Brad said it was a slow slog up to the Y Pool on Wednesday when the temperature kissed 50 degrees. "Knee deep and thigh deep along the path" and when he got there the fishing was poor. It's a strange season. Usually this upper section of the Swift offers trout throughout the Winter and then jump starts the Spring with very good March activity especially on a balmy day. Not this year! I'm afraid we'll have to wait a few more weeks until this snow and ice retreats for the season.
This gives me the time (and the excuse) to do some exploring. This State has many miles of streams which are seldom fished and many of these places do not require a hatchery truck to make things work. Stream born brookies and browns are all over the place, tucked into secret tree lined streams and mossy spring fed brooks which go unnoticed as we head for the larger rivers. As I stated before, I name the larger rivers but not these gems. It would be like naming the spot where you just panned up some gold nuggets!! I'll revisit some of these secret places and then go chasing the rumor or the spot on a map that looks just right. I'll have a few weeks before my wading boots touch dirt on the trail anyway.
I've reposted some photos of the Upper Swift during March 2010 - a kinder, gentler Winter.
Ken
8 comments:
Just picked up a 5 foot, 2 weight, for these "thin blue lines". Can't wait to give it a try.
~Pete
Like Panning for Gold and Finding a Gold Nugget". That's a perfect expression of what it feels like when you spend a day exploring some new, non discript river and surprisingly find a beautiful wild trout or two. Many times, the memories in fly fishing aren't as much about the numbers of fish you catch but the experiences of what went into seeking them.
Great point!!! It seems that we have become too equipment and technique centered and are forgetting what this pastime really is. I also see more people approach the water like invading Navy Seals. Small streams will not allow that activity. Small streams remind us that fly fishing is a "quite sport" as it was so accurately called years ago.
Ken
It's a beautiful thing Ken. I know I'm over geared, yet Ill still hit a major or mid major river fully kitted. multiple boxes in the sling bag, chest waders, net tools etc etc etc. But when working blue lines, it's knee high rubber boots or hip boots, a small fly box, floatant, nail clippers and a spool of 5x spare tippet. That's it. Just put boots to earth and poke along testing water. Simple.
Will
Hibernation,
You forgot the fly rod :-)
Still, a good point!!
Ken
Since we're telling small stream stories. I am sure each of you have this "same story", but just in your own experience.
As a 10 year old I used to fish this small stream with wild brook trout that is about 20 miles from Boston in my home town. I used worms, Davedevil's, Mepps and panther martin spinners and wore giant rubber waders that my feet swam in and came up to my neck. No vest, just a plastic bag tucked inside. My uncle had a fly rod, I was interested, it turns out it was a 7 wt, but I didn't know anything He gave me one fly, a big Mickey Finn streamer (must have been for Atlantics).
Knowing nothing, I went there and tied and on and let out a ton of line snaking this 5 foot wide stream. Started bringing it in and caught a wild brookie not much bigger than the streamer.
My first fish on a fly....it was downhill from there. :)
Sorry for the long story, but the point being we all probably started on small local streams, a bike ride away into the wilderness. This was long before I even knew what the Swift River or Westfield or whatever.
It great to go back to being 10 and I still try and pull one fish out of that stream a year.
Nice to see Troutland branching off into 'thin blue lines'. Although much of the EBT range has been compromised (a very few Berkshire lines remain pristine) there are plenty of spots to rise a brookie or a local bred brown on an elk hair caddis or a drifted PT. May the locations remain unpublished, but a few pics are always fun.
BTW seeing pics of the 2010 winter on the Swift brings back fond memories of what can be, should the season be milder. Perhaps next winter ... in the meantime, come on Spring!
True Ken :) Just hand lining with 5x I guess... taking Tenkara next level :)
Will
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