"Because of the problems with fly lines in most nymphing applications, some people even opt to fish an entirely monofilament rig with no fly line at all. So why are there Euro nymphing specific fly lines produced if fly lines cause problems? Essentially, fly lines in Euro nymphing exist to keep you legal in competitions and to adhere to fly only regulated waters." Wise words from TCO Fly Shop, December 17, 2019
Millers Bow
It's funny how everything has rounded into form. Three weeks ago we were flooded out but now all the rivers are into form and that includes the Millers which is about ready to dip under 500 cfs. Even the psychotic Swift is coming down off the ledge with a drop of 60 cfs in three days. It's still about 4 times the flow that I like but it's heading in the right direction!!!
There is no excuse not to be out there. Pick a river and hit it. Don't know the river(s) that well? Book Me for a trip!!!
Someone left a Sage Vantage rod and Battenkill reel up at the EB. If you find it notify me and I'll get the ball rolling!
Thank You!!
I've been getting a lot of compliments about this blog this Spring. What people seem to like is the fact that this blog is packed with info about the elusive "where and when" on the rivers. It's not just photos of fish and no other info. I actually want you to catch fish!!!!!
Have a Good Memorial Day!
Ken
20 comments:
Took advice off the previous post I think about someone having luck on the Housy went there this morning and went 3 for 3 on beautiful brown trout the biggest being 17-18 inches unfortunately I think I lost a bigger one though.... Caddis were popping off in the morning and the river was a perfect flow I’ll be going back for sure!
Thanks for the excellent forum content as always, Ken! Your observation about the efficacy of green-bodied flies is important, as in New England the interval from early May through early June coincides with emergence of the American Grannom (Brachycentrus spp.) and the Green Rockworm (Rhyacophila spp.), which both have bright green larval and pupal forms.
-Mike
Hi Ken - I went to the upper c&r section of the millers in s Royalston for the first time from that side. It’s much easier then hiking all the way in from the Athol conservation land. That said, it is some tough wading in there. I am got zipped, nothing. I lost one brown on my Caddis emerger, but basically was humbled. I rarely fish in the Bearsden and made it in past the 1000 acre pool doing more scouting then fishing.
I was thinking of going back and driving Gulf road to the middle section as it is quite a hike from S. Royalston. Is that road safe and passable without a truck?
Also, is that water that is in front of the general store (from the birch dam rd bridge downstream) any good? I didn’t see any rises in that first pool or in 1000 acre, but plenty of bugs around. I did leave at 6 so maybe I missed them. It’s a beautiful area I’d like to check out some more. Any suggestions are welcome. I am trying to go to areas I don’t go often and, especially, ones that require some work to lose the people.
Thanks, Andrew
Andrew
Take Gulf Rd not from Athol but from Royalston. The Athol side is closed but the Roayalston side of Gulf rd is well maintained. It's a 5 minute drive from S. Royalston.
The water by the General store holds trout but it is horrible wading. I'd take the road past the burnt out restaurant and follow the river a few 100 yards to a water treatment plant. Park there and go a short ways downstream to a good pool. Cross over, if you can, to the other side for good backcast room.
Do you have my FLYFISHERS GUIDE TO THE MILLERS? If not email me and I'll send it.
I might like to take you up on the Housy thing. Do you fish the Ma or CT side?
Ken
Mike,
Thank you Mike!
Anonymous 2:51,
So much water, so little time!
Ken
I’m making an effort this season to target bigger predatory brown trout this season as a challenge. Does anyone have any advice on where to search? I’d like to stay away from the crowds of the big box store rivers. Lower Miller’s? Hoosic? Any advice on tactics, when/where to look would be greatly appreciated!
Jared
Jared,
Good luck getting anyone to tell you the spot where a a big brown lives! Here's some advice - any larger river, such as on the Ma major trout river list, would have outsized browns in it. Your job is to find them by scouting one of those rivers.
Ken
Jared I think you have a good idea and a very reasonable shot at getting some. It sounds like a fun quest to go on! The big rivers are a best bet..the Deerfield, Hoosic Housatonic even the Swift are all known have a chance at a big one. There is a lot of water on some so I'd pick one and start working it top to bottom find the right habitat and be willing to work for it-I did that for Bluefin Tuna before it became a "thing" about 20 years ago-spent an entire season before I got one on the last trip(and the end of my gas $$) of the year. I probably only had 5-6 shots the entire year and put blinders on to catching anything else...passed up numerous striper feeds, albies and bonito were a no-go..all tuna all the time for an entire season. I mostly gave up the freshwater game for the summer too. The Brown Trout Atlantic Salmon Nexus would be a good read if you haven't already. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Made it to the EB yesterday. Far fewer anglers than last weekend but probably 2x as many hikers/sunbathers. Less bugs hatching but the catching was much improved. Had a few on soft hackles then it got quiet and put a PT nymph on naked style no bobber just a 2 #6 tin shot about 8-12" above and dredged some deeper holes(the h20 level seems about half of last week so its relative and I hope we don't have to worry about lack of rain). Took one more on that outfit and managed to bottom out on my drive out! I am probably not hitting it at the most opportune times ...suspect that early evening dusk thing is going to be the name of the game soon enough. Makes for a long long day for some of us....sacrifices ........
With many spots on the Millers seeing plenty of visitors this weekend I went to a less popular spot on the Millers. I took out the 12’ tenkara rod with some Wulff dries and a prince nymph. Somedays less is more? The tenkara rod kind of forces me to move my sometimes leaden feet. A bunch of chub were eager. Then a very nice brown took the Royal Wulff. Made my weekend. Thanks for showing me tenkara. Especially nice on some local creeks using bow/arrow casts.
Sulphurs galore this afternoon, Ken. Brookies were stuffing themselves with them with rise after rise in the zone I was fishing. Picking off the floating duns, chasing the emergers as they flew off, what an enjoyable sight to see. How many took my flies, comparaduns, emergers, Catskill style sulphurs, soft hackles...zero interest. One of those days when I could not get the right fly figured out.
The refusals were interesting to watch. A look and back down they went to where they were holding. Nothing connected, but a hatch I won't soon forget. I am glad I got to see it.
Best, Sam
Tincup will give u the same as bob T I will tell u the river the spot but it will be an obsession one cant take lightly. First its a saltwater backwater and the browns are searuns and big. Bigger than 4 plus Parker river on a back road near the back road of the private school G D . The trip needs to be walked or canoe to the dam off the soccer fields which is all private property. Its thru marsh grass with bugs up to millions. An hour by foot or by canoe. You need to get to the dam area with a hour left of the outgoing tide. Best at dawn or dusk. So u only have 2 two to 4 days the month of June augest sept October November to do this. DO not try in july you don't have enough blood in your body and bugs will suck you dry.
You need 3 rods one with spinning and the closest coleration to a mummichog you can color,the second is a fly rod with a yellow wing muddler minnow tied around 2 inches the third is a fly rod with a mouse pattern. The pool is very large and binoculars help. If you get a weedy flood all bets are off.Go home. So what ever method you choose first if you get a refusal change don't try the same. In early am Black dark start with mouse and at night end with mouse. So you have been warned The obsession could kill you mud tide bugs creeks etc. But all u need too do is see one bigger than a largemouth or a 8 lb bluefish and your life will be change forever. For me I will try again in end of august or September since October I will be chasing tails as in whitetail deer with a bow. My may trip was only scouting no fish seen and not sure if I can take the bugs of jume GOOD LUCK You can google earth to see the area.
But don't trespass thru the house on the road which is 3 minutes away from the pool. One its private property second you will empty the pool of fish
Ken Fished teh Ware last night. Stayed until dark. fish were rising all over the place. Had a hard time getting them to hit a dry fly. Threw a few Smaller Elk hair caddis which the bluegill liked. I head black wooly buggers have worked well there as well. Any other dry fly type you might recommend ?
Bob T and tincup,
It’s going to be an adventure for sure, but I’m willing to get skunked a lot and put in some serious work. I graduated from college a year ago and finally have some more time to get serious about the hunt. Been tying a bunch of streamers and reading Kelly Galloup’s book. It’s been fun exploring something new. Don’t get me wrong, any trout is a blessing, but like every fly fisher, we all want to catch that monster.
Many thanks to both of you for your great advice and suggestions. It really means a lot, and I’ll keep everyone posted.
Jared
@Quinneyfish Where were they rising? I've had luck throwing soft hackles at browns on the Ware closer to its headwaters, and attractors like an Adams or royal coachman down closer to Barre
Jared,
Bob T's list is a good one. There are two "holes" on the Deerfield where I've hooked into a "rock" - only to have the rock start to slowly move to and fro. In one of the holes I've hooked the same "rock" three separate trips over the past couple years - most recently yesterday - and got broken off all 3 times - each time the fish ate a tiny thread midge. Got a 25"er at the "pipe" on the Swift back last October, also on a midge larvae. So bigger is not necessarily better as far as flies go. I just started exploring the Hoosic and Hoosatonic, but a lot of potential there. Good luck in your quest!
Mike from Pittsfield
Jared,
I don't target big trout, but have come across a few purely by accident. With the 5X I usually fish with it is hard to keep them connected. But when you have one on it is a spectacular feeling and your mind starts racing as to how you will bring that special one to net and set it free. They have a way of getting off, that much I can tell you.
In my own experience, wood piles are a good place to target. Places where no one ever seems to fish is another one. Deep water below a spill out of a pool. Here is a good read for someone on your mission. There are several parts to this series that may help you on your way. I wish you the best and look forward to hearing your reports!
https://troutbitten.com/2019/09/04/where-to-find-big-trout-part-one-big-bigger-biggest/
Regards, Sam
To Everyone,
Some of the biggest browns in New England are found in the Swift. You don't have to look far or fish monster streamers to catch them either. Decades. ago I had two encounters with a brown in excess of two feet long on the Squannacook. Both times he came out of nowhere to hit a size 12 Light Cahill. I missed him twice. Big fish do live in smaller streams.
Ken
MDH,
I remember seeing the post here back in the fall. That was a beauty! Thanks for the leads and advice!
Sam,
Thank you For providing the link I’ll make sure to check it out!
To everyone (Especially Ken),
Thank you so much for all of your helpful comments. At almost 23 now, I have been reading this blog since high school, and It has been said many times now, but I still would like to reiterate how special it is as a resource as well as a place to connect with fellow anglers. l always look forward to reading the next post to read about the latest adventures. We owe it to you Ken!
I’ll keep everyone posted how it goes....
I caught a nice brown on an egg sucking leach (closest thing I had to a bugger) and then several other big bows on a moby dick wet fly a few days ago right near the Russell/Huntington line on the westfield. I've been slamming them on the moby more than any other fly. Ive been catching browns consistently at the Housatonic in Lee on the moby dick as well. Great fly. Also since I have been reading your forum I have been using soft hackles much more now, they work!
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