisher then myself was skunked. Then I thought about the final minute thirty of that game again AND realized that I've only ever once or twice caught 8 fish on that river in a few hours, then I became thoroughly depressed again.
Getting back to Saturday, I fished the EB of the Westfield for the first time in the early AM. What a beautiful river! I was surprised by the clarity of the water for it being a free stone. The gorge certainly lived up to its reputation regarding geology, surrounding area, and water. Only one fish to the net in a few hours, but I look forward to going back. Met a nice guy who's a regular on this forum too.
Drove down to the Swift in the afternoon, and was able to fish below rt.9 from 4-6:45. It's nice to have these rivers a short drive away.
Looking forward to the Millers this weekend, if the forecasted rains don't blow it out.
~Pete
Not sure what is going on at the Deerfield but it was great on Monday. Took 10 browns and lost 2 within a 90 minute span. All on black or green Wooley Buggers.
Paul I hit the Deerfield Sunday morning before the rafting posse came down on the flow and it was incredible. I nymphed every little pocket and the fish were powerful. I got the opposite of you all bows with a couple brookies.
ken could you give use a pattern of what your sulfur pattern looks like thanks tincup
Other than a river I won't name on a public forum, the Deerfield, in my humble opinion, is the best fishing in Mass. There are not many places where you can catch browns with those colors, some wild fish, and any time you're frustrated with that pursuit, rig up a simple nymph rig and clobber the dumb stockie rainbows. The flows keep the water cold, the C&R sections keep the populations up, and it isn't as heavily fished as the Swift. Mass. has a real gem there I think.
should have said could you give us a sulfur pattern your using or creating and what size. new to these rivers and just enjoy the web page. Fished the bearden before june with moby dicks and did well thanks for the print out on millers
Not only did two fawns come down to cross in the riffle below me, but a number of chunk bows came to the net yesterday morning on the Swift's bubbler stretch. Fished early AM till 10, and landed fish on a variety (that seems to be what these fish like best - variety); a #16 PT, #14 brown SJW, #20 zebra emerger, some looks at a #16 Usual, some more looks on a big ugly hopper imitation, and one more to the net on a #12 black bodied Ausable Skunk.
I like this little section of 'swift' water. It demands fast reaction from the fish - to my advantage. It's riffles and current set it apart from the glassy flats of the rest of the FFO area. Hopper season is not far off, which is huge fun.
I concur with Ken, a lot of great fishing, and variety of water, can be found below the Rt 9 bridge (not to mention solitude).
I want to get to the Deerfield.
Bob O
Tincup,
Any generic sulphur pattern will do. I first used a parachute pattern and then switched to a comparadun with the appropriate body color. I seldom use traditional hackled flies. They really are not that good for selective trout. Comparaduns and parachutes work better.
Ken
Hit the s. Royalston section of the millers last night before the rain. As I walked through tall grasses riverside, hoppers were fleeing by the hundreds. Never tied one on as I had a variety of other flies I wanted to do some field testing on but I bet they would have recieved interest. Looking forward to terrestrial time on the swift as well this summer though bob!
The millers is spiking back up over 850 as a write, sigh. At least there were afew tight lines between lighning strikes this week. Back to the vice, and the waiting game.
-Dave
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