2006 SEASON OPENER

April 8, 2006 - We welcome you to the 2006 edition of The Lower Forty River Report.

As we reflect upon the initial few weeks of the cold water season I would be hard pressed to remember a year when low water conditions would be this much of a consideration. Virtually every medium to smaller watershed has been suffering from poor water flow, however the recent rain events should go a long way to remedy the situation.

Mike Peluso of Oakham, fresh on his recent sojourn to the Marls of Abaco, fished the Millers River (in the Orcutt Brook section) and recorded a number of smallish brown trout. We were tipped that the state planted a number of these fish to remedy an overcrowding situation that developed at one of the hatcheries.

Tony Penny of Yarmouth is off to his customary fast start by landing a portly 32" brood stock salmon from Sheep Pond in Brewster. Tony's favorite early season impoundment has been Scargo Lake (just off Rt. 6A) in Dennis where he has enjoyed a number of successful outings.

As we wait for the arrival of our major insect hatches that usually commence sometime around the end of the month, look for early black stones (16-18), and midges (20-22) to make up the better part of the trout diet. Our choice for subsurface imitators would be, black and olive bead-head wooly buggers (8-10), zonkers (8-10), bead head prince nymph (10-12) and bead head hare's ear (10-12).

Virtually every impoundment and watershed has received it's initial allotment of fish. State crews were unhampered by high water and mud conditions that routinely slow the process.

In the event that you haven't heard, the infamous "Y Pool", located on the main branch of the Swift River, has been supporting groups of landlocked salmon as well as lake trout. These species were forced into the system during high water discharges and have remained a viable fishery throughout the late winter and early spring.

CENTRAL MASS TU NEWS
The MA/RI Council's An Angler's Guide to trout Fishing in Massachusetts ($19.95) is now available for purchase at meetings, The Lower Forty or through their new website (www.centralmasstu.org).

Monthly Meeting April 13th - Guest speaker, Ed Lombardo, well known area fisherman will speak about fishing Montana.

Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook Preserve, 414 Massasoit Rd. Worcester. Doors open at 6:15 and bring your tying tools.

Earth Day Quinnapoxet River Cleanup, April 22, 2006 8:00- noon - contact Steve Smith.
Annual Youth Day- 10-3pm - contact Paul Bakstran June 3, 2006.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB