It was around late May of 2004 and I was on the EB one early Sunday morning and frankly I was a bit bored. I had been there the evening before hoping for a tail end hendrickson hatch/spinner fall that never materialized. Even the stoneflies were scarce and I was tired of the standard presentations that one does with nymphs and wets. I wanted DRY FLY ACTION! Time to think out of the box.
On went a large tarantula as my dry fly/indicator and a short 18 inches below that went on a SIZE 8 partridge and yellow. And I didn't cast this fly into the traditional spots but (Bliss Pool, Slant Rock etc) but into the fastest chutes and rapids that I could find (right above the "bend" before the gate and the fast water above Les's Pool.) Would the trout hit either fly? They clobbered both flies especially the over sized SF.
Although my freestone arsenal is still loaded with 12's, 14's and 16's I carry a small supply of the big boys to represent the larger nymphs such as the stoneflies and March Browns which the Partridge and Yellow represents. I can nymph fish and then swing them on the very next cast. I feel that they represent a large stonefly as well as the standard offerings and they are much more fun to fish. They also give you the chance to use those outsized hackles that every partridge skin has!
Historically, the Farmington should be flowing at around 200cfs for this date if 60 years of records are correct. In fact, that's the historical flow average for the last two months BUT the flow this summer is averaging 100 cfs or below which is half the historical flow rate. This will concentrate the massive amount of trout into smaller areas and make them vulnerable to predators with wings or wearing waders! The Farmington needs a LOT of rain to turn things around. It will be interesting to see how the SURVIVOR TROUT do.
The Swift - It keeps chugging along with everything from playful brookies to over sized browns to fish for. This summer it's the best river in New England.
Ken
12 comments:
For the board, any thoughts as to why the Bondsville section of water is not as weedy as the Cady Lane area....not for lack of downed trees or soil and silt in water. Chico
Large soft hackles have actually been on my mind recently, and only the orange variety. I'm going to the Roach in Maine 3rd or last weekend in September before the season closes to fish for the aggressive pre spawn fish and swinging a big orange softie to brookies and even salmon for that matter in fast water would be pretty effective. I'd say your post just solidified that!
Lenny
P.S. Ken,
When you use the Kevlar body are you spinning your bobbin counter clockwise to get more of a smoother body or are you spinning clockwise to give it a more segmented effect?
Lenny
Sorry for the late reply, that was what I figured but had to ask. I was there both days this weekend, did alright. Had a 17” bow gobble up one of the soft hackles that I bought, similar to yours.. slightly smaller hook, body threading thicker and lighter green, and dressed with a little more partridge. Sunday took another slab on a size 22 zebra midge and a wild 12” bow on a hopper that I washed through the pipe
Best,
Alex
Chico,
Good question. Maybe the long, ponded area above settles out the nutrients that the weeds need to grow.
Lenny,
I like a smooth body to give that glowing, waxy surface.
Alex,
A good weekend for you!!!
Ken
It is the really nice water in the Bondsville section....it holds some nice fish, but if it had the same weed growth (and habitat for insect and fish) as the Cady lane stretch I can only imagine what a haven for trout this could be.
Had some pretty good interest in the parachute adams dry fly tonight, Ken. Coaxed two nice rainbows with it from underneath the same blown down branch on the opposite bank. The first one tore up the water so bad I didn't think another one would hit, but sure enough it did. Also caught a 12" or so brookie on the same fly which is a dandy for the Bondsville section of the river I fish. It absolutely blasted the dry fly.
Regards, Sam
Sam,
I was there too tonight! 10 good sized brookies (10 inch) plus one bow around 14 inches and one that broke me off. All on dries which they LOVE!!! What a wonderful place to fish!!! Glad that you are there!
Ken
Agree, Ken, the place is a gem and I am sorry I didn't run into you. I imagine I will one of these days. It doesn't get much better than getting trout to hit a dry fly in my opinion. I am glad you got into the brookies and the rainbow. The one that broke you off, you know where it lives.
I had a trout, a rainbow I think, hit the dry fly so hard that it took me by surprise. The instant it hit it took off like a rocket and I lost control of the fly line and it spun off like a fly wheel. By the time I got a grip on it the trout was gone. Didn't net it, but that is my idea of fun!
Regards, Sam
The Swift flow is going down again!!
GW
Ken-I love the big soft hackles, they work really well almost anytime of year but in the fall they seem to really come on....heading for the Madison in early October and I'll be bringing a couple dozen in the 6-8 size plus the "normal" sizes. The exploration of the lower Swift is very encouraging for many on this board-I for one fished the Y pool down to Cady and thought that was "it" when I was at UMASS but always had an inkling it didn't just stop; transportation was always a bit of a challenge back then but I did manage to bike out from Amherst 20-30 times per semester. The fact of the matter is that there are many streams in MA and all over the northeast that have great fishing that few know about. I like the fact that MA has a 365 day trout season where you can use the seasons to explore. There is a lot of great trout water west of 495 and even more west of 91 you just have put your time in to find it.
Bob T,
Sylvester Nemes loved the big soft hackles too and he did well on the Madison when other patterns had mixed results. I remember reading how he worked the Madison in October and there was nothing left to his SF but a few barbs of hackle and some thread and the trout wouldn't stop hitting it.
Let us know how you do in Montana!!!
Ken
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