"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded" - Yogi Berra
One has to go back to 2011 when Hurricane Irene stormed through in late August of that year to witness the high flows that have taken over New England. Even the noble Farmington is busting it's banks as this weather onslaught continues. There is one stream that remains civilized and that's our own Swift. It's a tick under 55 cfs as I write and baring a Quabbin overflow it will remain in that neighborhood. Fish it this weekend but try to move around. Fish it from the Bubbler to Bondsville!!!
Brookies??
I'm looking but I don't see as many as in years past. Cady Lane by the horse farm used to have schools of them all Summer long but this year is very different. Did they find a more suitable home or did the browns thin them out or is this just a population cycle that they are going through? We will know in three weeks.
Stocking
Well, It has started with the Squannacook and the Nissie getting their Autumn share along with some lakes and ponds which may be the safest bet this weekend. Don't even think about the Millers, the EB or the Ware.
Top Fly
The Partridge and Orange of course.
Ken
5 comments:
Ken, there is a freestone positive of this flow... If you enjoy fishing the Stillwater or W.Branch Swift for fall runs of land locked salmon, browns, and occasional lake trout... this should be a bumper year. Those streams are ripping strongly and that should help draw up the fish. Could be a great late October and November on those waters...
The ground water recharge from all this should help keep things rolling over the winter too, that's a good thing.
Though it is a bummer to be looking at 1-2 dry weeks before the Millers is reasonable at this point!
Hibernation (Will, believe I believe),
I like the West Branch because the salmon run the entire length of that small stream. The problem over the last 20 years has been the snaggers. Turn them in!!!!
Ken
Ken
I agree with Hibernation on the Stillwater but it still draws a lot of people.
GW
Hi Ken - and GW
I like both. I grew up in Petersham, so I fished the WB Swift often in the fall. Now I live in further east, just off 190, so the Stillwater is where I end up most.
I'm with you on the WB Ken, it's nice to be able to work up to the headwaters.
The Stillwater is great, but some how more pressure. A fair number of catch and keep, but CR folks as well.
Now, we continue "the dream" of the Quinni dam coming down :)
Will
Will,
I used to live in Sterling so Wachusett and the Stillwater were home water too.
Don't get me going on the Quinnie!!! "They" keep saying the $$ is there for the dam removal but nothing happens. "More studies" they say.
Ken
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