|
|
Post by classicxj on Aug 26, 2007 21:11:59 GMT -5
Just looking for a little advice....thanks in advance
This up coming weekend I'm taking the dog and myself camping up at Mohawk campground and plan on fly fishing the Deerfield for the first time. I'll be up there from Friday night to Monday afternoon. Since I've got the pup with me I don't plan on doing alot of traveling around to go to different spots. I kinda wanted to just fish the Deerfield and Cold Rivers within the State Forest for the weekend. I usually fish the Westfield and Swift rivers but was hoping to get a little advice from a couple experts. I have a descent selection of flies, sinking and floating lines on a 5WT Orvis. I've got a couple maps I've found online but nothing that really lists any good spots or where to try. ANY advice on fly selection, spots or anything else woudl be greatly appreciated.
|
|
|
|
Post by jlibs on Aug 28, 2007 11:50:24 GMT -5
I'm no Deerfield expert as the river is 1 hr 20 min. from my home in Suuth County, but I can pass on a little help that's a bit obvious. Anyway, Trico's are on and Midges are on. Think tiny tiny tiny! Fish on the Deerfield see lots and lots of flies and are typically very picky. The easiest place to send you is the upper C&R section by the dam which is also one of the toughest places to fool fish this time of the year since the fish have seen just about everything. There are many many fish there though.
Hopefull some of the other Deerfield guys in the club will step up to the plate.
Good luck.
JLIBS
|
|
|
|
Post by Mark Patenaude on Aug 28, 2007 13:24:29 GMT -5
The rule for the Deerfield as well as most other rivers getting into Fall is small and dark flies. This is due to the presence of, as Josh stated, Tricos, the ever present midges as well as Tiny BWOs. As for your gear, you are fine. A 5 or 6 wt. on the Deerfield is perfect for all conditions. It allows you to toss small flies through streamers. Good searching patterns, also referred to as the "big uglies" that most guides will tell you throw this time of year are #10-12 Royal Coachman, Humpies and EHC. I have heard (but no personal experience) that the huge pool at the confluence of the Cold and Deerfield is a good place to fish a Trico. Even though that pool has to be at least 10' deep. A local guide has told me that the fish will hammer these flies, even in the heart of the pool. If you want to nymph, I would recommend large Brown and Black Stones, Cased Caddis and Green Rock Worms, with enough weight to keep them on the bottom. There are alot of big fish in the Deerfield and the majority of the guys who fish won't throw the big nymphs. I would also recommend using an indicator. As Josh said, the trout have seen everything by this time of year and could probably even tell you who tied the fly and the bite is often very light. Also, don't pass up on the pocket water. There is alot of it upstream from the campground/the confluence of the Cold and Deerfield. Be careful wading as the current can be heavy around the rocks. Dap the fly in right behind the boulders and try to keep as much of you fly line off the water as possible so the fly stays in the eddy for as long as possible. Pick up you line every so often to keep the fly moving. The pick up will probably be lite and don't be surprised when you pick up you line, a trout is pulling on the other end. Lastly, if you pass on fishing the evening Spinner fall, throw big streamers. The large Browns (there are some 30s in the Deerfield) are noctural feeders. Down and across swing and keep a tight hold on the grip. When they hit, its like a freight train. Follow this link for upper and lower C&R maps and a very brief/general hatch chart for the Deerfield. www.flyfishingconnection.com/deerfieldneff.htmland this one for a little better hatch chart... www.hatchcharts.net/Hatch_Charts/Top100Results.asp?River_Name=Deerfield+River&State=MAHope this helps. Post is you have any other specific questions, I'm sure you will get the answers you are looking for. Mark |
|
|
|
Post by classicxj on Aug 28, 2007 17:14:09 GMT -5
WOW.. some great info there guy thanks. I have to be honest, this is only my second season fly fishing and alot of it is new to me. (actaully some of those flies you mentioned I have to look up to see what they were) I've got so used to just throwing Wolly Buggers and seeing what happens.
I hit the new LL Bean store in CT this past weekend and grabbed a few flies, they had a nice selection, normal prices plus the guys there were really helpful. I might head up tp Orvis in Avon in the morning after work and grab a few up the flies you guys mentioned.
I just bought a vise and as soon as work slows down and I can get some time to practice, I would like to start tying some of my own. I've tied a few Wolly Buggers and one of them actually caught a small mouth up here on the Westfield. Great Feeling there.
Anyways any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, but again.. thanks for all the help.
Ryan
|
|
|
|
Post by flyfishgb on Aug 28, 2007 18:42:24 GMT -5
Ryan,
Does the xj mean you drive a Jeep XJ? was just curious....
Never fished the deerfield either... Good Luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by classicxj on Aug 28, 2007 18:50:05 GMT -5
Ryan, Does the xj mean you drive a Jeep XJ? was just curious.... Never fished the deerfield either... Good Luck! DID.. we actaully just traded it in on a 07 Grand Cherokee but I still have my 02 Wrangler. I used ClassicXJ on all the Jeep boards I post on so i just kinda transfered it over to here too. |
|
|
|
Post by Mark Patenaude on Aug 29, 2007 8:12:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by jlibs on Aug 29, 2007 8:54:52 GMT -5
Mark, Great Info (as usual)! classicxj, You missed our club fly tying night last night in Pittsfield. I'm sure you would learn a lot and save years of fiddling about with some in person tips. Our next guest speaker is Sept. 12th. Join us. www.berkshireflyfishing.org/index2.htmlflyfishgb, I received your PM (which I don't check too often). Call me for Monday if you're up here. Sat and Sun I have guests visiting. |
|
|
|
Post by flyfishgb on Aug 29, 2007 10:45:49 GMT -5
i am definitly game for monday....
|
|
|
|
Post by classicxj on Aug 29, 2007 17:08:25 GMT -5
Mark, Great Info (as usual)! classicxj, You missed our club fly tying night last night in Pittsfield. I'm sure you would learn a lot and save years of fiddling about with some in person tips. Our next guest speaker is Sept. 12th. Join us. www.berkshireflyfishing.org/index2.htmlflyfishgb, I received your PM (which I don't check too often). Call me for Monday if you're up here. Sat and Sun I have guests visiting. I saw that posted in another thread and wish I could have made it. I work nights so events like that are usually hard for me to attend. I'm thinking about taking some time off in September so maybe I will try and make the next one. Thanks for the invite and all the suggestions. Ryan |
|
|
|
Post by brianc on Aug 31, 2007 14:54:34 GMT -5
Hi,
I am by no means anywhere near an expert on this matter, having fished the Deerfield a grand total of twice, but I might offer some advice that runs a bit counter to the previous, very good tips: Go big with your dry flies. In particular, throw hopper patterns this time of year. I was at the Deerfield yesterday, at the height of the afternoon and all its heat. While there did seem to be small flies hatching, I caught plenty of fish on top with a hopper until the flood gates opened and the river came up. Hoppers are way easier to fish, at least for me, than the tiny mayflies. You can mix it up by throwing some ants or beetles or other terrestrials, too. I would also advise maybe fishing outside of and in between the two C and R sections.
Good luck and have fun,
Brian
|
|
|
|
Post by Mark Patenaude on Aug 31, 2007 15:44:09 GMT -5
That is what was meant by "Big Uglies"...
|
|
|
|
Post by brianc on Sept 3, 2007 19:54:31 GMT -5
My apologies. Guess I didn't read too closely.
|
|
|
|
Post by classicxj on Sept 4, 2007 7:48:37 GMT -5
Well I came back from our camping trip yesterday a little wiser and a little tired.
The offroad club that I help to run has a annual camping/wheeling trip on Labor Day weekend. I sold my wheeling Jeep a couple of months ago so I kinda just show up, help runs things and then do my own thing for the rest of the day while they wheel. Anyways I brought my 2.5 year Golden Retreiver with me cause she loves the outdoors and she's a blast to have whith me. We always stay at the group site at Mohawk State Forest.
The group site is just a short 20 minute hike from the pool where the Deeerfield meets the Cold River so I figued Saturday morning I would just get up early, hike down there and do some fishing. Well I got there about 6:30AM and saw 2 guys already in the hole, so having the crazy retreiver I stayed away for about 20 minutes later when these guys left. Cool I thought, the hole to myself and the dog. Well as a walked downstream toward the hole, I relized there were 3 others on the shoreline that were were getting their gear ready to go in. Well my dog is very friendly and always has to say HI and see what is going on. Well these 3 weren't very happy to see her or me and shot us a couple of nasty looks and a "Jesus Christ" I appologied as much as I could, called the dog and headed back upstream. For the rest of the morning I just made my way upstream hitting little holes here and there, which actaully turned out to be alot of fun fo both of us. I didn't land anything but still had a great time. I then spent the afternoon hiking about the mountains in the park.
About 4ish I headed back to the pool to see if maybe it was empty and I could get some time in. But the water and already been let go and the rafter and tubers were having their fun. So I found alittle spot where they didn't go and fished there for a couple hours. Catch a couple of very little guys on a bugger but nothing to write home about.
I didn't end up fishing on Sunday cause I figured the hole would be packed again plus I wanted to hike Hawks Moutain and do a little geocacahing.
Next time hopefuly my wife will be able to make it and she can keep a eye on the dog in the morning while I get some fly time in. I know alot of people don't like dogs near them when they fish and I try to respect that, but she's always behaved pretty well and usual just sits on shore and watches unless I call her out to me.
Well that was my weekend for those who might want to know. I am defaintly going to head back there soon to get some fishing in. Thanks to everyone for their advice on fly selection and spots. I defatinly learned alot and will continue to check this site out.
Ryan
|
|
