"An ounce of action is worth a ton on theory" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
The first thing one may notice if you occasionally glance at the Ma DFW stocking reports is that the stocking this Spring is earlier than any years in the past. Water levels are very close to the historical average but there is a lack of snow melt to deal with so the trout are stocked. I've never seen the Millers stocked in March as it was this year.
The area flows as I write are:
River Flow (cfs) average for 4/3/20
Millers 1490 1440
EB 729 743
Ware 293 385
Swift 53 50
WB 316 467
As you can see just about everything is at its historical average. The Millers is still too high to be safe and productive but the Ware is fine. I fished the Gilbertville section yesterday and got my ration of clonebows. I was more interested in working out a 71/2 foot Heddon that I restored this past Winter. It worked great and I began to wonder how many Heddon fly rods this river has seen in years past.
I saw very little insect activity due to the fact that the water temperature was still in the low to mid 40's. 50 degrees will be the magic number!!!
Safe Distance
While on the Ware I came within 50 yards of an angler and that was the closest that I came to anyone. Fly fishing one of our rivers is safer right now than going to a grocery store or the pharmacy. In fact, you may want to become a pariah and visit one of our marginal blue lines that are stocked and take a bow or two home for dinner. Let's face it, many of our smaller stocked waters will not support a trout population (rainbows) through the Summer. They are there to be caught or released. It is ok to keep two for the grill and you will not be banished to Hell if you do. It beats getting sick or dying because you went grocery shopping. Just stay off the C&R rivers!!!!
My Quill Gordon
Book Me
It looks like we may have a "compressed" season with this GD plague but not all is lost. If you want to fish rivers where the fishing is great but the crowds are very sparse then book me. Remember, I don't load up a boat or raft with anglers in close quarters but take an angler of two and give them plenty of elbow room.
Book Me!!!
Ken
24 comments:
hope people listen Fish fisherperson(fly guys) somewhat smarter than the truck chases in the northeast Police are being wasted in areas Haverhill (reported in april 2 on the water fish report) So be smart plenty of places to fish no need to chase trucks. Haverhill ponds are being closed because of the fish hogs do not know how to separate. BE SMART BE SAFE
Tincup
Jail break!! I thought I'd share something that happened yesterday to me on the tiny little Quinnepoxet. I was nymphing with nobody in sight when I saw a flash of a dying fish upstream. I was thinking it was probably "released" by a bait fisherman and was now dying, but it was moving funny. I got curious enough and saw 2 Brown trout next to each other. I then saw the metal. It was a full metal stringer with 1 large dead Browns and another very much alive dragging it around and trying to free itself from it's dead brother and dragging the metal stringer. I netted it, unhooked and revived the Brown trout and released it. I chucked the dead one and brought the stringer back to the lot. By the way, I didn't catch anything, but did release one, seems impossible to say. :) So,if anyone lost a stringer at the Quinnie...
Tincup,
It's always a mess in early April. Fish hogs everywhere. It's not fishing. I hate those guys!!
Falsecast,
And then there is your encounter. They can't even keep an eye on their stringer. One wonders why they even bother to fish. Maybe they get a hard on when they get a bite!!! Our license money goes to provide entertainment for these clowns!! Let them fish for horned pout. Trout are wasted on them!!
Ken
The fly fishermen that plays their fish for hours and then poses for pictures of their 14 inch rainbow before oh so carefully reviving it to die later sure kill a lot of trout. Probably more then the guy using bait. The clowns you refer to pay for a license just as you do. I fly fish, I spin fish, and I bait fish. I also never look down on other anglers. The past week I have been crowded out and down right mugged by fly fishermen. Why, because I was catching fish bouncing a bugger I tied on a jig head. A number of times I had to time my cast in order to get proper depth and drift to avoid a fly line drifting in front of me. Maybe a post on etiquette and how to fish deep with a bugger or streamer might be appropriate. I was recently asked nicely by oh my god a bait fishermen what I was using and then he asked if he fished down from me if he would bother me. I offered him my spot and gave him a couple of jigs and told him how to fish them. He shortly caught a trout and to say he was excited was an understatement. He kept the fish which is his right. He thanked me again. Glad I didn't judge him as a clown.
I didn't realize fly guys were smarter than truck chasers. I learn something new everyday. Thanks for the info Tincup
Anonymous 1:55,
If you know anything about this blog you know that I don't like the fly fishing clowns that use 8x and play fish to death. I also don't like clowns that use jig hooks. As I've said sooooo many times before the jig head has a tendency to hook in the top of the mouth which causes artery damage and dead trout which doesn't work too well in a catch and release environment.
I don't see fly fishers breaking creel limits but the bait boys do. I don't see fly fishers leaving coffee cups and bait containers around either like the bait boys do.
Ken
Ken,
Is the East Branch gorge open? I know the Trustees have locked the gate as part of the partial state lockdown.
Any idea?
Thanks!
Jack
Hey Ken, I'm trying to get the hang of the wet fly/soft hackle swing. When rigging this up, would you use any splitshot or let the flies swing free in the current?
Jack,
The EB is open and passable from the Trustees parking lot at the Gorge down to the yellow gate about 1 1/2 miles downstream. That gate is almost always locked.
Andrew D.,
Never use spit shot while swinging flies. If the water is too fast or deep switch to something weighted.
Ken
Well said, Ken.
"I don't see fly fishers breaking creel limits but the bait boys do. I don't see fly fishers leaving coffee cups and bait containers around either like the bait boys do."
It is a different fishing environment this time of year and I always bring a trash bag along with me being I know what I will see. I appreciate your site a great deal, but don't post specifics on where I connect. I believe it is not just catch and release fly fishermen who monitor your tips on your valued site.
Best, Sam
I've seen plenty of coffee cups and trash on in the pipe area of the Swift in the fall from fly fisherman. Slobs come in all persuasions. I think one reason the state is putting out the fish so fast is to get em out before the virus shuts them down. Then they would be stuck feeding them till who knows when.
Something interesting I noticed. Starting sometime in the last few days, DFW has stopped listing the dates in their online stocking table. At first I thought this was some glitch, but then I realized: they're trying cut down on the clumping of truck-chasers (not entirely innocent of this myself, at times!), in the interests of physical distancing. Just an observation.
Cheers,
Dave P.
I may be misreading, but Anonymous seems sincere ( I think?) and has a good point. I see FF guys doing that photo stuff, walking all over Redds, dragging fish over rocks, etc too. I agree with him that anyone fishing legally has, not only a right to do so, but also equal right to the water. I didn’t mean to judge when I said a bait guy “released” his fish. I only knew that because of the snelled hook and we do all know that a hook in the belly will kill it eventually. I’ve never had a problem with people keeping fish to eat. I most defiantly grew up on worms and Daredevil’s. Apologies if it offended.
Dave P.
Yes, I noticed that too. We know a place has been stocked but we don't know when and that's ok with me.
lunasea,
So you don't think that non flyfishers fish the PIPE in the Fall. You are totally wrong. We don't have a trash problem above route 9 because bait tossers are not allowed up there. I don't see non fly fishers picking up trash around the Pipe but I see fly fishers doing it.
Ken
Wrong Ken I pick up trash from Rte 9 to Bondsville.I noticed 80 to 90 percent of trash is alcoholic beverages and coffee cups.I just want to have a shout out to make Massachusetts fishing spots Great again.Geat job down in bondsville cleaning up down there
Just this week I witnessed a guy with a fly rod, hip boots, and his dog swimming in the Y pool. Is he a fly fisherman?
Just this week I witnessed a guy with a fly rod, hip boots, and his dog swimming in the Y pool. Is he a fly fisherman?
Made one call and explained my point never thought anything would be done but official though it was a great idea So they do listen Just to the best suggestions Change was done instantly Tincup Again it was reported by On The Water fishing report I did not observe first hand. So use your rods to stay away from others most are over 6 feet
Jim D.,
Maybe he fell in.
Baitslinger,
I apologize. You're one of the good ones!!!
It seems like tensions are running high due to overcrowding AT ACCESS/STOCKING points. If you want a good time logic dictates you are going to have to open up google maps and discover your own new spots. The Millers, Deerfield and Westfield all have miles upon miles of productive water. And there are dozens of other waters not as well known that would have the same. I would plan on a 20 min walk minimum any place near a stocking location or known access point. I smelled this coming with so many furloughed or layed off-tested my theory last week and went to a local stream at the stocking point. Within 25 yards of the bridge there had to be 15 fly/spin/bait guys. Literally walking 5 minutes there was nobody. Fishermen have always been a lazy lot as a whole...do some bodyweight squats a few burpees and get those legs in shape -you will need it for the spring season at least ...
BobT,
You are right!
Ken
Does anyone have any good tools or resources on finding these " thin blue lines". I am definitely someone who wants to get away from the crowds (especially during these times) and find some little natives, but many times I feel like I am just guessing on a brook or small stream that's looks "fishy".
So true Bob fished the Green River in Greenfield and Colrain.Also Fished North River had a blast little faster flows so scenic.Enjoy the outdoors never seen so many people fishing that is good go out and explore other areas.
Anonymous 7:57,
We used to use topo maps years ago but now Google Maps, right on your phone, gets the job done. Sometimes all you need is a brook that looks "fishy" as you said.
Ken
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