Last season I began to experiment with different body materials and colors for soft hackled flies. I was testing this nice yellow material when I noticed the strangest thing. The bright yellow body entered the water as bright yellow but when removed from the water it was the neatest pale orange that I've ever seen on a trout fly. Furthermore, the fly turned back to yellow as it dried out!
It caught trout and lots of them. It's been my go-to Partridge and Orange this year and it's all I've used on the Swift this Summer. The above photo shows the yellow version of the fly on the bottom and the "Magic Orange" on the top. If you want to order some just use my paypal buttons for the partridge and orange, place the order and then send me an email with the message "magic orange" and you will get the right material. $20.00 minimum for all flies.
The Rivers
The Swift dropped like a rock yesterday going from 130 cfs to 52 cfs. I for one like that flow especially with brookie spawning season just around the corner. If the flow is too high the BT will not hit the redds. 50 cfs is perfect spawning flow.
Now, is it my imagination or does there seem to be fewer brook trout down in Cady Lane this year? Gone are the schools of a dozen or so brook trout just milling around. Are they further downstream and if they are why would that be? I think we will know in a month.
The Millers - forgetaboutit!!!!! On Monday 9/10 it was a perfect 220 but now it's at 973 cfs as I write. I would love to see a flow of 300 or less by the last week of September. As my comment section states, the browns are still active on this river. We just need a better flow.
The EB - 994 cfs but it will drop like a rock by the weekend if it doesn't rain. The trout are still there and we have caught some by moving around and fishing hard!!!
A Funny Thing - Last Monday morning I drove past the RT 9 parking areas at 7:30 and saw no cars. The Pipe parking lot also was vacant of vehicles and so was the Pipe and Tree Pool for the next 2 hours until Phil showed up. late yesterday afternoon my client and I had 3 hours ( 5pm - 8pm) of fishing the same place with nobody else in sight. Question - I thought that the Swift was crowded??
Ken
16 comments:
Ken,
The swift historically, is crowded. I have a theory though...
1.) With the interweb, more people are discovering small streams, but also, all the amazing freestones that hold fish all year, or realizing they could hit the deerfield or farmington with a bit more drive, so rather than fish the swift, they explore more.
2.) The past what, 2-3 years, it's seemed the swift all but dried up for fish from maybe mid January through spring. That's WAY over stated, but it's definitely seemed to have fewer bow's until July. I suspect that's partly the restock, but I also wonder if the gradually increasing organic matter in the river, especially below 9 and further down, is pulling fish. Predation perhaps too.
3.) Historically, it's so frigging busy, that I think a lot of folks might be thinking: "Ill go elsewhere and not deal with the crowd".
4.) I suspect more folks are fishing the salt than in the past.
5.) Maybe the increase in non fishing recreational foot traffic, and the infamous naked swimmer are scaring some folks off?
Those are just theories... But I can say this, I've fished the Y pool BY MY SELF on more trips in the last two years, than the previous 20+ combined! No joke. I'm not complaining, but it has been interesting to see.
Hibernation (Will,
The scarcity of bows from January through Spring on the lower Swift, from the Gauge to the Tree pool, has been a consent over the last 10 years. The colder the river the further down the trout drop (I think). July changes everything as you know. I'd like to see a years worth of observation before I blow the whistle on this but it seems like there are fewer brook trout. Maybe the population has leveled out concerning brookies and that's not a bad thing especially if they're are being eaten by Brown trout. Brown trout need food to and that will equal brook trout on the Swift.
There are some non fisher traffic but, except for the occasional weirdo, it's all fishers. I mentioned the weirdos to draw attention to their antics and to stop it.
Ken
As you know, Ken, I mostly fish Bondsville for the solitude. Once in a while it will be busy, but even then not that busy. Being catch and keep year round, not as many fish, but they never get them all and more times than not I will have some interesting fishing. If I keep hearing reports, however, that the route 9 zone isn't crowded I will have to spend more time there and see how I do.
With regard to brook trout, I have had less action and seen less top water evidence of brookies this year in the Bondsville zone though tonight was pretty good with 4 brought to net on hare's ear nymphs. They wanted no part of the pheasant tails.
Rainbows in this zone...I haven't caught one in a month. Only sizable trout action has been provided brown trout. I haven't landed one of them and a couple of have been darned good size. They have a knack of losing the barbless hook with a series of head shakes or running right at me to create just enough slack that the barbless hook comes loose. Just tonight I thought I had hooked another brookie the hit was so subtle, next thing I know the trout was up in the air and I am left with a limp line. Always good to connect whether broght to net or not.
Sam,
Bondsville is a mystery. Maybe that's why I like the place!
Ken
Still crushing oversized Browns in Caddy Lane. Quality Winter memories. Love big Barbless Flies Off to Pulaski for the King/Coho Run soon. Fitting way to cap off an amazing season. Similar Methods apply in the depths of Caddy Lane. You know this universally applied technique. To the family house near Pulaski, best of luck to all remaining Swift Anglers.
William D. Flack
Hi Ken
any chance you can give us the name of the thread material used to tie those color changing magic's?
I was actually going to wet a line today, but my Housatonic hot spot is way to high & blown out. Tomorrow or Sunday should be a big difference.
Best regards.......Phil
Phil,
No Way!
Ken
So I ventured out to the Swift today for my first ever experience on this river. Arrived at the Rt 9 parking area around 9:00 and was on the river by 9:30. Only three cars in the lot upon arrival. Made my way up to the famed "Y" pool where I encountered two to three other prospectors. Prior to getting to the Y pool, I was greeted by a gentleman by the name of "Doc" who gave me the river report ( rising action at the Y pool) and who was on the river and where.
Anyways, my adventures at the pool only produced a small Brookie. I think I threw everything I had at the Bows and Brownies to no avail. The Brookie was taken on a 16 Partridge/orange soft hackle.
Headed out to the truck for lunch and then back to the river. This time around I put in on the straight away stretch just down from the Y pool with all the downed trees. I was getting many looks on the same partridge/orange and finely hooked into a nice Bow with bright red sides. Was having a grand old time bringing him in when I heard a nice sharp snap from my bamboo rod. About eight inches from the tip it let go. I suspected it was week in this spot from the coloration but could never tell for certain. Now I know. Still managed to get the bow in and release him but that was the end of my day.
All in all, still a good day and I will be back. Met some very nice people and got to experience a gem of a river.
First drift tonight with a caddis emerger yielded a big rainbow. First rainbow in a month, and this one was a real beauty. I haven't read where the DFW has stocked yet so this one must have been a surviving holdover. Nothing much doing after that, except for one hit that may have been a fish, or maybe the bottom. Last drift of the night was a nice native brook trout on a bead head pheasant tail nymph. Only two hits, but I was satisfied with the action.
Todd,
Sorry about the rod tip. There is a guy in New Salem named Rick Taupier (Swift River Rod Company) who makes, repairs and restores rods.
I don't fish above Rt 9 very often except in the winter. It's usually too crowded and the river is more interesting below Rt 9.
Sam,
I'm glad you got that rainbow!!!
Ken
Ken, not a fishing report, but rather an observation report. I didn't fish today, but after a couple of chores at the house I took a ride with my wife. We headed north to the Swift to check out parking areas and such for fishing that zone. At my age, parking areas are all about fishing...haha!
At any rate the area right on Route 9 had 5 cars with one fisherman walking out. The first pull off on River Road heading south at this point had zero anglers until two pickup trucks pulled in. Looked like to me they were going to have a picnic or something. I didn't see any fly fishing gear with waders being put on and so forth.
Cady Lane had one truck parked in it. I imagine activity will pick up again when Fall stocking takes place, but the lack of fishermen surprised me. Any fishing area that is not packed is right up my alley and I saw no sign of that today.
Regards, Sam
Sam,
Good observation and exactly what has been happening on the Swift. There's plenty of fish but it appears that nobody wants them. Fall stocking may even lower the numbers as the other rivers get stocked. We will see.
Ken
Ken,
Funny you mention the lack of pressure at the swift. I go to the swift and fish from Cady Lane down once a week at the very least, and 9 times out of 10 there’s one car or no cars at the lot. I’ve even notice it that way on Saturday morning. Is unbelievable but when it happens it’s nice to have most of that stretch to myself.
P.s very excited to go on my scheduled guide with you next month
Hunter
Ken, To follow your Steven Wright theme regarding the Swift: "It's gotten so popular nobody goes there anymore"
Uh oh. Three inches of rain forecast for tomorrow. Our rivers ma not be too recognizable on Wednesday.
Peter
DRL,
That's my favorite Yogi Berra quote!
Anonymous,
I hope not!!
Ken
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