"Only an extraordinary person would purposely risk being outsmarted by a creature often less than twelve inches long, over and over again."
~ Janna Bialek
First, have a long and safe Memorial Day weekend and please remember those who passed before us.
The rivers, with the exception of the stubborn Millers, are all in prime shape right now. You can fish the BD section but with a flow in Wendell of approximately 750 cfs the river is still to dicey. If you go choose your spots carefully. Orcutt should be fishable (and crowded) while Erving Center will be out of commission.
Watch the weather! About .9 of an inch is forecast for Trout Land from today through tomorrow with another half inch on Monday. Not a deal breaker but something to be concerned about. Watch the stream gauges on this blog!
The Dry Fly season started for us back in mid April with good Quill Gordon and Hendrickson hatches in succession on the Ware with March Browns ready to appear on the Millers. I saw the first of the BIG stoneflies on the EB earlier this week (you see these things when you spend 5+ days each week on the water) It's that time of year again. Best hours will be moving slowly to the evening by late June. June evenings are great to be on the river.
A hint on dry fly presentation: Imagine the rising trout at 12 o'clock. YOU do not want to stand at 6 o'clock where you are going to "line" this fish. Stand at 4 or 5 o'clock or 7 or 8 o'clock which allows you to keep the line to the side of the trout with just the leader passing overhead. Do your best to get BELOW the trout. Cross-current casts are difficult to manage with drag being the major culprit.
Yes, I have hare's feet on the brain!!!!!!!
It came to my attention that another site lifted the term "Trout Land" from my site. This is understandable since this site is extremely popular and that one is, well....... Anyway, it's not the first time this has happened and it will not be the last. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery!!!
Ken
10 comments:
Ken - seems it's going to be a long spring on the Millers. Good :)! Some years, Mid June to mid July are so awesome there with flows that are solid - IE, 200-250 in BD being spot on to me. Having said that, you have more time than I on the river - what's your thought up there on the CFS?
With water tables recharging this spring, we could be in for a nice summer and even early fall... One of those fun years where you get to the Millers at like 3 on a late July - mid August evening, fish poppers or bass bugs for smallies, and closer to dusk you swap out leaders and get to swing wet's or drift dries to trout... Those, are some really fun years on that river :)
Will - 200 - 250 cfs is perfect anywhere on this river. Right now the BD is fishable as long as we don't get a lot of rain in the next two days.
As long as we get AVERAGE rainfall this summer the Millers will do fine.
Ken
ken what do u mean erving center will be out of commision? road closures or just the river being unfishable in that area from the rain!! thanx
bigmster127,
It's the high water in Erving Center at Arch Street. That place is dangerous wading in any flow over 300 cfs. The river narrows down by the bridge which increases the velocity of the flow and with the large rocks and logs one has to deal with it is an area that should be avoided. Remember, I'm a guide and the safety of clients comes first. Plus, it's very hard to get a fly down in water like we have now.
Ken
Ken,
Just got into the snowshoe fur last year and I like it. Dry flies float!
Brian
Ken
You were not kidding about the rain. Seems like every river is going up.
GW
Dang, Ken - full on blow out for the Millers this weekend. BD 400 and climbing very fast, S. Erving 1K and climbing fast... That first weekend in June should be good on the river.
Totally with you. The Millers is a tough wade even when flows are low... When it's ripping it's not worth it. Even slinging sinking lines, it's just going to be to dangerous to be fun. Enjoy small streams or smallish rivers which will be back to normal or a solid but high normal level by late tomorrow or sunday and have at it...
Or, try some stillwater trout or bass fishing for a change up.
Speaking of that, any word on the pike fishing above the orange dam since it was lowered last year? Years ago, that was a fun time catching bass and occasional pike in that section...
Be well
Will
Will,
I know. I cancelled two trips to the Millers this weekend because of the flow. Safety first!!!!!!!
Spent today working a small western Ma. river that wasn't too blown out and did well. More on that soon!
Ken
Hi Ken,
For those of us who arent familiar with the Ware, where would a good starting place be? I appreciate any hints as its a long river and I prefer to spend my time fishing and not driving around looking for a place to fish :) Thanks - Curt.
Curt,
Try commenting on a recent post. I almost missed this.
I had to spend time "driving around looking for a place to fish" too. So......
Ken
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