A West Branch Morning
We knew what the forecast was for Saturday morning - a drizzle that would swell into a steady, cold rain with temperatures in the low to mid 40's. I met Matt in the still asleep village of Huntington at 7:30 and we were on the WB of the Westfield by 8:00 working a soft hackle pattern that Gary, the Admiral of the Westfield, turned me onto a few days before: a Black Spider.
The flow was perfect and the water temperature was 53, even more perfect. We worked the stretch by Wildcat Springs where a fat rainbow grabbed that Spider and then fought for over 5 minutes before we landed him. Another whacked the same fly and kept it as a souvenir (he broke it off).
The rain picked up and the mercury dropped so we called it a day and it was a good day with another angler experiencing another New England freestone!!!
River Update
As I write the Millers is at 458 cfs which is good for most spots
The Ware is at 155 = very good
The above mentioned WB is flowing at 159 and the EB is at 352.
All the freestones are flowing full and cool so TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS!!! Leave the tailwaters for the heat of summer when we really need them. The fishing on the Swift has been very sub par but I don't care because the freestones (REAL trout fishing) have filled the bill, thank you! Besides, who needs the crowds anyway. (Ok, some people like crowds)
Ken
14 comments:
Happy mom day to all fisher moms and alike. Squannacook report Fished yesterday from the sand pit on rt 13 down to the merryinghouse section I fished up river and a friend from the townsend area fished down. Away from the areas we parked we both caught the trout slam with some very large rainbows medium browns but real small brookies (4 to 6 inch size).For their small size they were plenty Tough fishing because of trees fallen from the winter storms. But plenty of fishable water. Pocket pin size 16 and a cock pheasant and orange soft hackle got the most fish all browns on the pocket pin. Used some zug bug tied like and emerger also good. A couple of blue herons were also doing well. Didn't see another person until we got back to rt 13. Of course he said very few fish his quote was don't stock like they once did. The strange thing was the reports said stocked in shirly and Groton were all the other cars and trucks were parked. Shad fishing has been slow with high water and cooler water temp because of weather and snow run off I guess.
Another note no insects on the water and no rising fish seen.
tincup (Bob),
Good to hear from you and a very good Squannie write up too! Trying to make some time to hit the shad in the CT River but I'm wicked busy.
Glad that the Squannacook, my old home river, is producing well!!
Ken
went to the millers river today did very good 8 rainbows and 4 browns, one of the rainbows was a fatty!! the good fishing was of crescent st. in athol. it seems the higher up you go the warmer the water and better fishing. went down in erving and caught a couple rainbows and the water was alot colder there and fish were not as active.
bigmster127,
A good day and thanks for the report. It's been a while since I fished Crescent St. I used to do well there years ago.
Ken
Hi, Ken,
I was shut out on the Ware on Friday. A couple of spin fisherman I ran into got a few on spinners. But I was really hoping for at least some emerger action so stayed away from streamers. Only saw three signs of fish most of the day: a couple of slappy little rises (probably fallfish) and what looked like a brookie that had lost its mind, chasing who knows what briefly into the shallows upstream from me before disappearing again into the depths. Saw a few mayflies around 1pm, but just a handful. No surface activity to speak of. Sounds like maybe the Millers or even the Squannie might have been a better bet! So it goes!
Happy spring!
David
Saw you guiding on the Ware late Friday afternoon. We tried above the bridge, but only found a couple of brookies in the 10-12" range. Couldn't quite figure out the flies, but managed a bit. Nice stream. First time there.
John D,
That was me. My client landed a monster bow on a SH and vintage bamboo 4 weight. Sweet!
David,
Hit the Millers!
Ken
Hi Ken- fished the Ware last week, I think it was Tuesday and had some luck with one of the flies I bought from you. Spoke to some locals who had 4 very nice fish- Brookie, Brown and 2 Rainbows - they were not fly fisherman. As we spoke a bit they kindly directed me to a few spots in Gilbertville where I did get some action and saw some mayflies- it was a hot day and some kind of hatch was going on which I couldn't identify. I'm getting to know the area better and it appears there are a lot of great spots, looking forward to getting back soon.
Heading up to Connecticut Lakes region this week and will attempt to get some salmon at Magalloway - will provide report.
hockey_dad,
Don't forget the Ware, it's a good river!
Good luck on the Magalloway, a great river! - People will will waiting on your report!!!
Thank you!!!
Ken
Hit the Ware today. Hardcore dry guy. Not much surface action. Swung a SH and got a nice Brookie in Gville. Action picked up by 2pm. Note; dead drifts were a no go. A little twitching and even skating got the fishes attention. Even had a few dries submerged and without giving up on the presentation, trout were smacking the dry subsurface. Don't give up on the cast.
Fished a couple of spots on the Ware on Wednesday and caught a brookie and a brown on an olive soft hackle and a hares ear nymph. Later in the afternoon I went to the Orcutt section of the Millers and the hares ear nymph was the most successful fly for me. Four trout on including a nice brown. A few sporadic mayflies on both rivers but only saw a couple of rises. Nothing was interested when I tried a dry. Did see a bald eagle flying over the Ware. That was a nice plus!
Well my 1st trip to the EB since December, on the water at 7:30, 270 cfs, water temp 49, air temp 63, short sleeves and no waders. 3 feisty brookies were fooled with a #14 pats rubberlegs. Saw a handful of anglers in the 3 miles I covered. Ran into 2 TU guys told me they were not there for the camp out just fishing, they said the millers was there home water,great guys. Another fly fisher I met said he fooled 8 fish in one rip. Should be good this weekend.
Hi Ken, Went to the Housatonic (MA) again today after fishing it a week ago. Much lower and slower fishing. While it's more difficult, I really like the higher water on that river. The Hendrickson action was slower, but I managed a couple on them. While I did see adult Hendrickson's, the dry fly action of the evening for me was Green Caddis. First really good dry fly fishing with 16 Elk Hairs. Get there quick because it warms up, but plenty of fish around and I only saw one other person.
Falsecast did you happen to see me down there? LOL I played hookey and had a great day down there biggest being 16-17 inch wild brown picture perfect along with many more I was on tyringham road section for majority of the time and tried a few other spots... got them on my version of a copper John and a few on a PTs didn’t see anyone else down there
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