SWIFTED-OUT
September 16, 2006
- So you're "Swifted-Out"
and are anxious for a change from your reliable summer venue to more
freestone-style digs. We have received some pretty reliable reports that
it's certainly not too early to consider an expedition to the Wendall
Depot area of the Millers River. Josh Epstein recently visited the shop
fresh off a rather modest conquest of the river and he was more than
enthusiastic in his recount of the day's events. Epstein arrived at the
electrical substation area, located adjacent to Rt.2A and flanked by
Whetstone and Osgood Brooks at mid-afternoon and was greeted by a cadre
of liberally rising brown trout, spring holdovers no doubt. The focus of
their attention was a #16 sulphur dun that was easily mimicked by a
comparadun of similar size and color. Josh tactfully brought a handful
of brown trout to net before time constraints and a couple of
etiquette-lacking anglers brought his session to an abrupt end.
A few facts that he
shared from this most recent outing was that the fish appeared to be in
good overall condition even though they did not possess the broad
shoulders and portly girth common to late summer fish of previous years,
and the water level and temperature was approaching peak form.
SWIFT GOES LOW
A number of anglers laboring on the Swift River are reporting that the
water level has dropped dramatically during the previous week making
angling quite challenging. Rumor has it that the state is undergoing a
construction project of "the bubbler" limiting water
discharge. Despite the conditions there are numerous fish located
throughout the system and angling should remain good despite the flow.
Just ask Dave Armstrong of Hudson who super-slammed the river. Armstrong
not only liberated all three trout species but after a few futile
attempts finally tempted a landlocked salmon into accepting his offering
completing the slam.
STILLWATER UPDATE
For the umpteenth time… it is still way too early to consider
prospecting for landlocked salmon in the Stillwater system. Future
reports will brief you on when reliable angling can be expected.
INTRESTING
This graph was recently taken from the latest edition of the trade
publication "Fly Tackle Retailer"…
"Environmentalists are concerned about a fish netted at Kasilof,
Alaska this summer, as it is the first Atlantic salmon discovered in
Cook Inlet. Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife officials worry
this Atlantic salmon may be an escapee from fish farming operations in
British Columbia or Washington, which, in turn could be a harbinger of
potential invasion of wild Pacific salmon habitat. Spread of disease
and competition for food and spawning habitat are issues to be
monitored. Atlantic salmon farms are not legal in Alaska, however,
approximately 600 reports of Atlantic salmon caught in Alaska waters
have been confirmed. This is the first in Cook Inlet."
TU MEETINGS BEGIN
From the desk of Paul Bakstran…Our first meeting will be on September
13th and our October meeting will be on the 11th. All other monthly
meetings will be on the second Thursday of each month, as usual, at the
Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Preserve on 414 Massassoit Ave. in Worcester
starting at 6:30. Nonmembers are welcome, admission is free and an adult
must accompany children under 18.
FACELIFT COMPLETE
The Lower Forty has been undergoing somewhat of a facelift recently and
we are delighted to report that the work is finally complete. Included
in the renovations were a new flight of rear steps, the relocation of
our Madison Street sign, new vinyl siding that conceals a west window,
T-111 replaces the vinyl façade around the entire building with a fresh
coat of stain and new shutters now adorn all windows. Customer comments
have been very positive as we will continue to improve the physical
plant as well as the inventory selection inside.
Good fishing and safe
wading,
JB
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