Cool down at the Swift

[JackK]

I've been getting through the summer doldrums by making the trip out to Belchertown and fishing the Swift river. Amazing fishery. Took a couple trips to get dialed in, but once I was... Past two trips have had over thirty trout, with the biggest at 23". Most on size 22 flies with 7x tippet. Great way to break up the monotony of the hard summer surfcasting.

[Nebe]

Nice. It's not always about stripers and blues...
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[striperman36]

it's a great fishery. shhhh

[afterhours]

nice fishing! have'nt been there in 25yrs, used to go in the winter too.

[FishermanTim]

But seriously, it's not always about the fish as it is about the fishing.
When you shift gears and adjust your gear for different species it can turn out to be a real learning experience!

[JackK]

Here's a nice fish of about 18". Much more like the western 'bow's I've read about- Thick, stocky, almost shaped like a football.

Notice the clarity of the water, too.

[striperman36]

Tynan fishes out there, I'll go any weekend this winter

[afterhours]

nymphs kev?

[JackK]

Elmer flies have produced for me, I've since graduated to a few midge larvae patterns that I dreamed up and they've been killer. Soft hackles in 14-16 produce the biggest fish at dawn and dusk. For dries, I've done well with CDC emergers and parachute ants/Adams.

Don't also underestimate the effectiveness of a large attractor pattern like a Royal Wulff, Purple Haze or Stimulator. I caught a 16" hen on a size 10 RW that I threw into a likely riffle. Fought like fresh chrome- leaping, splashing and twisting she took me into my backing and I had to chase her downstream about 100 yards until I could land her in some slower water. Great to hear the little Abel TR scream, although I should have upped my tippet for that fly. While these fish can get very selective on small flies, often times there's a fish in the mix that's aggressively keeping its eyes up and will smash a larger morsel with reckless abandon.

[striperman36]

Armand kills them on a Hornberg Mickey Finn

[afterhours]

Originally Posted by striperman36

Armand kills them on a Hornberg Mickey Finn

i used to slay at the housy with a maribou mickey fin- gives me an idea for a plug color .

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by afterhours

i used to slay at the housy with a maribou mickey fin- gives me an idea for a plug color .

I'll test it form the boat

[JackK]

What's a hornberg mickey Finn? Bucktail wing on top of the mallard flanks?

The marabou mickey has been a great stockie or brook trout slayer for me. I like to tie them with golden pheasant tippets for the tail. Does the trick!

Have heard great things about the housy but haven't made the drive. Road trip?
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[striperman36]

actually it's orange and yellow calf tail topped with Mallard flank fished slowly downstream