OUR FIRST HATCH

April 12, 2008 - With the initial round of trout stocking complete, trout are now available to long rodders in virtually every watershed. The latest central Mass rivers to receive fresh plantings are: Barre- Ware River and Burnshirt River, Hardwick- Ware River, Holden- Quinapoxet River, Hubbardston- Burnshirt River and Ware River E. Branch, Northborough- Assabet River, Petersham- E. Branch Swift River, Princeton- Ware River E. Branch and Stillwater River, Rutland- Ware River E. Branch, Sterling- Stillwater River, and Winchendon- Millers River.

While the fly guys are suffering through cold, elevated water conditions, so typical of early spring, a more seasonable weather pattern could go a long way to providing better angling opportunities.

At last check the Swift River tail water in Belchertown has not been immune to increasing water flows. At last check she was running somewhere in the 250 cfs range, making for limited wading potential. While angling remains fair to good, accessing favorite pools, runs and tailouts will be a challenge.

HATCHES
I would expect to receive our initial reports of the infamous Hendrickson (12-14) / Red Quill (16) on waters to our south. Under seasonal conditions this hatch usually initiates sometime around the end of the month and is the indicator that the true dry fly season is upon us. This emergence is a long awaited and cherished event with many watersheds sporting colossal hatches of both insects concurrently. Look for the bulk of activity to occur during mid-afternoon periods getting progressively later as the hatch phase matures. Spinners will often appear in intensity during late afternoon just prior to nightfall and offer undemanding targets for all coldwater species.

Incidentally the gossip around the shop is that chronomids (midges) are beginning to emerge on a few of the regions trendy impoundments. Both Long Pond in Rutland and Comet Pond in Hubbardston are experiencing modest hatch activity during late afternoon-evening hours, particularly during docile weather conditions.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB