Post by jlibs on Feb 8, 2007 16:23:24 GMT -5
I recently watched a re-run of an On The Water episode of fly fishing on the Swift River near Belchertown, MA. The scene looked terrific - very tranquil with lots of natives, brookies, etc. The Swift River stays a constant temp, like the deerfield, due to the bottom-of-the-dam water releases from the Quabbin.
When google searching for more info on where to go on the Swift River when spring comes, I came accross,
www.swiftriverflyfishing.com/index.html
This site looks like it was created by real purist for the river, bamboo and ther sport in general, and the kind we appreciate. Enjoy.
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Swift River Fly Fishing takes its name from the river that flows south through the hills of west-central Massachusetts and the valley that was cleared and dammed in the 30s and 40s to create the Quabbin Reservoir, now the principle source of drinking water for the Boston metropolitan area. This taking has always been viewed with mixed emotions. On the one hand it could only happen following the dissolution of four very lovely New England villages in the Swift River Valley. Yet, it also resulted in the creation of the largest completely undeveloped tract of land in the Commonwealth and a new-found “accidental wilderness”. This area is now home to many once extirpated wildlife species such as the wild turkey, the bald eagle, and moose. Its waters host not only the native brook trout but a thriving population of lake trout and landlocked salmon that now spawn in the branches of the Swift River when conditions are right.
Quabbin and the Swift River are symbols of many things for many people. These same hills and river valleys gave birth to Shays Rebellion, an oft forgotten piece of American history, when local farmers shortly after the American Revolution rebelled against the banking practices and government laws that allowed their farms to be taken away and resold without due-process if they were unable to pay their debts. More than a century later, as an ever expanding metropolitan Boston population looked further westward in its quest for clean water to support an even denser population, the Swift River Valley and a place called Quabbin (many waters) by the native American peoples who once lived there became the new target. It is one of many reasons behind the historical mistrust of Boston area politicians by residents of western Massachusetts who know that the more numerous and often ruthless politicians in populous eastern Massachusetts would never hesitate to impose their will on the western half of the state.
Yet, setting historical melodrama aside, the Swift River area towns and farm houses are still places where one could expect and often see a fine old bamboo fly rod standing in the corner, waiting for a pause in the chores to be taken out to the stream. In fact, one of those very towns, Pelham, gave birth to the first large-scale rod turning and bamboo rod manufacturing mill that a few years later became known as Montague Rod and Reel. The Pelham factory building still stands today and the Montague bamboo rod operation eventually became Sewell Dunton and Sons before being bought by Thomas and Thomas, one of the most prestigious bamboo rod shop in the world today. It is this great heritage that gave birth to the idea for Swift River Fly Fishing as a place where the classical fly fishing tackle of the past and present would be gathered and made available to discerning fishermen and collectors who appreciate the American craftsmanship and angling opportunities that gave rise to some of the most elegant and graceful tools yet made by human-kind.
When google searching for more info on where to go on the Swift River when spring comes, I came accross,
www.swiftriverflyfishing.com/index.html
This site looks like it was created by real purist for the river, bamboo and ther sport in general, and the kind we appreciate. Enjoy.
==============================================
Swift River Fly Fishing takes its name from the river that flows south through the hills of west-central Massachusetts and the valley that was cleared and dammed in the 30s and 40s to create the Quabbin Reservoir, now the principle source of drinking water for the Boston metropolitan area. This taking has always been viewed with mixed emotions. On the one hand it could only happen following the dissolution of four very lovely New England villages in the Swift River Valley. Yet, it also resulted in the creation of the largest completely undeveloped tract of land in the Commonwealth and a new-found “accidental wilderness”. This area is now home to many once extirpated wildlife species such as the wild turkey, the bald eagle, and moose. Its waters host not only the native brook trout but a thriving population of lake trout and landlocked salmon that now spawn in the branches of the Swift River when conditions are right.
Quabbin and the Swift River are symbols of many things for many people. These same hills and river valleys gave birth to Shays Rebellion, an oft forgotten piece of American history, when local farmers shortly after the American Revolution rebelled against the banking practices and government laws that allowed their farms to be taken away and resold without due-process if they were unable to pay their debts. More than a century later, as an ever expanding metropolitan Boston population looked further westward in its quest for clean water to support an even denser population, the Swift River Valley and a place called Quabbin (many waters) by the native American peoples who once lived there became the new target. It is one of many reasons behind the historical mistrust of Boston area politicians by residents of western Massachusetts who know that the more numerous and often ruthless politicians in populous eastern Massachusetts would never hesitate to impose their will on the western half of the state.
Yet, setting historical melodrama aside, the Swift River area towns and farm houses are still places where one could expect and often see a fine old bamboo fly rod standing in the corner, waiting for a pause in the chores to be taken out to the stream. In fact, one of those very towns, Pelham, gave birth to the first large-scale rod turning and bamboo rod manufacturing mill that a few years later became known as Montague Rod and Reel. The Pelham factory building still stands today and the Montague bamboo rod operation eventually became Sewell Dunton and Sons before being bought by Thomas and Thomas, one of the most prestigious bamboo rod shop in the world today. It is this great heritage that gave birth to the idea for Swift River Fly Fishing as a place where the classical fly fishing tackle of the past and present would be gathered and made available to discerning fishermen and collectors who appreciate the American craftsmanship and angling opportunities that gave rise to some of the most elegant and graceful tools yet made by human-kind.