"Stocked trout are as wild as a Chihuahua sitting in aa pink velvet handbag" - Fennel Hudson
The Ware River
Well, we do this little exercise every Fall to give an overview for the past season. Yes, the fishing is still going on but it is winding down. Let's start at 5th place and go from there.
Fifth Place - The West Branch of the Westfield- I don't know what happened out there this year but this beautiful river was a clunker this year. High water had something to do with it. I'll be back next year for sure.
Fourth Place - The Millers - I've fished this river for 37 years and this was the worst year due to the constant roaring current starting around mid June and continuing now. I've had a number of October afternoons over the years with a flow of 250 cfs but not this year. I'll be back next year.
Third Place - The EB - It wasn't a disaster out there due to this river's ability to rise like a rocket BUT then sink like a stone. There were plenty of fish but high water sort of killed my late season dry fly excursions. Swinging soft hackles helped save the day on the EB.
Second Place- The Swift- I'm being generous here. This river gets a pass most years because of its cool and tame flow which draws fly fishers from all over the Northeast. The big problem, especially this year, was the disappearing rainbow act. And now we are into tattooing bows to see where they go. Stop the Madness by stopping our reliance on rainbows!!!! We should be looking at species like browns, that have a chance of getting established, as the DFW in Connecticut and New York do. (BTW, the sulphur hatch was off this year.)
First Place - The Ware River
Yup, this river did everything right this year. It got high but corrected itself quickly. The Quill Gordons arrived on time and trout took advantage of them. And there are other places to fish on this river instead of just only below the Church Street Bridge.
The flows were good and the trout were willing. It's number #1!!
Book Me - The Swift is fishing well with brookies on the redds but more importantly it's drawing big browns to go after those eggs.
Three and six hour trips are available!!
Ken
3 comments:
Ken,
I'm glad this dry fly season is in the books because it really wasn't too much fun on these swollen rivers. Even the sulphurs on the Swift less than the years before.
GW
Ken, I only got to fish the Ware in Palmer twice this year. It seemed that my chances to fish it seldom corresponded with flow that I could wade. I had good action one of the times though, with fish right against the bank adjacent to wood in the river. Soft hackles brought the hits.
Regards, Sam
Sam,
I know and love the Ware from Church St in Ware and above but the lower river below the Bondsville industrial park to Three Rivers is still a mystery. Something to work on next year.
Ken
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