"Some people who fish here will do just that with a brace of nymphs dangled under a strike indicator, letting natural drift provide all the movement that's necessary. I've tried that, and it works - especially on slow days when nothing much seems to be going on - but I can't stay with it for long. It's possible that I'd had enough of staring at bobbers by the time I was twelve" - John Gierach
It's the best time of the year to be in New England especially central and western Massachusetts. Imagine hitting the Ware, the Swift and the Millers all in the same day and landing fish. Imagine not having to pile up windshield time to go to a crowded destination. It's all here from the Ware to the east and the Millers to the west. What about the EB? It needs rain before it's stocked. Hopefully the forecast this time is right and we get a good, rainy day and the DFW extends that Columbus Day deadline for stocking. I believe they did last year.
The Color Brown
Hats off to the DFW for raising the largest number of beautiful brown trout that I've ever seen. The color of these fish is amazing. As I said in an earlier post these trout have the color of butter that has been left in the sautee pan too long. These fish are almost iridescent and appear to almost glow in the net. I've seen some photos of stocked browns from other states and they pale by comparison.
Millers Update And A Question
We caught fish everywhere from Orcutt to Erving and to the Kempfield Section BUT we got blanked at the Bridge Street Pool. Now, there are new (this Summer) restrictions to entering Bridge Street from Route 2 - YOU CAN'T DO IT- and they have the signage to prove it!! That means that you have to bushwack through the back roads of Wendell to legally get there. (I say "legally" because some people are ignoring the signs and turning off Route 2 anyway). Here's my question. Did the DFW stock these section or did the signs/restrictions and the six mile detour scare them off?? I know someone was there because of the wet footprints in the sand. Any info??
BTW, Soft hackles (of course), possum nymphs and my mini buggers all took fish. Translation - use anything as long as it's small.
I still have some openings in October but they are going quickly. Grab one and it's yours. A good idea would be to book a morning (3 hour) trip and then spend a few hours going solo revisiting the spots I introduced you to!
Ken
23 comments:
I fished Bridge St Fri afternoon. When I got there another guy was leaving with 3 giant browns on a stick, still breathing. I wasn't too happy to see that, but that's his right I suppose.
I got a few dace and no trout. Later the trout were all sipping just under the surface, and I must have tried 6 diff flies but I couldn't get their interest. But it def looks stocked!
Bigdawg,
Thanks for the info!!!
Ken
Had luck down in the bondsville section of the swift yesterday hooked a few rainbows got 1 to the net and lost a gorgeous brookie all I saw was its red belly must have been 10 or 12 inches but as the previous post says saw someone with a stick full of trout heading out of one area unfortunately.... bring a wading stick if anyone heads down there with the higher flow it is challenging to say the least and I'm investing in one as I almost fell multiple times! It was good to get out
I was at Bridge Street yesterday and there were a TON of people parked in that area for some kind of hiking event. I wonder if the signs/parking restrictions might have been only in anticipation of that event.
I caught a few of the stocked browns on emergers at the tail end of the pool, and a few more on an olive size 10 wooly bugger. They are in there!
Dalton,
Thank you!!
BookTrout,
I saw the the parking lot but was able to squeeze in. So, that settles it - Bridge Street got some fish!!
Ken
As I gracefully age, my concerns about injuring myself have grown. Now that I don't have felt soled wading boots (because I try to be a friend to the environment) I make sure I take my super de-luxe wading staff. Actually, all it is is an ash broom stick with a hole drilled in, a piece of sash cord tied on, and then stained to make it look nice. I have had it for years, and it is perfect. Remember that Murphy's Law of fishing gear buying states that the more you spend on an item the sooner you will break it or lose it.
Rain is coming down as I write. Can't wait to get to those fresh new trout once they have spread out and wizened up a touch.
And you are absolutely right, Ken. Fall in central Massachusetts is THE place to be. You can do no better than standing in a river surrounded by gold and orange foliage - catching fish is just a bonus.
Peter
Peter,
Be a friend to yourself and get some felt soles. Vermont lifted their ban on felt because it didn't pose the environmental threat that many thought.
Ken
Hello
Read your blog today and comment on Bridge St
I fished it this morning and did not see any signs restricting access though it was raining pretty good when I turned off of rt 2 so could have missed it.
In fact while fishing many cars going both ways over the bridge so seemed normal
Caught 1 rainbow and another guy with a spin outfit caught and released a couple browns so guess it's stocked
Sam
Hey Ken,
I went to the Lamprey in Durham today for an hour or so and managed one holdover brown on a size 18 parachute Adams. It fought very well, looked to be in good shape, and had some great colors. The fish are still around, but the water is LOW. We desperately need some rain and I think we are getting some tomorrow. I can't wait to make it down to Mass waters next weekend. Hopefully the flows go up a good amount.
Sincerely,
Ashu
Ashu,
We are getting some good rain as I write and the forecast for NH looks wet too. The Millers and the Ware will be ok, the EB will still be a question mark and maybe the Swift will come down.
Ken
Ken,
Were you at Wendell Depot with a client about 9:30 am? Someone was guiding there.
I missed some fish there on streamers and dries (not sure if they were trout, dace, or bass on the dries), caught a brown (skated caddis) and lost a bigger trout and missed a couple more on streamers in erving center. One slaughtered a white streamer and did not hook up. Lost a few smallmouth along route 2
Kevin
Better than felt soles get some studded felt soles and a staff (old ski poles for me). Can't fish from the prone position!
Well best decision of the day, go fish regardless of the rain. The main branch of the Westfield River and my 6wt allways nice to air out the bug on a bigger river. On the water 7ish, fooled 7 cookie cutter bows with mini buggers 14s, off the river 10ish. Only 1 other fly fisherman. Great way to start my 3 day trip to Pulaski. Hey Hockey dad, Main Branch.
Gary,
Way to go and good luck in Pulaski!!
Ken
Three cheers for the rain!
David
why is access closed from rt 2 does anybody know?
bigmster 127,
Probably a safety issue but it seems to be ignored by many.
Ken
Thanks Gary for the heads up on the main stem of the Westfield, I will be sure to get out there soon. Good luck with the Steelhead !
Connecticut River report:
Headed up to the Connecticut Lakes region last Thursday and was reminded of a John Gierach quote ( I read him too Ken)about not waiting too long to go fishing: don't wait to retire to get out there an go fly fishing because you may put it off so long that all of a sudden it's too late. The foliage once you get on Route 3 above Franconia Notch - I think it's Littleton, NH - is worth the cost of the trip itself.
Day 1- for me it's a 5 hour drive so by the time I got up there and checked in and bought a license it was 4 PM. Went directly to the Conn River above Lake Francis Inlet and headed upstream to the fly fishing only section where I got the salmon this summer and was overwhelmed by the flows. I found out in the AM that the flows were I was was at 405 CFS and at Murphy Dam where I would be going the next day were over 550 CFS - whoa !. Apparently the drought conditions in Southern NH had resulted in the high water in the North and the water was roaring. Fished until dark and realized if this kept up I was in for a tough time even using sinking tip and split shot. Went to the Buck Rub Pub, which I heartily recommend, for dinner and got a lot of comments from the locals which I hoped would help me during the next few days.
Day 2- Murphy Dam: this is a great stretch which is stocked by the state of NH and also the local TU folks with some of the biggest fish in the area the only negative to it is that it is not catch and release so you are in there competing with guys fishing with worms. I am not an elitist but this part of the river should be fly fishing only just like it is above Lake Francis Inlet. The way it is now just doen't make sense. When I saw only 1 car in the parking lot next to the Dam I knew I was in for some tough wading. With the CFS above 500 I was still able to fish but had to be very careful wading and did nothing right below the Dam. The area a little further down, which I like, was being fished by 2 guys who weren't even using wading staffs ! Talk about taking your life in you hands, don't know what those guys were trying to prove but to me that was nuts. Spent an hour there and then went downstream to the Town of Pittsburg and tried it upstream from the bridge and again I couldn't get to the spots I usually try but while fishing a little further up and hanging on for dear life I heard this tremendous splash not far from me. That got me going and I tried BH Nymphs with split shot, woolly bugger with split shot and a grey ghost with split shot - nothing- but now I knew they were in there and it was up to me to get the right fly down to where I could make something happen. Got 1 small brookie at night at the river at Lake Francis inlet but did notice the flows were coming down.
Day 3- finally the flows were down to 300 at the stretch above Lake Francis and 400 at Murphy Dam. This time I was able to get out and fish the stretch I like and after about an hour had what felt like a good one on that I lost in fast water. It was a fish I should have had and I knew it. The fly was a size 14 flash back BHpheasant tail. Spent about 1 and half hours there with only 2 other fisherman. Felt good that I had found a fish and knew what the right fly, spilt shot combo could do. Flows were normal at stretch above Lake Francis that evening but nothing going on and all I managed to do was take a forward fall on some rocks - I was using a wading staff- that put me out of commission for the remainder of the evening - bummer !
Day 4 - limping around but did get to fish for about an hour at Lake Francis before I had to pack up; got one last look at the big river and again came to the conclusion that it's a long way to go but it is truly worth it. That's my report.
Hi Ken,
Drove by Bridge Street on the way out to the Deerfield yesterday - thought I saw a sign showing a truck, with the "no left turn" sign just below it - I interpreted this to mean that trucks (only) may not take the left? Also, recently went to the USGS Waterdata site and saw that the Millers South Royalston (i.e. Bear's Den) gauge is no longer shown, I guess it was decommissioned?
Hope to hit the Millers this weekend.
Hockey_Dad,
Great update on the North Country!!!!! Much appreciated!
Anonymous 9:00 am
Same with the Middle Branch of the Westfield. Usually they give notice of decommissioning so I hope this is temporary especially for the BD.
Ken
Thanks for the kind words Ken. Hope fully will have something to comment on when I hit the main stem of the Westfield which will be soon.
Hockey Dad, I enjoyed reading your report, but sorry the flows were so high for your visit there and that you took a spill. I have to get up there some day.
Sam
Hi Sam - good to hear that you took the time to read about my trip to the Connecticut Lakes region. Yes, the flows were high on Thursday and Friday but ok on Saturday and I definitely had my chances. I'm thinking about getting some studs on my wading boots so I can stay upright. Sure you should get up there. Take a look at lopstick lodge website to get a flavor for what is available in terms of a place to stay, fishing and hunting.
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