Gary - Email me. My email address in on the top of this website. I'll take you up on your offer.
Friday morning broke clear and cold because 37 degrees on any mid New England morning in early June is cold but in this case it was welcome as Brad and I hit the West Branch of the Westfield (known hereafter on this blog as the "WB"). This is such a relief from the torrid temperatures and bone dry conditions of last year that I'm not going to complain.
We ran into my friend Gary who gave some directions to a spot that can't be beat (I love directions like that) and we said that we would make it into that neck of the woods in a few hours.
Fishing was fun but slow until we made our way Gary's "Spot" where we began to pick up fish. Brad got hot with larvae patterns and I worked a pheasant tail. I got a mixed bag of bows and browns picking up the browns in the slower water below Brad. Brad got the bows.
The fish were in the 10 to 12 inch range and perfect for this size stream. All told we caught about 15 between us.
Saturday I met my client on the EB at the Gorge. It was good to see that the water was down and that the fish were not clustered in pods like newly stocked fish usually are. My client hadn't fly fished in 15 years but the rust easily wore off (he lived in Montana so we expect a quick re-learning curve) and we were quickly into fish at the Bliss Pool. A nice brown came to the net at Chronicle Corner also. We ran into fly fishermen who all claimed fish caught, not in the post stocking bragging numbers but in those "I had a good day" numbers.
That's all we ask for!
Ken
13 comments:
Sounds like a great day, Ken! Thanks again for your soft hackle advice recently. I finally hooked that brown I've been pursuing for two years. It was a dandy, but it knew the stream too well for me to stop it from tangling my leader in wood. Tried to stop it, but could not. What power in that trout and the smarts to take me into that wood that where it tangled me and shook the fly off.
Regards, Sam
Ken- I noticed some signs posted at the WB yesterday and it appears there was a disagreement between local volunteers and Mass Wildlife g on stocking some of the more remote spots on the river. I believe that's why there are so few fly fisherman on the WB. There are fish in there but apparently there is a lot less than in previous years. It's a shame that Mass Wildlife can't get along with folks who are volunteering their time to help stock the river.
Hockey_dad,
I saw told that the problem was on the main stem of the Westfield an not on the WB. I've caught trout in remote places out there.
Sam,
I bet you hooked that brown on a dry!!!
Ken
You're right Ken it is the main stem. There are a lot of good spots in there that remind me of Northern NH and to me I'm disappointed to hear about the stocking issues. The note says to contact your senator which I plan on doing.
Sounds like a nice quiet place to fish...I really need to try the WB before I leave New England. That being said, in August I'm moving to NYC, Manhattan specifically and I was wondering if people have suggestions for places over there that I can fish within a reasonable distance and/or a source of information like this blog but to that area. In the last couple of years I've learned a lot by just reading and I'm sure I'll continue doing so but if someone knows a good place to learn the NY streams that would also be great! Thanks.
Anonymous,
Google up the Mid Hudson Chapter of Trout Unlimited for that info. Tell them I sent you.
Hockey Dad,
Make sure it's the State Senator.
Ken
Left to right the WB,MB,EB, of the Westfield River system are truly great places to fly fish. But every now and then I like to get the 6wt out head for the main branch. Sunday I had a couple hours so I did exactly that. Location well I was still in the HIlltowns (Not in Westfield or Russell where the sign controversy is) working a fast moving run with a partridge and green flash #14. First bow slammed it and put a bow in the 6wt the second not so much I wish I had more time. Ken I will be in touch.
Good work with the six weight, a size that works well with bigger flies and longer casts. I'll email you tomorrow.
Ken
Not a dry fly on that nice trout, Ken, but rather a weighted pheasant tail nymph with a yellow soft hackle dropper tied to the bend of the PT hook. How I wish I could have netted that trout! The power of that fish was unreal and it knew its home water very well.
Regards, Sam
Hi Gary-just wanted to know what you think about 4 flies that have been recommended to me for the WB and main stem of the Westfield:MobyDick, EWestfield River,Tekoa Mountain and large Stonefly -all bead head except the stonefly which has some weight to it as well. Size 10-12. Also to be successful you have to be down deep with sinking tip and or split shot. Thanks
Sorry for the grammatical errors in my post from yesterday. The 4 flies recommended to me at B&G : Westfield River Bead Head(BH), Moby Dick BH, Large Stonefly - small split shot for eyes, Tekoa Mountain (BH). Also I was told these flies have to be fished deep with sinking tip or split shot. Please confirm and thanks.
Hdad, how are ya, sorry I ty all my own flies it makes the sport that much better to me. Any way I'm not fimilar with those except the stonefly which I have had great success small patterns in black. That being said this time of year with fresh stocked fish from you could throw just about anything (size matters) and have success. Now weight it depends on the water, skinny runs,deep pools,fast runs, it's all different. I do not put split shot on my leaders (as a rule) for sinking tips I use sections of old weighted line that I ty loop connections on both end so I get them on quickly and can adapt to different water. You have to watch your leader size if you use this method. OK I've said enough this is Mr. Elmers blog not mine. Hdad thanks for askin and I'm glad you found a map.😀
Great response Gary ! Thanks.
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