Thursday, April 10, 2014

Good news from the Swift River


I opened my New England fishing season today on the Swift River.  I am happy to report that all indications point to a strong economy among a$$hole litterbugs.  As shown in the following picture, the lowlife creeps have upgraded their beverage selection.  It used to be that I only picked up Bud Light empties along with the ubiquitous worm containers, but apparently the creeps got a raise and moved up to Shock Top beer, Mikes Hard Lemonade and Vitamin water. I wish I knew what compels some people to crap all over our beautiful coldwater resources.
Today I was happy to be able to try out a new net.  For a few years I have very happily used a wooden net with a rubber bag made by Alan Stevens of the Stevens Net Company in Maine. He makes a beautiful net and I like the fact that it has a rubber net which keeps hooks from being caught.  The only downside is that the rubber net is pretty heavy and somewhat cumbersome to haul around on  your back all day. (They now offer a lighter rubber bag, but I have not seen it.)  Over the winter I learned of The Measure NetTM from JTA Products in Montana. It has an aluminum frame with a foam handle, both of which make for a lighter net, if not as elegantly styled as the wooden net from Stevens. The real unique feature is the zip-on light rubber bag that has a built-in measuring capability.  The combination of aluminum and light rubber mesh creates a noticeably lighter net.  The only downside is that it will be tougher to exaggerate the fish tales told over a round of adult beverages.  My first rainbow of the year taped-out at a smidgen over 13 inches - without The Measurenet I would have called it 12.  I give two "Thumbs Up" to The Measurenet and it is now an important piece of my fly fishing gear.
Swift River report: I stopped at the route 9 parking area and after counting all the cars, I continued down River Road to the Pipe area.  Nobody there.  Since the Catch and Release regs reverted to Hook and Cook downstream of Route 9 as of January 1, trout tend to be scarce as hen's teeth.  I did find a few. After surveying the water upstream of Route 9, there are even fewer fish there. I think another couple visits from the hatchery truck are needed to get things really rolling.  The water temp was 37F so in addition to being scarce, they were lethargic. It won't be long before all the rivers are down to good fishable levels and topped off with fresh hatchery stock. Tight lines!



7 comments:

  1. Welcome back friend.
    Seems as if the bottle deposit might need to be increased.

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  2. Don't like gov bureaucracy, but adding a stiff worm container deposit might get my vote!

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  3. Fly fishing only w/catch and release would work better. When was the last time you saw a fly fisher approach a stream with a dunkin donuts cup?

    Good to see you back. Spring must be here!

    Ken

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  4. I agree, Ken, catch and release all year would be great. Great for the fish and equally great for the litter issue. Good to be back. We'll have to fish the Millers this spring.
    Gerry

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  5. So what can be done to try and press this through MA legislature? Also have you or Ken heard any more on the dam coming down on the Quinnie? Would make for an amazing fishery in the spring and fall with lake run...
    Jack

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  6. Jack,
    I am not sure what the process is in MASS for regulation changes. Maybe Ken can comment on the Millers River forum. In NH you can submit a request for regulations change along with your reasoning. If the biologists and the conservation officers (game wardens) don't object, it will go through some public hearings and then either be adopted or denied.
    Gerry

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  7. I am both surprised and disappointed that between all the local flyshops in MA and NH as well as local TU Chapters that some sort of unified front has not been developed to drive consensus on this issue. I would imagine there are 1,000 of flyfishermen (and many non flyfishermen) that would sign a ballot to try to push this through as well as a catch n release section on the Quinnie and Stillwater.
    Jack

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