TERRESTRIAL TIME

July 10, 2002 - Can't ever recall receiving so many reports from anglers enjoying superb success while employing terrestrial patterns. We are definitely well into the period where land bred insects become a major food source for all cold water species. If your venturing about during the torrid mid-summer months it would be well advised to inventory a generous selection of black ants (16-20), black beetles (14-16), crickets (Letort 14-16) and hoppers (my favorite has always been a Dave's Hopper 8-10). These proven patterns will usually bring fish to the surface even during non-hatch periods, particularly during breezy afternoons.

SWIFT RIVER
As many are aware the lower Swift from Rt. 9 to Cady Lane is now designated C&R, artificials only and will remain so until December 31st. As is the July custom, the river has recently been stocked with a healthy population of uneducated rainbows and many fly anglers are enjoying uncommonly good fortune for this watershed. Most are reporting limited hatch activity during the daylight hours but are achieving their success with black foam ants (16-18), pheasants tail nymphs (18) and caddis pupa (16-18). The most productive areas have been north and south of the Cady Lane access, and immediately down river of the Rt. 9 bridge to the duck pond. Fishing pressure, in general, has been unusually modest (for the Swift).

MILLERS
According to a number of Millers River aficionados this watershed continues to hold up nicely despite typical mid-summer water flows. Central Mass anglers Dan Connors and Ed Bissell have enjoyed very productive outings while toiling adjacent to the Whetstone Brook outlet in Wendall. Fish seem to be concentrated within the outflows of the tributaries seeking the cooler and oxygenated water they offer. Here again, with the lack of mid-day hatches, larger terrestrial patterns would be my choice to tease fish up to the surface. A Dave's Hopper (8-10) fished tight to the shoreline with a deliberate twitch to impart a lifelike property should induce aggressive strikes. Late afternoon to dusk has been the most productive period.

FARMINGTON RIVER
A number of anglers have been making weekly pilgrimages to the river and are finding suburb water levels and surface feeding fish throughout most of the day. Dennis Alokoski (a veteran Farmy advocate) and Tom Reilly with wife Audrey (both newbes) all enjoyed tossing miniscule drys to the methodical residents that inhabit this watershed. Once again the black ant (18) was their most effective producer.

Good fishing and safe wading,

JB