SALMON AND THE STILL

October 15, 2002 - In response to the many inquiries we have fielded during recent weeks regarding the Stillwater River's autumn landlocked salmon run, "it's almost time!" With the promise of a 'nor eastah' looming sometime around mid-week, there should be enough water around to encourage salmon to begin entering the system from the Wachusett Reservoir. The presence of beaver dams, which in previous years has been a severe detriment to the proceedings, don't seem to be that much of a factor this season. With any luck, fly anglers should be able to enjoy a prosperous run of fish.

This rain event will mark the commencement of the fall spawning season, and, barring inadequate water conditions, fishing could remain satisfactory until ice begins to form on the Stillwater Basin. It is critical that you time your fishing sessions during periods of rising water to achieve maximum results. Once the river crests, fewer fish will be motivated enough to pursue their spawning instinct until the next substantial weather occurrence.

If given access to the entire watershed (remember the beaver dams), it is not uncommon for fish to roam from the Stillwater tail-out to the Rt. 62 overpass. Your best opportunity should occur from the river mouth (and well into the basin itself), to the bridge that spans the river on Muddy Pond Road to the north. Unlike the Thomas Basin, wading is permitted throughout this entire expanse of water and into the Stillwater Basin, however you are only allowed shore access (no wading) south of the Waushacum Brook outlet. It should also be noted that open water angling is permitted year round by conventional methods and traditional Massachusetts Fish & Game laws govern the entire watershed.
Moderate weather conditions will find hearty anglers pursuing landlocks well into the month of December with varying degrees of success. Some of our most popular selling patterns include: White and yellow marabou muddlers (8-10), cardinelle (8-10), Colonel Bates streamer (8-10), black ghost (8-10), green ghost (8-10) Joe's smelt (8-10) and gray ghost (8-10).

Rods of 8 ½ to 9 feet in length equipped to handle 5 or 6 weight lines are ample enough to handle the task since most specimens will fall in the 18-22 inch category. A WF floating line and 9'-4X leader should compliment the arsenal nicely.

One other point. As is the case with Atlantic salmon, it is common for these fish to aggressively pursue a "waked" fly presented crosscurrent and allow to quarter at the pace of the prevailing current. This technique can be particularly deadly when used in conjunction with a greased (head and collar only) marabou muddler or similar deer hair fly.

Good fishing and safe wading,

JB