A hard,snowy winter can mean a hard,wet spring and that is what is on the table for the Millers and the EB. Two days of 70+ degree weather ended with 2-3 inches of hard snow this past Tuesday night and that was followed with two days of 40 or so temperatures and a stiff, cold wind. Things will get better and hopefully soon.
The Millers and the EB are roaring. As I write the Millers in Erving is charging along at 2740 cfs. Divide that number by 6 and you get a high but fishable flow. That number is a long time away. The EB has a reading of 1170 BUT that is below the flow control dam in Knightville, miles below Chesterfield Gorge. They will hold water back for flood and canoe racing concerns which will make it seem like a reasonable flow in the Gorge when it may not be and then release water which makes the gauge go crazy down below when the Gorge flow is actually nice. Get it? Anyway, a good way to know what the flow is in the Gorge is to check out the flow for the West Branch of the Westfield. Find the Median Flow and multiply by 2.5. It usually works. 500 cfs is fishable on the EB.
The Millers has a tendency to hold its water for a long time. Check my site for the stream gauge sites and when the flow drops below 500 go to spots that will fish ok in high water. One spot is the Bridge Street Pool (check the photo) on the lower Millers in Farley. It's a classic riffles/pool setup and found on my Millers Guide.
The Eb, if we stay a little dry, will begin to drop steadily and be fishable soon.
There's always the Swift!!
Ken
12 comments:
Ok guys, let's not freak out over trout stocking schedules. First, the water is not too high to stock and the fish are not going to "get lost". All rivers get stocked by the third week in April come hell or high water. Things will be fine in May.
I don't want to start a discussion about when the stocking trucks should start rolling. Those posts will not be posted. Why don't we talk about making the entire Swift River C&R and boat free???
Ken
Ken
ken, what gets me is.... the DFW posts signs at cranberry pond...stating that no one (except wheel chair)can fish within 50 feet of boat ramp...its not even 50 foot wide..lol
I agree....the Swift should be C&R.... all of the swift !!
ok ken sorry about the rant love the sight and have learned a bunch even for an old guy the last tip worked great tied a bunch and hopefully see u on the river
Swift Update - took a new fly fisher (never fly fished before) to the PIPE. Result - 8 hooked and 6 landed. Two hooked and lost on a size 14 partridge and orange and 6 landed (with some missed strikes) on a size 16 McPhail Buzzer. WE SAW ONLY THREE OTHER FLY FISHERS THERE AND NO BAIT/HARDWARE BOYS!!!
The fish are there. Two hits in 2 hours and then all hell broke loose. Start fishing!!!
Ken
What flies have been working at the Swift recently? And I'm not trying to start a discussion about when the stocking trucks should begin, but has the Swift received any fish? I haven't heard anything about it. And yes, the entire swift should be C&R! And bring the boats the the Deerfield, not the Swift!
Thanks, Scott
Scott,
So far people have had success on many patterns as long as they are small. McPhail Buzzers in a size 18 worked Saturday for me.
Check the Ma. DFW site for where the trucks have been.
Ken
I was at the swift on the 22nd. From the rt. 9 bridge south to rapids and between the bridge north to the Y pool I saw 3 fish...Y pool held a few...I cant beleive this is stocked!
Ok,- the Swift was stocked TODAY above RT 9 and below from what I heard.
No excuses now!!
Ken
Guys - definitely lots of fish in there now. I had a big day just above the bridge and in the steep section.
Tight lines,
Muggs
Does any one know who manufactures the Cabela's Fly Rods and Reels?
Ken,
Just my $.02 but I think think the fishing has been really slow thus far. I hit the Swift Sunday for 4 hours above rt.9 and at the Pipe. I got skunked, and during my time there most others had a hard time too. Granted, the Swift can be tough but if it was stocked I didn't see many fish at all.
Dave
I did well yesterday in the late afternoon around the PIPE. The trout are there and I've heard good reports from above RT 9. The Swift can be hard to fish and that's the draw for this river. Having a fly fishing only/C&R section that's crowded with fish that are easily seen and caught is not what we are after, is it??
Ken
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