Konkapot River and Hop Brook help pls!

[flyfishgb]

Hi My name is Andrew, this is my first time posting on these boards, and I am very interested in fly fishing and have a home in the berkshires.

I Will be going up to Great Barrington this weekend and I am looking to fish the local rivers around me. Such as The Konkapot River, Hop Brook, Umpachene River, and Hatchery River. I plan on fishing all of these rivers this weekend and if anyone would like to join me i would gladly enjoy the company of another fisherman.

I was wondering if anyone Knew if these rivers hold trout, if they have been stocked recently. This is something i do not know. Is it worth fishing these. Should i go to the Lee C&R Section instead? I am also looking maybe to hit up a small brookie stream if anyone knows a good one up here in the berkshires and is willing to share. I was gonna check out Race Brook in Sheffield. I have waders , 2 different size rods, Many flies, and enough time to explore all these rivers.

Any help on these rivers or just some answers! Would make my day! Thanks for your time everyone on this Forum!


May your lines be tight and your lunkers Heavy!

[JoeOverlock]

Welcome to the board, Andrew!

I don't fish south county to much, so I can't really help you. We do have some very active fly fishers in south county though that should be able to answer you better. If you want to take a drive up to North Adams this weekend I can put you on some wild browns pretty fast.

[hoxie]

Flyfishgb:

I'm from northern Berkshire County, and only fished the Konkapot once (with worms), for an hour or so, with mediocre results ( a few small trout), but I chalk that up more to time constraints and unfamiliarity than anything else.

I do recall one of the more productive looking stretches was posted. Sorry, I don't remember where.

I also recall hearing that, back in the day, Calvin Coolidge fished the Konkapot while he was President because it was considered the best trout stream in Massachusetts. But who knows what's happened to it since then.

Good luck!

[flyfishgb]

Thanks alot for the Welcome! Doesn't Look like i am going to be able to make it up this weekend which is just OK but maybe i can take you up on that offer to put me on some wild browns! ~ JoeOverlock next time i will be up.

Still looking for some info on these rivers/streams. South County where are you at! I know there have gotta be some fisherman that roam these boards from there. I see em' fishin all the time!

I believe it was President Grover Cleveland Fished Hop Brook and called it one of the Top 5 in the country. Now I am hoping fishing there is gonna be that good! Pls! Anyone know about these river systems.

From the research I have seen firsthanded that the rivers hold a ton of baitfish. They are very clear rivers seem to look healthly but i Just dont know about trout populations. The Konkapot is actually fed out of Lake Buel which is stocked on a Seasonal Basis. Would these fish that survive make it to the river? They also stock these all of the rivers too. The Hatchery is right up the road from my house.

Also i am wondering how i could approach this stream at a first-time-fishing-it basis?!?

Thanks alot for your time!

[JoeOverlock]

flyfishgb said:

Thanks alot for the Welcome! Doesn't Look like i am going to be able to make it up this weekend which is just OK but maybe i can take you up on that offer to put me on some wild browns! ~ JoeOverlock next time i will be up.

Just email me whenever you want to come up. Right now is the best time to fish the Hoosic though. When those browns in the Hoosic get lock jaw it makes for a VERY long day.

[e-mail]

flyfishgb said:

South County where are you at!

I live up in North Adams. Plus we hold 2 meeting a month to try and give area fly fishers a local place to meet and make it easier for beginners to find other anglers in the area. So we sort of divide up the county, north of Pittsfield we call North County, South of Pittsfield we call South County.

[cgill]

Hop Brook is heavily stocked in the spring, during the summer it can get very low and warm. I would concentrate on the end nearest the Hoosy. I don't know the name of the roads to go down but if you have a copy of the De Lorme Massachusetts Gazetteer they are quite obvious. I would recommend this book of maps for anyone who expects to spend anytime exploring fishing spots in the Berkshires. if you do fish the lower sections bring a short rod the casting is difficult. The whole Tyringham valley is beautiful this time of year.

The Konkapot suffers the same low water / heat issues as Hop Brook. Once again I would fish it closer to the Hoosatonic. Look at the map, it trespasses into Connecticut for a bit before it returns to Massachusetts.

With any luck you might find some fish that have moved up from the bigger river. Both streams are very clear so tread lightly. You might also consider the Green River outside of Great Barrington. If nothing is working try a terrestrial.

[ctroy36]

Flyfishgb:


cgill is right about Hop Brook and the Konkapot. Matter of fact, MassWildlife in their study of the Housy before C&R regs found that the Konkapot ran hotter than the Housy in summer.

Since you are in South County, why not fish the C&R sectionof the Housy in Glendale? The trout have survivied the summer and the smallies are still active.

[flyfishgb]

Thanks for the replies, but you guys left me still wondering,

Do these Rivers Hold Trout? or are they just too warm.

Do you think maybe they hold brook trout? I am really Stumped. Even if they run warmer, can't they still hold trout? Thermal Refuge?

Also i have never Fished the Housatonic C&R in Glendale or Lee or Housatonic. From what i read it says the river is very dangerous and there are alot of holes. And i dont have a wading staff. I read in places that a wading staff will save your life but.... I mean i dont mean to sound like a Wuss but i am not tryin to drown my first time out on the Housy.

If anyone wants to help me out and figure out where i can drop in without having deep water nearby that would be great.

Thanks

[ctroy36]

Flyfishgb:

For a wading staff go to WalMart's camping section and pick up a SwissGear hiking staff. Coillapsible, carbide tip, $9.95.

The problem with the Housatonic C&R sections is not wading but parking. True, there are many spots where wading can be tough, but there are just as many where you can wade close to shore on a good bottom.

Yes, many stocked browns survive the summer by finding thermal refuges. Some rivers are better than others for that. If you want brook trout, fish some of the many backwoods streams in the hills. Most have populations of wild -- and small -- brookies.

[gonefishing]

flyfishgb,
Without me getting too wound up on this - yes, the housy holds trout with or without stocking. It's been a great trout fishery throughout my 30 years fishing it. I have been flyfishing it for the past ten+ years and haven't picked up a spinning rod for trout fishing since. The only thing stocking has done is increased the number of smaller trout you'll catch.
Like Charley said, try hitting the small streams and brooks. The Brookies in them are a blast to catch and you'd be shocked with the size of some of the fish you can find.

[jlibs]

In South County, try the Green River, Alford Brook and Seekonk Brook. Access at bridge points. Look at a local road map. You'll find smaller browns, rainbows and brooks with an occasional surprise of a larger fish or two.

[jf5]

Great advice here. I too will add that without MA stocking, Hop and Konkopot do not hold trout for the most part. Remember, Brookies are the most senstive to warm temps than browns and bows. So you need to find the cleanest, and coolest summer waters to support these fish. Almost any mountain trickle will have them. The Green River mentioned is a much better choice in the area and has wild brook and brown trout, and stock fish as well. However, access on the upper river can be an issue.

As for Housy. Nothign to fear. Use your head and you'll be fine. If I ever need a wading staff, a long stick or a long handle landing net is great. Plus a stick is free, disposable, and bio-degratable

[flyfishgb]

Thanks For all the information the past 4 posts helped alot!

I definitly think that the lakes in south county recieved their fall stocking

[deanh]

I live on the konkapot in Monterey. I don't fish it much anymore" kinda like shooting deer in your backyard" but it does hold fish. river rd is a nice section of water. nothing of size but those 4" to 6" natives are always fun to catch. ;D

[flyfishgb]

Thank You Deanh.

They are constructing a new river road bridge at the top of the river. Flows still look good but could this do damage to those natives. I am sure the tornado damage did alot worse damage to that river.

Gonna fish it pretty soon anywayss