Dreaming Of The Ware

"Carp Diem does not mean "fish of the day"- Author Unknown

My client and I were about to take our first step into the Ware River that afternoon in early May when we saw/heard this other angler leaving the water. "Be careful. I'm covered with ticks" was the warning. Weird, I saw him in the river a half hour before so how could he be covered with ticks? The Answer: Those weren't ticks crawling on him but a few dozen Quill Gordon nymphs!!!

Welcome to the Ware River!

This is a fly fishing river,period. To earn that label you must have great flows (dry fly and swinging soft hackles does it for me, bouncing heavy nymphs "not so much"), great great insect hatches and plenty of trout. The Ware is a fertile river by evidence of it's hatches and two hatches that you don't want to miss are the above mentioned Quill Gordon hatch and of course, the Hendricksons.

The Quill Gordon is similar to the Hendrickson but is a size smaller (think a size 12 compared to a size 14), doesn't swim to the surface before it sheds its skin and then flies away. It sheds its skin on the stream bottom and then rises to the surface as a mature insect. That may be why wet flies work so well during QG time!! It only has 2 tails  instead of 3 tails as compared to the Hendrickson and most other mayflies and that's the true give-a-way.
 

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The Hendrickson follows the rules for emergence. Prime time for these insects is dependent on water temperatures but look for low 50's for the QG and mid 50's for it's bigger cousin.

There are a million imitations for these insects which is almost a million too many. A Quill Gordon soft hackle may be all that you need for the QC and that would include the spinner fall.  Take your pick for your Hendrickson flies. Remember, both insects get active in the morning, emerge by mid day or so and swarm by late afternoon and early evening.



                                                                                 photo by Thomas Ames Jr.

March Browns call the Ware home and you will see them by mid May right into early July. BWO say hello in September right through November especially on cloudy, cool days.

BTW, you will not run into any real crowds on this river and most of the time you will be fishing alone. That is because the Swift River is just down the road and that draws many away from the Ware. Maybe the river is too "rural" for some and they feel more comfortable and safe in a park-like setting such as the Swift or the Farmington. ( I say that because I was told that!!)

My experience is that the Ware will provide the first GOOD, reliable surface activity of any central/western Ma river!!!  Go fish it!

Spring Is Here

Ok, well almost!! This week should really kick off severe cases of cabin fever as the temperatures kiss 50 degrees. The Swift is very fishable above route 9 at 343 cfs.  That may change by Friday. Even the Millers is starting to behave at 452cfs. I bet those Fall stockers are really hungry by now!!!

Ken