What are Your Favorites and why?

[jskowron]

As the season starts to pick up, what type of fishing are you looking forward to the most? More specifically, what type of water, type of flies/techniques, type of fish, and method of approach (e.g. wading, fishing from shore, boating). Do you like wade fishing bigger rivers (at least bigger for this area (e.g. Deerfield, Housatonic) nymphing for big browns? What about float tubing the ponds for bass or gills on poppers? Why are these your favorite?

I like wet wading small streams, targeting brookies with little dry flies or non-weighted wet flies. It just seems so simple and kid-like. It reminds me of the many days me and the other neighborhood kids spent walking in the brook behind Lebanon Park or in the South West Branch of the Housatonic. Not always (or even usually) fishing- just walking around in the river catching frogs, crayfish, salamander, etc. I remember the dedicated pair of "brook shoes" each of us had- usually some old basketball shoes form seasons past (cheap ones from Big-N or Adams Supermarket when we were younger, Pro-Keds from Besse Clark when we were older).

I like fishing the bigger rivers or for bigger fish, but it can often seem a little too grown up and complicated, requiring planning and caution.

[ctroy36]

Jeff:

I'm not familiar with Lebanon Park but I used to fish the stretch of the South West branch where it runs along Lebanon Avenue.

Were the Tannery Ponds still there when you fished the river?

We used to fish the river from the Upper Pond all the way down to Barker Road. In the summer the Lower Pond was our favorite as it held nice browns, smallies and some awsome pickerel.

Last nice brown I took out of the river was quite a few years back in the stretch behind Shaeffer-Eaton's, which used to be the tannery.

If the river was now as it was then, it would be my most favorite spot.

[hoxie]

I'm curious. I've fished the Southwest Branch of the Housatonic near Clapp Park (by the railroad trestle) in Pittsfield, but where's Lebanon Park?

Is it further west on Route 20? If so, how far?

[jskowron]

Lebanon Park is on Lebanon Avenue. It's about 2 miles west of Clapp park. The river runs along Lebanon Ave, but is mostly behind houses. There is some access at Bridges on Hungerford St., Lebanon Ave, and Melbourne Rd/Chapel St. It is really just a stream here, but receives stocking and was always full of stonefly and caddis (take note that I haven't been in the river in 20 years). There was a little stream behind Lebanon Park that joined the SW branch by the Town Players building. Never much fish in it though.

[Mark Patenaude]

I like fishing pretty much any water, especially unfamiliar water. I like the challenge of reading the water, looking for bugs and simply put, trying to figure things out. Its very satisfying to me to be able to figure out the water and what works.

I also prefer to wade fish.

[hsweren]

Hi Mark,

I enjoy wading the rivers the best. For me it's part of the whole experience to work upstream and depending apon how much time I have I will walk back downstream were I started and do it all over again. Having a very busy summer job and 2 girls under 3 years old the 5 or 6 times that I do get out to fish I want to get the maximum fishing experience.
As for flies, I will usually start off with a streamer, switch to nymphs, and if I see anything hatching and fish feeding I will then switch to dries. I like fishing them all and to just enjoy the day outdoors.

[flyfishgb]

Small water for small trout . I really enjoy chasing wild trout. Especially in Gin Clear water that they live in.

I find big rivers intimidating, but lately I have been getting over that real quick....

[Mark Patenaude]

I tend to agree, big water can be a bit intimidating.

Just wade slowly and watch your step.

[bartman]

I like the sound of moving water so stillwater fishing doesn't do it for me.

Big, medium, small rivers - we fish them all and wading is the way to go.

I think drift boats are great fishing platforms but I still perfer to jump out and cover the water carefully.

As I've aged and have a bum knee I now find all size streams/rivers equally hazardous.

My favorite pastime now is passing flyfishing along to my 15-year old. I'll sit back on log and watch him go at it.

[hunterfly]

Small rivers, wading (especially wet wading) for trout. I love it, and am blessed to have 2 small rivers and one big one (Deerfield) all within 5 minutes of my house. Hell, I pass the 2 small ones on my commute.

And when I can find the time, I love targeting strpers in the salt.