EARLY SEASON WOES

May 1, 2007 - Early in the week my curiosity was peaked by all the unusually high water we're experiencing here in central New England and the effect it will have on early season angling. Just in case you're interested check out the real-time streamflow data available from the USGS website concerning some of our favorite local haunts…

Swift River at West Ware… 955 cfs
Millers River at Erving, MA… 3,670 cfs
Quinapoxet River at Canada Mills… 589 cfs
East Branch Swift River in Hardwick… 174 cfs
Westfield River at Knightsville Dam… 3130 cfs
Quinebaug River at Westville Dam… 1190 cfs

In the event you are unfamiliar with local stream flows, that's a lot of water. While most of these watersheds are marginally fishable and in some cases totally unapproachable the good news is that they are dropping fast. Barring any further episodes of extreme precipitation rivers should be in reasonable shape for the upcoming weekend.

Good friends Lenny Renauld of Sterling and Felix Stolulonis of Worcester have been monitoring the Swift River below the Rt. 9 Bridge on a weekly basis and report that anglers are facing extreme water conditions. Water continues to breach the overflow dam (as it did for most of last spring) resulting in almost unwadeable conditions. Even the most aggressive anglers have shunned the watershed in search of more fishable surroundings, as their most recent visit witnessed not a single fly fisherman utilizing the resource.

QUABBIN OPENS TO BOAT ANGLING
Those prone to enjoy a leisurely afternoon trolling traditional and not so traditional Maine streamers are free to enjoy their passion seven days a week on the Quabbin Reservoir. The impoundment opened its doors to boat traffic this past weekend and will remain open until the fall of the year.

STOCKING CONTINUES
Central Mass water that was stocked this past week include…
Tully River, Mill River, Wallum Lake*, South Pond*, Dunn Pond, Comet Pond*, Fort Pond*, Whalom Lake*, Mill River, Lake Louisa, Lawrence Brook, Long Pond*, Browning Pond, Big Alum Pond*, Singletary Lake*, Webster lake*, Priest Brook, Millers River and Lake Quinsigamond*. An asterisk donates that Tiger trout were included in this stocking.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB