"The solution to any problem - work, love, money, whatever - is to go fishing and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should be" John Gierach
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Why the change? After about 50 years of fly fishing and being an advocate for making an attempt at creating a sustainable fishery I've come to the conclusion that the DFW doesn't care. And why should they? They are fish farmers and to actually develop a reproducing strain of trout would jeopardize some DFW jobs. Stocking the Swift with clonebows and then chasing them with cattle prods is a "Who Cares" situation.
So, I'll be chasing other finned critters going forward. I'm not abandoning trout - Fall will find me chasing wild brookies on the Swift and enjoying the EB.
Maybe we will be blessed with another Quabbin overflow in the Fall to fill the river with big wild Salmon!!!!!
I'll also be relocating to the New Hampshire coast but I'll still be within a double haul of Plum Island and within my friend Brad's spey cast of the coast of Maine. It will take 90 minutes to hit the Millers or the Swift.
I'm still selling flies and will expand into salt water flies soon.
This blog will still be available. Use it. I may even chime in on occasion!!
Go Fish,
Ken
41 comments:
It has been a pleasure and privilege to read your blog (and comments) over the last few years. I understand your call to move on (both in body and spirit). I hope someone else of like passion will rise up to fill the vacated web space. Best of blessing be yours as you enter your new season. Keep us posted.
Bob O,
Thank you!!
\Ken
Ken, We can't thank you enough for all the effort and energy that you put into this blog. it has been an absolute pleasure to read your updates on a weekly basis. Your willingness to share your knowledge has been a true privileged to witness. Best of luck along the coast.
Its kind of a bummer to hear but totally understandable...I completely get where you are coming from. The management of trout fisheries in New England pretty much sucks across the board. Even Maine is screwing up everything. NY State for all their faults seems to have a reasonable approach and I've been taking the drive every couple of weeks this past year-because its worth it. I may also go back to the rockies and settle there for good. I will miss your regular input/reports/humor/information-even though we have not met I feel like a friend is moving away...kind of sad. Good Luck Ken
I've followed this blog for years and while I don't agree with everything you say I still believe you have done a heck of a service to the fishing community, I thank you and wish you the absolute best going forward. I don't blame you for needing a change of pace. I'm tired of catching ugly beat up dumb hatchery fish myself. Im even more tired of seeing them dumped into streams that have reproducing trout, making it harder for the wild fish to survive. When the DFW is happy to have stocked trout in quabbin tributaries eating wild salmon and brook trout parr you know they could care less about the health and diversity of the fisheries in this state. I think it is a disgrace and if I could stop giving them my fishing license money I would. Keep fighting the good fight, enjoy your new scenery and thanks again for all you've done.
Ryan51993,
Even I don't agree with everything I say but I agree with this: If fishers have to pay to use the water (fishing licence) then everyone should pay.
BobT,
Yours are some of the best comments to grace this blog over the years! Thank you!!
Ken
Ken this is emotional for me! very thankful to have taken a few trips with you and also for the blog, it has been a source of info And entertainment for me for years, it's always nice to talk shop and share tips and info with other readers. I picked up fly fishing on my own and knowledge was hard to come by that's why I love passing on what I've learned to others I think that's the true spirit of our sport, and this blog has been a perfect platform to do just that. I would be happy to report info and conditions and ideas in the comments here for anyone who would care to read them! I wish you the best of luck with your move Ken and again thank you very much for all you have done for me and others, tight lines!
Paul Fay
Enjoy your transition to New Hampshire. Enjoyed your blog and fly patterns even though I do indulge in Euronymphing from time to time when needed.
Paul Fay,
Keep posting comments because I love to read them. Maybe some day we will chase some brookies on the Swift.
Ken
It’s been a pleasure being with you a few times. Enjoy the path ahead.
Ken, it's been a good run over many of my years of reading your blog mainly focusing on our local mass trout waters and even several occasional distant locations or two as well. It's sad and exciting at the same time that in your words "making your last cast". I'm happy to hear that mainly just shifting your gears and chasing something different for the enjoyment of doing so. Actually, I'm a bit jealous. I grew up not too far south of plum island and Ipswich Bay. Before, I took to fly fishing seriously as I grew older, I spent many a summer evening surf fishing plum island, both the state side by the coast guard station/light house and or the federal side in the sanctuary area. Long story short, I got married and moved west to the other side of the state, and the rest is history. But an added good thing about me moving to the other side of the state is, I found your blog, and if I didn't move to the Berkshire's that may never have happened.
Like others have said, I too didn't always agree with some of your philosophy of things, but in the end, we had the same general agreeable idea with a different approach.
Good luck to you and yours, and don't be a blog stranger.... Phil Carroll
Hi Ken — Wow, big news. I agree with the sentiments above. It’s hard not to feel a sad about your post. I’ve been seeing you on all of our rivers even before I started posting on your blog. There is the guy with the slouch hat again! I’ll miss seeing you amble by at dusk while I am polishing off an after fishing beer getting ready to drive home. A community of dedicated fly fishers have huddled around this virtual campfire to discuss our rivers and fish for a long time and it will be missed. I understand your change of scenery and fishing opportunities. For what it’s worth, I used to live in Wmass and moved to the boston area a long time ago. All of my rivers are 90 mins away and it hasn’t stopped me from fishing them, but it takes a dedicated day, so, you should be able to fill your Trout jones when needed. I am sure you are going to enjoy chasing other species and I know you love Plum Island.
I have, unpopularly at times, championed stopping stocking Bows in the Swift, but I have come to conclusion that it wont stop. It would help the crowding situation a lot, as well. Wild fisheries are more subtle and hide their secrets well. The stocking truck is not a secret. It has it’s place, but not on wild rivers. I can not fish of Bass or Pike or other “wild” fish and get the same release so I am destined to long over night trips to Rangeley or my yearly trips to Montana. I feel at “home” fishing Montana after so long, but can also see a lot of ugly changes there as well. I am not one who thinks we need more fly fisherman in the country, but we do need better, more conservation oriented ones, like you.
I wish you the best of luck and happiness in your new surroundings. I hope this blog continues, but as the saying goes, “you can’t go home again.”. I have enjoyed my time here, with you, and the other posters/readers very much. We will all survive and fish on!
With much respect,
Andrew
Ken,
I'm going to miss reading your posts on the blog. But as a wise man once said "Every beginning has an ending" Best of luck in NH.
JJ
Andrew,
It's got to be close to 20 years that you have been a contributor to this blog. I think that we feel the same way about relying on hatchery trout.
Ken
Best wishes Ken, and Live Free or Die in NH! Take care.
Ken,
Thanks your blog has always been a pleasurable read that I looked forward to weekly. Glad t0 know you will still be selling flies and I wish you the best .Jim
Echoing the sentiments of the others here, Ken. Very happy for you, but very sad to see you go. Personally, I owe you a debt of gratitude as this blog, and the willingness to share information made me a better angler and allowed me to the enjoy the sport at an even greater level. Sadly, I have to admit that before I read this blog I had never even fished a "soft hackle" or anything smaller than a size 16 nymph. And I rarely thought much about conservation/stocking/stream management issues.
So congrats, and thanks, and best of luck in your future endeavors.
Tom from Boston
Ken,
I wish you the best with your move to New Hampshire and your quest for wild fish. I have learned a lot from you and the people who post here on your site. Thank you for what you have done for my fishing. I always looked forward to new posts from you and there will be a void with your last cast being made here.
Best Regards, Sam
Ken,
About eight or nine years ago, you took my son and I on the Millers River for our first exposure to fly fishing, for which I am very grateful. Not only have we both found a sport we both love, but it gives us a chance to spend time together. He went on to the University of Colorado (stayed, and lives in Denver), and we regularly fish the Maddison and Missouri in Montana, many rivers in Colorado, and in fact, this week we are fishing the "Miracle Mile" in Wyoming. I often think back to that day with you on the Miller's and your passion for the sport, patience with us and all the information you provided us. You were a catalyst for a passion I now have and one more connection I have with my son.
Thanks Ken, for such a positive initial exposure for us to the world of fly fishing.
Best for your future endeavors,
Tim
Thank you Sam. You've been with me a long time.
Tim, That's a happy ending for sure.
Ken
Ken, Big thanks from this sporadic lurker/learner -- pretty much everything I know about fly fishing I've gotten from this blog. What an incredible resource you've created. And I'm deeply honored to see the occasional reference to the "Chronicle Run" on the EB!
Any chance, before you abscond to the salty frontier, of posting the 'fishable flows' on the Ware, Millers, etc? Would really help this unregenerate newbie. Wishing you all the best up there in NH ! Clint from the Big Nickel
Ken, thank you for the years of "service" to the north eastern fishing community. I've appreciated what you share, and, what those who follow share.
Best wishes with the fun ahead, and enjoy the new living quarters!
Will
Ken I really enjoyed speaking with you in person the handful of times I ran into you on the water. Up until the day I met you on the Swift I was convinced that I was the only leader watching fool in the state trying to fish wets upstream without an indicator. As a devoted wild trout angler living in Massachusetts the reality is that means mostly chasing 6” to 8” native brookies or small browns. I made my peace with that idea a long time ago but I also understand and respect your decision.
Massachusetts stocking is geared to providing a chance for anyone to land a nice, pretty Rainbow. While their heart is in the right place, I agree with you that the DFW stocking Rainbows always was at best a waste. I believe stocking over natives is a one of the reasons why large Brook Trout are now sadly rare in Mass and if I had my way it would stop.
Thank you for sharing your informed and educated opinions with all of us over the years, I certainly have learned much from you through the years I've read your blog. I have no doubt you will find the wild fishing in NH spectacular, and I wish you the best of angling luck.
Dean
"I am not against golf, since I cannot but suspect it keeps armies of the unworthy from discovering trout..." — Paul O'Neil.
Ken, good luck in your pursuits. When I lived on Plum island I didn't think much about stocked rainbows for 10 years.
Hello Ken. What would be the process for the 'community' to take over this blog? For instance, can you disable the comment moderation function? Thought would be to open this up to a rolling commentary by participants as we all hit local streams, rivers and salt. This is a suggestion only if no one picks up where you are leaving off.
Thanks.
Jeff J.
Thank you for all your work creating and maintaining this wonderful and freely given blog.
I think the word invaluable, or maybe priceless, is appropriate.
Greg
Jeff,
I never liked that kind of blog or message board. Comment moderation is valuable because it filters out the off topic junk that always seems to try to sneak in. If someone else wants to do this then let them start their own site.
Wampus,
Thank you!!
Will(Hibernation),
Always appreciated your input!!
Ken
Ken, thanks for the years of dedication you brought to this blog. I never would have known the magic of Cady Lane without you.
Mike
Mike C,
Thank you very much!!
Ken
“Say it ain’t so Ken”, In a selfish way I’m sorry to hear that you will not publishing your notes on the local fisheries on frequent manner. You have wet my appetite and made me a more savy and appreciative angler. I wish you the best and may you be blessed with continued good health and many years of happiness.
Ken, health and happiness to you. Tight lines, green lights and blue skies! Will miss your missives too.
Ken,
Best wishes for what comes next for you and your family! I had the pleasure of meeting you at Charlie Shaden's shop a few years ago and running across you on the Miller's River.
I filled two looseleaf notebooks with copies of articles from your blog which is a testament to your deep knowledge of fly fishing. Thank you.
Best wishes,
Bruce from Merrimack Valley
"Filled two looseleaf notebooks" That's great to hear. Thank you Bruce!!
Ken
Hi Ken. Sorry to hear you are moving but wishing you the very best that life has to offer. You will Shine on. For the last so many years I have never gone out trout fishing in our part of the state without checking your blog first. I have also enjoyed meeting you on the river and talking with you while leaning on your car and talking hatches, flies and experiences. Best wishes my friend. Thank you.
- On another note for all - I fished the Esopus in the Catskills for three days last week with my son in law. Two years ago they stopped stocking and now small wild rainbows were present, but I will admit the fishing was hugely difficult and the days were long chasing 6-7 inch wild rainbows, leaving us … honestly … longing for just a few stocked fish. A young man on the river gathering information for NY fish and game noted the goal was 300 fish per river shore mile (consider the west has 5000 to 12000 (Utah’s Green)). The young man said they hoped to rise to 500 fish per mile next year with sizes inching up a little. Two weeks prior I was in the western Adirondacks on the upper and lower Otter River and took more than 150 stocked browns in three days - Truth - witnesses. The three guys with me all took similar numbers at at least 11 location stops. With all the capable people in fisheries in the east… can’t we find some middle ground where trout fishermen can find fish without a commitment to the potential of a 3-5 year lull that drives a lot of fishermen out of the rivers forever? Again - Wishing you awesome! Stay healthy … and best wishes.
Ken - thanks for all your insight and knowledge thru the years. Although we never met in person, I have truly appreciated reading your blog. I found your blog a few years back when I just got in to fly fishing and has definitely contributed to it now being my obsession. I have since relocated to the Midwest but have fond memories of the Millers, EB and Swift. I wish you all the best wishes in your future endeavors.
Jeff
Anonymous 11:14,
Glad that the blog was useful!!
Personally I think that NY in on the right track with the Esopus. The big western tailwaters, like the Green, are basically artificial fisheries. I like wild fish better even if they are smaller.
Ken
Thank you Jeff!!!
Ken
Hi Ken. I came late to your blog (about 8 years ago) when I decided that if I was ever going to take up fly fishing again and do it seriously, I should get started; I first cast flies to bluegills in the Carolinas 50 years ago, but life got in the way of that. Reading your blog, I learned a lot of valuable information--from you and other readers (including tying my own flies)--that enabled me to start being successful in the Swift and other rivers. I appreciate everyone's willingness to share what they know. Best of luck with big game along the NH seashore, and speaking of pike, are they in the Millers? Some of that water along the recreation trail in Winchendon reminds me of the north flowing rivers of the Adirondacks, where muskie and pike were plentiful. A couple of years ago, a guy posted photos of pike he claimed he caught in the Millers.
All the best,
Charles
With the Esopus (wild rainbows that come up from the Ashokan R. and spawn in the Esopus), the two branches of the Delaware, and the Neversink (esp the gorge) NY State has a number of river with large populations of reproducing trout. In some of those rivers they stock over the wild fish, in some (esp the Delaware) they don't. I've fished the Esopus since the early 80s- find it a great place to prospect with Adams patterns for 8-12" wild rainbows. YouTube has several videos by Old Dominion Trout Bum (ODTB) and Fly F1sh showing how productive wading on the Esopus can be. Here is a link from one ODTB vid on the Esopus taken June 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuwZiCOE41Y
Once the mess with the Shandaken portal was fixed (sediment removed and agreement to regular cold water flows a few years back the Esopus bounced back. NYS has been surveying anglers asking if they would support making the Esopus between the Portal and Chimney Hole C&R. Ken good luck chasing stripers and blues. Thanks very much for writing and publishing your Millers River guide. Helped me a lot to better get to know that river.
Charles,
A number of pike were caught in the Millers back in the 80's and they were caught behind the dam in Orange. The DFW had stocked Lake Rohunta with pike but many ended up in The Millers. The DFW would sample during spawning time and they found a good number of pike but that was two decades ago and I don't have any recent data. I do know that some newspaper photos showed pike in the 20lb range. Go get them!!
Anonymous,
Thanks for the Esopus info!!!
Ken
Fantastic!!!! Take care, will miss dragging my oars in front of you on the swift.
I suppose then that trout fishing seems to be more successful these days on foggy days? was fishing on Sunday and managed to catch a fall fish. No trout were caught; the majority of those I spoke with only managed one or two. The area upriver from the former airport is my personal favorite. the pools are beautiful. Do trout hit well on days when it rains? have never gone fishing during a downpour. but considering doing it on Wednesday.
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