WATER

April 2, 2010 - That single word can describe what local fly anglers have been facing throughout the early season. Even the dependable Swift River in Belchertown has water flow approaching 1000 CFS making this watershed virtually unfishable. With a more moderate, unseasonably warm, stable weather pattern indicated for the immediate future, water levels should be influenced for the better.

The high water conditions will also affect stream and river stocking as crews struggle with mud and extreme water levels. To our knowledge most of the state's impoundments have been replenished on a least one occasion and provides an alternative to moving water. Even lakes and ponds have been adversely affected by the torrential rain events of the previous few weeks in terms of wading access. Many of the impoundments have risen to the extent that wading fly anglers are having difficulty canvassing the productive drop-off areas due to the high water. We have fielded a number of reports from Cape Cod anglers that are stressing the key to success is angling from a watercraft of some sort. This will provide the freedom and mobility necessary to reach deeper water and drops.

LICENSE INCREASE
In the event you haven't heard two of our abutting states, in their infinite wisdom, have raised license fees to both non-resident and resident anglers. Both Connecticut and New York have doubled all fees related to sportsmen. This establishes the cost of a non-resident, seasonal, freshwater fishing license at a lofty $80 in the state of Connecticut. By legislating these increases the intent is to dramatically increase state revenues. We are convinced that this move will have quite the opposite affect, as only 1 out of every 2 non-resident anglers that had purchased a license in the past, declines to re-up.

PULASKI
Speak with any chromer regarding the exceptional autumn, winter and early spring season the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY has experienced and your liable to get and earful. This watershed, and its tributaries have offered hearty fly anglers one of the most successful seasons in many years. A host of central Massachusetts fly anglers have been religiously making the 5-hour trek with staggering results on steelhead to 20lbs. Most successful fly patterns have been a variety of egg patterns, black and brown weighted stoneflies, and conventional bead head nymphs.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB