"And never fall into that statistical macho trap that's so prevalent in fly fishing these days. If you keep score you can be beaten, but if you refuse to compete you can leave the impression that you have long since risen above that kind of crap" - John Gierach
The Ware and the Millers in Royalston/Winchendon were stocked on 10/11.
The Quinapoxet River was stocked 10/12.
Well, it's about time! The EB has pulled off an imitation of the Millers by holding on to its water FOREVER! On Monday 10/8 we worked our way through a flow of 505 cfs and then on Tuesday we still had to deal with a 475 flow. The latter number allowed us to get across the Bliss Pool which is the best way to fish that lovely piece of water. Clients on both days caught fish.
Now, last Fall this river did not receive a stocking because someone in the DFW thought the flow was too low (it wasn't). This year the stocking occurred with a flow over 1000 and that moved the trout around instead of being all balled up at stocking points. We caught trout everywhere and in numbers that didn't make us look like we were fishing a trout hatchery. Bliss, Chronicle, The Bend and Les's Pool all produced.
We tossed heavy metal at those guys in the form of cone and bead buggers and a size 8 beadhead breadcrust. Having sink tips also helped. Now we are going to get some rain tomorrow so watch the flow if you intend to fish there. Under 600 cfs is a cautious "go", over 600 is a "no go".
River Update
The Ware finally got its Fall share of trout and its flow is perfect right now. Last year we caught a mixed bag of bows and browns with the browns being a bonus because browns were only stocked in the Spring. The Swift is fishing well. Remember to check for clipped adipose fins and mark the spot where you caught them and then email me the info. The Millers continues to misbehave with a flow of 800 as I write. One reader mentioned that he saw rising trout in the Second Run below Rezendes up in the Bears Den. As the flow goes down the first place to fish will be Orcutt which can be carefully waded at 700 cfs below the bridge.
Book Me
I still have some good dates in October and November is only half full (it will be 80% booked by Halloween). Contact me !!!!!!!
Ken
11 comments:
As the Quabbin Res. fishing season ends soon, I was wondering if you had tried fly fishing for salmon on Hop Brook or W Swift down near the lake? Seems like something you might enjoy.
Bill,
No. I've fished above Rt 202 where I know it's legal. Not sure about "down near the lake".
Ken
Took the opportunity to squeeze in one last wet wade in bondsville. 2 bows 2 brookies and a gorgeous 20+ inch brown way downstream under the rail bridge at the lumber yard. She ran beneath an undercut bank and lost the hook in some tree roots. I was lucky enough to grab her by hand and admire her for a moment before a quick release. I think it was larger than the 3 and 3/4 lb brown I pulled out of watchusett. No clipped fins on the rainbows and definitely a lack of brook trout compared to last year but still enough to keep things interesting!
Ryan,
Excellent!!!!
Ken
Congrats to Ryan on that big brown. They are in there, that is for sure. I agree not as many brookies in Bondsville this year. Last winter's prolonged below zero temps or big browns feeding on them, hard to say.
I tried my luck at Bearsden today in anticipation of more rain tomorrow. Beautiful warm day but still a lot of water and very little insect life on the wing, except mosquitos. I did see a couple of rises and caught one feisty young brownie on an orange stimulator (after giving up on the woolly bugger.) The wading was OK sticking to the edges and shallower sections, just a matter of finding fish in all that flow.
Peter
Sam,
Mergansers too!!!
Peter,
Someone else saw rising fish up in the Bears Den this past weekend. Maybe if this rain holds off.....
Ken
Took a trip to the Ware at Church Street but came up empty swinging soft hackles and buggers. Fished the first 100 yards twice from the riffle at the bridge. The flow was wadable at 185cfm and water temps around 60 with overcast skies. Only a handful of bugs rising and not much under the rocks either. Jumped over the the swift and fished from Cady Lane to the first houses and was surprised to see it so empty of any fish. Usually there are smallish brookies on the weeds or in the gravel lanes but the only ones I saw and hooked were at the deep pool by the first house. The usual haunts were vacated. I did connect with a 12+" brown above Cady Lane near one of the snags/downed trees. Even the itty bitty brookies were no where to be seen at the bend. There does seem to be a whole lot more vegetation everywhere below cady lane which you would think would attract young fish. I can't believe the brown trout are to blame, but maybe they are - they are getting pretty big! TC
TC,
I was at Church St also yesterday. Client took one and someone else caught another. I was told that they stocked it again right after we left but now it's running high again!!
Your observations about the brook trout population on the Swift are the majority opinion. The BT are not in the numbers of just a few years ago.
Ken
Ken, saw video from a buddy showing water going over the spillway. Not a lot... but that was before the last rain or todays... Things could get exciting with a 2" rainfall in the next week or two...
Will,
As of 10/1/18 the Quabbin was only 95% full. We will need a lot of rain to duplicate the salmon spill of 2011!
Ken
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