My buddy Dick and I hit the Swift River today. We found only one other angler fishing from the USGS gauge all the way down to Cady Lane. We took up position below the hatchery pipe in the 26F air. The water temp today was about 50F which had the fish feeding actively. Once again the best flies were small soft hackles in red or olive. We lost track of how many fish we fooled in the morning. After lunch we fished above route 9 in the FFO area. I fooled a few more in the riffle/pool just above where the bubbler arm hits the Y-pool.
I'm not going to call this bonus day my "last good day" of the year, but I suspect it is. (Although Friday weather is looking good. H-m-m-m, maybe I need to tie up some more softhackles, just in case!)
I also took some video that I posted on YouTube.
Gerry,
ReplyDeleteAnd I was going to put my fly rods away until spring. My buddy Mark picked up a new 4 wt Sage at Cabela's on black friday... I think he was drooling at your you tube movie. Was that with the olympus? I have yet to play with the underwater feature...
I think he may try to talk me into getting a 1 day license and driving down if we have any decent weather coming up. I may have break out the St Croix for one last hoorah...
-Eric
Eric,
ReplyDeleteYes, my Olypus stylus tough works pretty good above and below the surface.
Get that 1-day license and make the drive. But do it in December. On Jan 1 the river (downstream of route 9) will be filled with hook-and-cook people with spinners and powerbait ready to take these beauties home. Catch'em while you can! (Be sure to bring some small softhackles!)
Gerry
Gerry,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the video.
I stumbled upon Willard Brook Park (after missing the Fire Station in Townsend). How is the brook for trout? Do the fish holdover from the summer?
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteI usually fish Willard Brook (and Trapfalls brook) in the spring, so I can't say anything about the fall. It is a beautiful brook, but I suspect it gets real low in the summer, so I doubt if there are significant holdovers. Why not give it a try and let us know?
Gerry
PS glad you liked the video.
Gerry,
ReplyDeleteDid you get a chance to hit the Swift again yesterday?
Mother nature is playing a cruel joke... 60's and sunny on Thursday and Friday- Saturday rolls around-30's and snowing.... UGH....
-Eric