HELP FROM THE BIG O September 14, 2005 - The promise of an extended rain event instigated by the remnants of hurricane Ophelia is putting smiles on the faces of trout zealots here in central New England. It's no secret that this summer has not been kind regarding water levels and virtually every watershed is in dire need of rain. The Swift River in Belchertown, one of only a few trout streams that remains viable throughout the summer, remains dangerously low due to limited water releases at the dam. Despite these less than optimum conditions fishing remains relatively good both up and down stream of the Rt. 9 bridge. You may have to do a little prospecting to locate fish but you would be advised to concentrate your efforts toward the deeper runs that become even more evident during low water. An enthusiastic Josh Epstein bounded into the Lower Forty recently with a rather colorful diatribe regarding his most recent conquest of the Millers River near Wendall Depot. Let it be known that the watershed has held up nicely throughout the summer and, with the inception of autumn, prospects look good for the immediate future. Most of Epstein's success was experienced during the early evening hours with caddis drys (14-16). Some of his favorites include… slick water caddis, Hemmingway caddis and parachute caddis. He also left here with a handful of caddis emerger and pupa patterns, which are probably employed during non-hatch periods. Barring acceptable water levels look for supplemental fish stockings during early October, more on this in a future article. Incidentally, Pat Higgins of Gardner, who is involved in the Millers River Chapter of trout Unlimited brought to my attention that the organization will be hosting author Tom Ames at one of their monthly meetings. You may be able to gather further details by visiting the chapters web site www.millersrivertu.org. In the meantime we wished Pat much luck in his effort to harass the residents of the Green River in northern Utah. We are still waiting for a report from Bob Shay and Doug Deshaies. The duo recently returned from a fly fishing sabbatical in northern Idaho. The targeted watersheds included the Loscha and Selway rivers along with the remote confines of Kelly Creek, a trip we have enjoyed many times in past years. Good fishing and safe
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