The Riffle Beater

 

I could see the trout working the choppy surface and I really wanted to take a shot at it BUT made it almost impossible to float a dry amidst the chutes rapids and the boulders. I came back 3 days later with a fly that would take the abuse and still float.

1. Size 10 or 12 standard dry hook

2.Wing - white deer hair

3.Body- Senyu Laser dubbing (a light color)

 4. Tail - Golden Badger hackle fibers

5. A long Grade A golden badger hackle

This fly really shines on rough pocket water ( Millers in Erving) or the EB but is only so so on glassy water like most of the Swift.  

Always carry some!!!

Rain

Eastern Ma had 2.5 inches of rain on Saturday

It will be awhile.

Ken

Slowly but Surely

 

There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot" - Steven Wright

The great deluge may be over.  Rivers, which have been busting their banks for two weeks, seem to be in retreat.

Here are the numbers for today and where they were last Wednesday, the day with the highest flows this year.

Millers (today) 1670 cfs, last Wednesday 3000 cfs

EB (today) 1080 cfs, last Wednesday 1830cfs

Swift (today) 650 cfs   Last Wednesday 716 cfs

Ware River (today) 690 cfs  Last Wednesday 841 cfs

Don't start fooling yourself that it's safe wading because it isn't.  Give it a week!

Ken

 

Flood Update

 

No, I didn't catch this brown recently because the rivers have gone crazy.  As of this morning the river flows are as follows:

Millers - 3000 cfs

Swift - 716 cfs

EB - 1830 cfs

Ware - 841cfs

I believe that this is the highest I've ever seen these flows and I'm not being overly cautious by saying that you shouldn't even attempt wading flows as dangerous as these.  These rivers could drop by 80% and they would still be too high. I could suggest a "thin blue line" but they may be flooded too.

Hold your horses and take a deep breath, Real Spring will be here shortly followed by a bone crunching drought (most likely)!!

Tie Flies

Ken

Jumping The Gun On The EB

  

"The two best times to fish is when it's raining and when it isn't."

Chesterfield Gorge Access Road

I've had a couple of flyfishers sniffing around to see if any streams are producing, the EB in particular. The answer is NO, especially the freestones. As of this morning (3/8/24) the EB is flowing at 348 cfs and that is with them reducing the flow in half yesterday. With more rain this weekend.........!!!   The Millers is at 1790 cfs. Forgetaboutit!!

Freestone temperatures are hovering at 40 degrees.  Your best bet  would be to hit a blueline this weekend.

By the way, the Swift is at 490 cfs as I type. Don't expect the salmon to fly over the dam and into the Swift.  A little late in the year for that.

Tie Flies!!!