Who would of thought that one of the most fly fished sections of a Massachusetts tailwater would be EMPTY on a Friday morning in mid-summer. Actually, it was empty last Sunday morning also and the time before that it was a ghost town. People have given up on the Pipe and the Tree Pool because they are not tripping over the trout as in years past. Guess what? The trout are there.
Commentor Bob O was right. The high flow from Quabbin earlier in the week moved the trout around and suddenly we had more bows to play with and the size of the brookies increased. Then the flow went down and we had perfect dry fly conditions! And those conditions included a tiny mayfly of an unknown species (unknown to me) around a size 20. I didn't have the brown body but I did have some snowshoe emergers of the right size. (note: color is the least important element in imitating an insect.)
The one other fly fisher there left shortly after I arrived. I began to work the Pipe Run with that tiny fly and instantly began to hook up with brookies and bows. That action continued right down to the Tree where I turned around and went back to the Pipe where I conducted a test run of some beetle concoctions that worked fine (more on those in the next post).
I will add that the Y Pool parking area and the overflow spot across from River Rd were filling up at 7 am and PACKED at 11 when I left. There may have been someone down by the Pipe at 11 but I can't recall. The morning ended with a short trip to Cady Lane and then taking a rainbow at the Gauge Run on a beetle.
All told I rose about 20 fish and landed a dozen, most of the emerger. I usually don't fish the Pipe section because of the crowds but if you find an empty parking area then this that spot!!
BTW, I'm starting to book up this Fall already as folks are starting to take advantage of my new "expanded hours". Contact me to secure a day!!
Ken
10 comments:
Ken,
The brookies do seem bigger down at the Pipe Pool since they released water last week!
GW
Not much fly fishing opportunities for me lately, Ken, but had a chance after work tonight for a bit. Nothing much doing in the Swift zone I fish, but did spot one rise that looked promising. I tied on a yellow humpy that floats like a cork and could imitate terrestrials or a big may fly, a few of which were hovering over the water tonight.
I drifted that fly right in the zone of the last rise I saw and a huge explosion from the sizable rainbow took place, but no connection. I couldn't believe I didn't connect. Not sure if it refused it, missed it, or I lifted up too quickly. Nice to get action anyway. Dang, that was a dandy too.
Best Regards, Sam
Sam,
Sometimes the most memorable fly fishing moments involve the ones that get away. They will always be there the next time!! The Bondsville brown I saw tonight will bring me back!!
Ken
Yep that I can relate to: "The ..... I saw tonight will bring me back!" RE: Bondsville: Ken, I found a dam on the lower swift that might be the Bondsville dam but I don't think its the one you refer to, this dam appears to be the first dam below Caddy lane, there is no wide dam and no long and high stone wall as in your pictures, just and old mill and what looks like risky wading. There must be another dam, the Bondsville dam. Granted I am very far away and cannot spend much time on it. Browns with fins like paddles! I'll keep searching.
Erik
Erik,
My photos,video show the dam on River Road. There is one upstream of that with limited access and an old factory below that. Tough place to fish!
Ken
Ken I'm pretty sure I hooked into that bondsville brown a week or two ago or another one resides in that section that broke me off! I tend on hitting the swift Saturday morning I hope!
Ken, I could not agree more with you about the ones that got away. It is nice to know such fish are in there and you might get a crack at them again. Makes for good thoughts to reflect back on.
Best, Sam
Could have swore i saw you down at the Ware River Sunday evening. Anything there?
Matt
Matt,
It was Monday evening. One good hit but no fish.
Dalton,
I think there's more than one down there.
Ken
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” ― Dr. Seuss.
Just down the road, hang a right. Haha
Erik
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