IT'S MILLERS TIME May 21, 2004 - Even while residing on the banks of the Ware River in Barre, I've always considered the Millers to be my home river. Along with the Deerfield and Westfield, I would consider it to be one of the premier watersheds in the state (as well as being under-fished). From the confluence of Orcutt Brook along Rt. 2A to the Erving Paper Mill along Rt. 2 (and beyond) it offers anglers a medley of trout habitat. Along its path the river features shallow riffles, long glides and bolder strewn pools with some rather isolated areas if one is prone to seek them out. This week alone we had the opportunity to interview four different anglers that have been regularly perusing this piece of real estate and the reports have been nothing short of sensational. While insect hatches have been somewhat unpredictable and inconsistent, the majority of fish have been victimized by deeply fished nymphs and leech imitations. The most successful patterns employed by regs have been olive or black wooly buggers (bead head or weighted 8-10), black stones (6-8) and black matukas (8-10) while prospecting non-hatch periods. The most likely hatches you may encounter during the first few weeks of June are, darker caddis (16-18), which can be very important, pale evening duns (16) and BWO'S (18-20). During higher water situations a sinking or sink tip line (better for line management) would greatly enhance your success rate, particularly when probing larger, tea colored pools during daylight hours. With the exception of caddis, which can be present throughout the day, much of the prominent mayfly activity during June will occur at dusk and beyond. Anglers are reporting a rather interesting phenomenon that is occurring throughout the watershed. Depending on location either rainbow or brown trout have taken up residence but rarely has both species been present in the same environment. This could occur due to the fact that each species seeks somewhat dissimilar habitat, or the state stocking trucks have planted them in segregate areas. One common thread that is running amuck is the portly size of all species. It is being reported that a full-bodied fish of 15-16" is no longer a head-turner. With the higher and cooler water that we are witnessing at the present time, the early and middle part of June should offer some of the premier fishing of the season. Good fishing and safe
wading, |
