Browns And Brookies = More Bang For Your Buck

 

" FYI, I've heard people say that any trout here (Farmington) without an adipose clip or an elastomer tag/dye mark is wild, and that is completely inaccurate. Most of the trout stocked in the Permanent Catch & Release/TMA are indeed marked by the state (about 10,000), but the other well over 30,000 stocked trout are NOT marked in any sort of way". Up Country Fly Shop, May 2017

A plump Brown from the Swift

I once was giving a presentation to some fly fishing group and the question came up as to whether or not many of our trout streams had populations of native (born in the stream) trout.  I said that yes, many of the streams have  populations of native trout but in most cases the numbers are too low to matter as far as a fishery is concerned. Then I dropped the bombshell:  "If we stopped stocking for five years the catching of a trout in most New England rivers would be an event."

One guy thought I was nuts and to that I responded "What's your favorite trout stream?" He said the Squannacook. I then said "What happens if we don't stock it for five years?"  We both knew the answer.  Catching a trout would be an event!

Those Poor Bows

Let's face it.  Our trout streams are an example of "Put & Take" and that includes any sections that we designate as "Catch & Release"(the last two years the DFW stocked thousands rainbows in the Swift in early July and then fielded complaints that the trout disappeared.  They actually went looking for them!)  The problem is the reliance on rainbows for stocking.  It's a very short term solution for those who just want to catch fish and not worry about how they are doing it.  And rainbows have a hard time making it through a freestone summer.

Success By Accident

Sometimes things just go correctly as they have on the Swift, not with the bows but with the brookies and with the browns. The place is loaded with naturally reproducing brook trout and absolutely outsized browns who get outsized (15 lbs plus) by feeding on the brook trout. It's been said that the browns do not reproduce in the Swift and they are just average stockers that then eat a lot of BT and get REALLY BIG!!!  I could live with the idea of planting a population of apex predators (browns) and cutting the rainbow stocking in half or more. Brookies thrive in the Swift. Browns, although they may not reproduce, grow to be big  OLD fish in the Swift. Also, Swift browns are fatter than Farmington browns. I'm not the only one to observe this. Are there too many fish stocked in the Farmy or not enough biomass for the trout to feed on?

BTW, in my experience the EB is the only freestone river in central/western Ma that holds onto its bows through the Summer. A bow or two may sneak through the Summer on the Millers or the Ware (browns do) but you can clean up at Les's Pool drifting emergers on an August morning or at the Bliss Pool on a sublime Summer evening and have your fill of bows.

THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS!

It's 5 degrees outside. Four days to Ground Hog Day!!!

Ken

 

 

   ' 

 

Spring On 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 14 compared to a size 12), doesn't swim to the surface before it sheds its skin and  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.
 

 .

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  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!

Ken

A spot on the upper Ware

The Classic Quill

 

  “I understand that not everyone is so lucky; a precious few have it easier, but most have it harder. I might once have said that you make that kind of luck for yourself, and in some ways you do, but it’s just as often true that people end up where they are through no fault of their own and are then faced with making the best of it.” - John Gierach

I'm old enough to know that my collection of fly fishing and fly tying books is older than most of the fly fishers that I meet on the stream.  These are classics by the best of 20th century flyfishing luminaries   such as Gordon, Skues, Jenkins, Flick, Marinaro, Schwiebert, Darbee and Dette among others. This collection contains techniques and materials that, for no good reason, appear to be heading for the dust bin of flytying history.

Size 20 Quill Spinners

It may be safe to assume that in the first half of the 20th century most dry fly bodies were made of quill and it would be safe to say that many wet fly patterns were also. But dubbing began to rule the day because it is easier to work with but dubbing can't give you the beautiful segmented effect of a well tied quill body.  The "beautiful segmented effect" may not mean shit to the trout but fly tiers liked it and it probably didn't stop trout from trying to eat it either. In short, quill bodies have a history of working AND just look soooo good when hanging from a trout's jaw!!

How To Make Them

We all have a bag of grade B and C hackle capes hanging around and they are perfect.  

1. Pull out 3 or 4 of the hackles from a cape and strip the hackle fibers from them.  Soak the hackle stems in hot water, boiling water if you like, and then keep them in the water (an hour at least) until you use them. (the water can cool.  It's ok)

2. Now, tie in the thin section of the hackle stem to the hook at the bend point and slowly wrap forward. The larger the fly (size 10 to 14) the thicker the hackle stem should be. A size 18 fly can have the thinnest portion of the stem wrapped on to it. A size 14 fly should have the thickest part on the stem wrapped onto it.

3. The fly in the photo is a size 16 wrapped with a reddish brown hackle stem.  Good segmentation is seen. The thorax is just plain old reliable brownish rabbit fur. 

One can put wings, hackle or a tail on this subsurface fly or just leave it as is.

Stay Warm

The second and third weeks of January have historically been the coldest of a New England Winter.  9 more days to Ground Hog Day!!

Ken

Think Spring And Flies

 I like an honest warranty that covers materials and workmanship only. The fly fishing industry sailed over the Falls when it offered  "no questions asked about the dumb ass way you mishandled the rod" kind of warranty. Maybe we would appreciate the craftsmanship more and take better care of rods if they were not so easily replaced!  Or maybe we should stop ultra refining rods to fit certain angling situations where the tip  easily breaks (read euro nymphing). Breaking the tip on an $800 dollar rod and having to send $50 bucks and then WAIT for the replacement part is not a DEAL.  It's an inconvenience that can be avoided.   Bamboo rod makers know the limitations of their materials and have almost always included a spare tip.  Why not graphite rod makers?  How about a rod with two tips of different lengths/actions for different situations at a reasonable price? They all claim to make the best rods so this engineering hurdle should be a piece cake.  Wait a minute!  That would mean some may not have to buy a second rod and that hurts the bottom line!! - Ken

BWO - Sizes 22 and 24

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since Covid 19 made landfall in the USA. Luckily, the nature of flyfishing (being outdoors and keeping your distance) has made our pastime fairly safe as compared to other forms of recreation. But don't let your guard down. Bring your masks and sanitize your hands.

One casualty of this pandemic is the Marlborough Flyfishing Show for 2021. I only go to this show every other year to see what's new (sometimes not much)!  Thank God for fly shops ESPECIALLY those that know the importance of selling online.  They get my business!!!
                                                                                           Simple Small  May Fly Nymph size 18

    Gaudy Patterns                                                                       
It seems that some of our trout fly patterns carry on the dubious tradition of being overly complicated like some old fashioned English/Scottish/ Irish salmon flies. It may be fun to fasten all kinds of glitz to a hook but does it make for a more effective fly.  If the fly is meant to represent an insect then the answer is NO!  I've now spent years going in a minimalist direction.  My mantra is "keep it simple".

The above nymph is a size 18, tied on a standard dry fly hook with olive 8/0 thread, a strand of crystal flash for the body and olive rabit for the thorax AND THAT"S IT!!!!!  You can replace the crystal flash with peacock quill or with goose or turkey biots as seen below.

Size 18 with turkey biot

At the top of the page is a bunch of BWO in sizes 22 and 24.  Notice that they don't have tails.  They are emergers with the tail end sinking just like a good emerger should.  I still consider them dries that also fill the bill as emergers.

As I finish up this post it has begun to snow with a temperature of 24 degrees and a wind chill of 14.  Only 58 more days until the first day of Spring!!

Ken

The Gartside Nymph

 

I have to thank frequent commenter Sam for getting me to write about this perfect nymph again.  I just have to hear the name or see the fly and I go into a swoon.  Boston's own Jack Gartside put this pattern on center stage and it deserves it with only Polly Rosborough and his Casual Dress pattern coming close.

These flies are "big boy nymphs" and work best on bigger, "transitional" rivers such as the Millers and the EB. These rivers have the bigger insects like large stoneflies, hellgrammites, damsel flies and the dragonflies and this pattern can do it all.

Hook - size 12 standard nymph hook

Tail - fluff from a large partridge hackle

Body - your choice of dubbing (I like rabbit in yellow, orange and natural

Collar - Oversized partridge hackle swept back

Head - brown ostrich

Sometimes I use weight but usually like Sam, I use some split shot but when the Spring flows have slowed down this fly is unweighted.

It seems to work best at sundown.

Just a few months to go!!!

Ken

 

My First Midge

 "You can blame some of  those unreasonable expectations on a fishing press that tells you exactly where to go and how to catch more and bigger fish once you get there, aided and abetted by a tackle industry that's eager to sell you all the gear you'll need to accomplish that - plus some you won't" - John Gierach

Size 24

It was back a long time ago (let's just say that it was before many of you were born) when I was into the second year of a terminal malady known as Fly Fishingitis which leads one to follow any rumor of great catches to a glorious conclusion or to a dead end.  So, off to a lake in Ashburnham named Winnekeag because I heard that it was stocked and the trout were committing suicide.  

The first day - This late April day had a stiff wind blowing out of the south which drove the temperature into the high 70's and put whitecaps on the lake EXCEPT in the cove by the dam (this place is now fenced off) and this cove was totally calm EXCEPT for the hundreds of trout vacuuming surface.  Their prey appeared to be black fly larvae of which I had none.  They didn't want anything else either.  So I went troutless but when I got home out came my few size 22 hooks (probably too big), 6/0 thread (too heavy) and some stripped peacock quill.

2nd  day - The same weather conditions and the same trout but a different story. All I had to throw that peacock emerger out there and they would eat it. They would hit it as soon as it landed and if they didn't all that was needed was a gentle tug.  I took about 50 to 60 trout in the 3+ hours that I was there.

I'd like to say that I carried this fly with me forever but I didn't.  It seemed so easy to tie that it couldn't really be any good.  I now know that the best flies are the simplest to tie.

Hints on tying this fly - Use an eraser to rub off the herl from the quill. It's ok to leave a bit of that fuzz on the fly.  Don't try to bleach the herl off as it will weaken the quill.  I even stay away from the pre stripped quill for the same reason.         Size 26

                                                                          
Book Me

Half way through the month of January and conditions on the Swift are pretty good.  See you there!!

Ken

A Favorite Millers Spot And The San Juan Shuffle Hits The Swift

 

One of the things that this blog has always done for 15 years is to be free with information on what rivers I fish, what sections of the rivers that I fish and what flies are working for me  This is what flyfishers want to know so I provide it.  Now, conventional wisdom will say that giving this info will make spots more crowded. Not so, especially the freestones. Orcutt Brook and the Kempfield (Millers) can get crowded on weekends but the rest of the river is lightly fished. Same with the EB.  There's one spot on the Millers that gets low pressure but is a great place to fish - The Arch Street Section.

This is a wide open portion that is a dream to fish. Tons of backcast room, fairly easy wading and lots of fish. The river widens out through this section meaning that the flows become less severe.  Even a 500 cfs flow is wadable here if you're careful.

Soft hackle emergers rule the day here for the tons of caddis that call this section home.

How To Get There

It's easy! Take RT 2 into Erving Center and take Arch Street, go under the RR tracks, go past the bridge over the Millers and hang a right. There are a few parking spots in this half mile area (it's never full) and the river runs right next to the road.

If I were writing this in mid May I would expect some short lived crowded conditions but this is early January and in the next four months many will forget that they read this piece.  Remember, fish this section starting in May.

Jerks On The Swift

Swift regular Bill R. told me this sad story last week.  He was up fishing the overflow arm of the Y Pool when he noticed two young guys in the middle of the Hemlock Section (at the crossover) kicking up the bottom with their boots. This is  very destructive practice that started on the San Juan River a dozen years or so.  It kicks loose nymphs and larvae that the fish begin to feed on and I believe that some states have made it illegal.  The problem with the Swift is that these morons were kicking up the bottom of the river that is prime brookie habitat.  "They must of killed a thousand brook trout" lamented Bill. He hustled up to that area but the culprits were gone.

If you see anything like this call the EPO's. Their number is on this blog.

Hot Winter Stew

Italian sausage, green peppers, onions, chopped spinach, chopped tomatoes, lots of ground black pepper, Garlic and oregano, all slowly cooked in vegetable stock served with bread. Try it.

Book Me!!

Ken

A Few Favorite Soft Hackles That Are Not Partridge

 "Nothing grows faster than a fish from when it bites until it gets away" Anonymous

DMS Caddis With Woodcock

Sometimes we get stuck in a rut or more precisely, we stop experimenting with new techniques and materials and just rely on the same old, same old. There's nothing wrong with that but with the price of partridge skins going threw the roof we should experiment a bit.

Reader Stephen M. sent me a package last Fall with some woodcock feathers which work very well as a replacement on your average partridge and whatever.  Make friends with a hunter because this is not something not usually found on a store shelf.  It is a perfect soft hackle feather - long, loose and of a perfect mottled color which is what  most caddis flies are.

Hen And Orange October Caddis

You could tie all year with this very common, very inexpensive  feather and have perfect flies. The beauty is that this feather comes in a rainbow of colors but tan, brown, black and orange (to the right) are all you need.  You can improve the mottled effect on these feathers with a brown or gray sharpie BEFORE  you tie them in.

Full Starling Skin

Starling can be a bitch to work with but it is well worth it. It's my favorite hackle for size 18 and smaller subsurface BWO.

The Swift

It appears that the Holiday week crowds are now on the wane and we should actually have some elbow room out there. Another good thing is that the snow is mostly gone which makes tramping around a lot easier.  The forecast for next week seems snowless too.

Go Fish!!!

Ken

The BWO - The All Season Dry

 

"Fly-fishing is a magical way to recapture the rapture of solitude without the pangs of loneliness" - John D. Voelker, aka, Robert Traver

BWO - Size 22

It's early January and shouldn't I be at the tying desk knee deep in heavy weighted nymphs and large super ugly streamers?  The answer is no simply because I don't like tossing heavy weighted flies that land like rocks or streamers that look like nothing that swims in the river unless that river is on Mars! Sorry, but I like the aesthetics of fly fishing. That's why I like soft hackles and the fly on the left, the Blue Winged Olive, aka the BWO.

Find a day in mid winter where the air temperature crosses the 40 degree mark and you will see these little guys on the Swift.  The Y Pool will have them and so will the long flat above the Duck Pond. It is a reliable winter insect. As Spring rolls around you will find them at Cady Lane but their real season is the Autumn (a cool, overcast day is perfect!)                                 Millers by Mormon Hollow

It's not just the Swift that has them around here but the little tailwater will have them all year. The Millers and the EB have had monster hatches in the late Summer and Fall and when I say "monster hatches" I mean insects that are so thick you almost inhale them! About 10 years ago I took a short scouting trip in March to the Millers at the Holtshire Road bridge.  The water was high and discolored but the air had  BWO's and the eddy just upstream from the bridge was full of rising trout.  The river had not yet been stocked!!!  The most concentrated hatch I've seen around here was on the EB in mid October.  I took fish on dries from Les's Pool, Slant Rock and the Bliss Pool.

In the next few months I will review some of my favorite rivers right down to specific runs and pools with maybe a few stories to go along. 

I'm still Guiding!!

Ken

The Scud And What Is "Sight Fishing"

 "A subspecies of the "big fish guy" is the local loner who haunts ordinary rivers, peering into deep holes and undercut banks looking for the fat, hook-jawed old brown trout that turn up from time to time even in water that's not known for big fish. These bruisers are rarely if even seen because they shun daylight, fatten up secretly after dark on fish and rodents, and because most fishermen don't believe they are even there and so don't hunt for them." - John Gierach (Hunter, I'm talking about YOU)

I don't believe for a second that the average trout stream has a lot of scuds in it.  Some do but most don't so why do they work? That semi-shiny exoskeleton screams of protein and calcium that is a mainstay of most subaquatic creatures from mayfly nymphs to crayfish to snails and ALL fish love to chow down on them especially in the dead of winter when many other exoskeleton aquatic creatures are under the rocks of buried in the silt.  That's why I never leave home without them.

I love a size 14 to size 18 scud with a olive tan body that's loosely dubbed and then picked out around the thorax before the carapace is tied down and ribbed with finest copper wire that you can get. ( I once bought some 32 gauge wire at fly shop that was thick enough to use as a laundry line. NO GOOD! I have some from a tiny transformer, VERY GOOD!!I don't tie weight into the fly but use the tiniest split shot 8 to 10 inches above the fly.

If you can't order them from my site (I have a problem with it for that fly) just send an email with the number of flies (size 14, 16 or 18) at $1.80 per fly. Use a check or pay pal me .Free shipping!

Sight Fishing???

The photo on the right was taken on the Swift about 15 years ago about a 100 yards above Route 9.  A typical Swift rainbow finning away in shallow water about 3 feet from me totally ignoring my presence (he must of known I was there) and certainly oblivious to to the dangers that surround him like ospreys, herons, otters, mink and the like, not to mention us.  In a normal environment (freestone) he would not be an easy target in open water but would have been behind a rock, log or weed bank.

Now, someone may say that I was practicing "sight fishing" but you are only doing that when the fish that you see are only "half seen" because they are hiding. They are not acting like cattle in a field like most Swift rainbows do Or like many tailwater bows do.  A rainbow in the Millers or the EB would NEVER allow me to take that picture because they get wild quick!!  The browns in the Swift and the above rivers learn quick and don't sunbathe in open areas to become the quarry for birds of prey.  Also, rainbows that mill around in tailwaters just don't seem to feed as much or at least feed like other trout in freestone rivers.  It's the tailwater paradox.  

My solution - stock more browns in the Swift and fish more freestones.

Ken