ANGLERS HIT THE ROAD

July 23, 2002 - As we are mired within the confines of another New England summer, many area anglers have taken to the road seeking their bounty in hallowed waters.

Roger Thout, a soon to be Hubbardston resident, recently returned from a junket to the Hawk River in Labrador. Despite some ungodly heat during the initial stages of his pilgrimage, Roger managed to C&R nine Atlantic salmon, the largest of which was estimated at 15 pounds (a brute by Labradorian standards). Combined these with a handful of sea trout and the trip was salvaged despite a less than perfect week weather-wise.

Speaking of Labrador, we just bid adieu to Jim Howe of Worcester and John McCarthy of Springfield as they headed the Toyota north in a quest for the wild brook trout that inhabit the central region of the Province. This will be their second excursion into Canada's inland wilderness, as the previous year brought a bounty of landlocks, brook trout and lakers to the veteran fly boys.

Martin Redmond, with a freshly purchased 4-piece tucked under his arm, was bound for the mountains of north central Idaho. Seems like Marty is planning an extended vacation of hiking and cutthroating in one of the most magnificent natural settings of the lower forty-eight.

It's the Madison and Henry's Fork for area resident Paul Bakstran. I saw the gleam in your eye as you waded through a copy of Greg Thomas's book " Fly Fisher's Guide to Montana."

The Gaspe region of Quebec, long noted for it's unspoiled Atlantic salmon fishery, will be the temporary home for central Mass longrodders, Jon Shakour, Hank Benjamin, George Abodeely, and Jerry Kraska. The foursome will spend a week on the lovely St-Jean River watershed.

As for me, outside of the local saltwater venue, I'll be stuck in the shop until the atolls of Belize come calling in the fall.

SWIFT RIVER
There's still an abundance of fickled fish to test your composure. The MDC recently began discharging water from the Quabbin Reservoir impoundment raising the rivers level significantly. This may have only been temporary but be prepared to encounter somewhat higher flows on various occasions. Anglers are reporting success with a myriad of patterns with most falling in the terrestrial category (ants and beetles).

DEERFIELD ON THE REBOUND?
It's true. Robby Brown of Bolton, a longstanding Deerfield River reg bubbled with enthusiasm upon reporting his most recent successes on this watershed. The unmanageable water discharges anglers have had to contend with during daylight hours have subsided a bit. Higher water prevails mostly during afternoon sessions leaving fly fishermen the morning and early evening to exercise their skills. For what it's worth USGEN has instituted a new flow phone hot line for anglers. To receive a schedule of tentative water releases call 1.800.452.1742 or visit their web site at www.H20line.com.

Good fishing and safe wading,

JB