SWIFT STILL HOLDING

August 29, 2009 - It was nice to see Dick Levine recently and he is reporting excellent results on the Swift River in Belchertown despite the somewhat higher water. Water levels have been a pretty consistent 185 cfs with not much variation over the past week. The river is still holding a rather substantial number of rainbow trout but August can be the most challenging month of the entire season. Levine has been enjoying much of his success with rather portly egg patterns in a variety of color combinations. The river is still producing a tiny PMD #22 as evidenced by a number of customers. You may also want to tote along a cinnamon flying ant pattern #22 in the event of inclement weather. These land bred insects are know to emerge subsequent to any August rain event and the trout will always show preference to them in lieu of other insects.

THE MILLERS
The dropping water has lured a few central Mass anglers back to the Millers River near Wendall Depot. A rather healthy population of smallmouth bass often occupies the river during the summer, but if you're willing to put up with them there are trout to be had. On our urging, one of our most loyal customers recently took 6 brown trout during a recent session and reports that the river is in remarkable shape for August. The low water of previous years often left this watershed void of coldwater species and virtually not worth fishing during the torrid summer months. The higher water will be very conducive to accommodate a fall stocking as well.

THE FARMY
The recent heat has also chased a number of anglers to the Farmington River in Connecticut. Mike and Ian enjoyed this past weekend tossing #20-#26 dry flies at rising fish and did quite well, thank you. As with the Swift, anglers face their most technical fishing of the season, and 7X and 8X tippet with 12-foot leaders are the norm.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB