An August Morning On The Ware

"Brown trout show a preference for and are typically most active in water ranging from 54 to 67 degrees.  These figures are only slightly higher than those cited for brook trout in the previous chapter.  The principal reason for the success of brown trout in streams depleted of brook trout is almost certainly because brown trout are harder to catch". John Merwin - The New American Trout Fishing

Note:(8/3) Friend Brad found a spool holder with 6 spools of tippet recently on the Ware River.  Name the tippet brands on the holder and I will consider you the owner. Ken  8/6 = tippet spool claimed

I had to hit this river because I love the way it looks.  It's a throwback to times where farmland, fields that are being overgrown and succession forests ruled the landscape near rivers as opposed to tall stands of trees and parking lots.  I love the rural look and feel of this watershed.  I like the trout too.

I heard good reports in July of good catches including me in early July but yesterday's report from a friend was a blank if you don't count sunfish. My friend doesn't and neither do I except the big crappie earlier this summer which was a surprise.  In short, I figured all of this rain plus farmland terrestrials might be worth the chance.

First off, I skipped the usual popular spot (below the bridge) and went to my new favorite location which is upstream and that required a walk along this years cornfield. I liked the idea of fishing a shaded spot with great pools and runs with depth. This spot has it. It also has picture perfect dry fly water with an even current so that all casts ended up drag free!!!

I fished a dry fly, a generic caddis imitation in a size 16 and that deer body hair made it float like a cork. After two hours I was beginning to think that this would be a fishless day when I saw the rise!  It was up against a far bank and with the stream conditions that fly would float right over that trout and it did.  My brown was just a 10 incher but it felt good.  It was during the release that I saw the next rise, maybe 30 feet above the first one.

Again, it was going to be a perfect drift and this brown, a healthy 16 incher came to the net and was quickly released.

So, I decided to call it a morning and felt good about the 2+ hours spent there.  I wasn't expecting a lot of fish because freestone fishing in the dead of summer doesn't work that way. I could of fished subsurface and maybe caught more but dry fly conditions can't be passed up!!

Book Me

I'm the only guide in Massachusetts that regularly guides on 5 different trout streams.  Book a trip!!!

Ken

FISH THE MILLERS NOW!!!!!!!!!

The Millers is HOT right now. Fish it very early in the morning (7am or earlier) or fish it after 6pm until dark especially on a cloudy day.

Work soft hackles or my reduced buggers ( search my site for the recipe. I should re-post on that) and you should do well.

Some areas like my favorite section in Erving Center are still unfishable but Bridge St., the Kempfield Section and Orcutt have been getting it done.

This weekend is shaping up to be GOOD!!! Go do it!

Ken

P.S. Don't forget the Bears Den!!!!!!!!!!!

The Sky Is Falling, Basic Truths And A Millers, Ware And Squannie Report

Some of us have short memories. Some of us always have to feel like we are always short changed. The basic fact is that the stocking this Spring is on an average pace with big rivers like the Millers getting into the game late because of high water. Did some of you FORGET the Spring of 2015 when everything was late? If you want something to worry about then travel back to 1987 when they STOPPED stocking the Millers or back to 2002 when they ceased stocking browns. It was a lot of work to get those decisions reversed.

Don't worry about it. Your favorite river will be stocked. You should go out and fish!!!

Will the Anonymous folks please keep the opinions down especially when it comes to river bashing. You haven't a chance of getting on this blog.

Here are some basic truths that appear to have been lost in the mix:

TRUE - Tenkara style fishing may be the most effective nymphing method ever devised.

TRUE - 5x and even 4x tippet can be used ANYWHERE on the Swift (or any tailwater) and will effectively catch trout with a subsurface fly. 7x or 8x is simply not needed with subsurface presentations.

TRUE - A 4 weight fly rod of 8 to 9 feet and of moderate action may be the perfect dry fly rod. You can cast large flies and the smallest flies without problems. You can beat a stiff wind with it or lay down a delicate cast on a calm glassy pool. Getting deep into the LOW numbers (0, 00, 000) will get you into the land of novelty rods with limited practical use.

True - Flex Seal fixes leaky waders!

Here's what Charlie at Evening Sun Fly Shop has to say:


The Squannacook River is running a bit high with clear fishable water.On 4/14/2017 the river was stocked from top to bottom with 2000 brook trout only, ranging in size from 10-13 inches.The fish are starting to take some bugs on the surface and with some soft hackles swung under the surface with a bit of weight on the leader.Retreiving some streamers is working well also,but with a somewhat slower retreive.By the time the sun gets on the water next week we should see some good hatches of Quill Gordons and the Red Quills won't be far behind.Come get "em before the Blue Herons do!!!!

Comment: Brookies only?????????????????????? Never saw that before!!

Fish the Ware River. We had double digit hookups and saw NO FLYFISHERS. We saw three spin fishers. Two of them caught and released their fish!!! What a place!!!!!

UPDATE - Well, the Millers has been stocked with a CFS of over 800 (Erving) and still rising.  BE VERY CAREFUL! Even placid Orcutt will be dangerous. At least it will move the fish around instead of having them stay put as when stocked in low flow conditions or when float stockers dump the majority in certain pools and then go back and fish for them latter. (that's the rumor that was given to me with a wink/wink, nod/nod.)

Ken