Hoosic

[ctroy36]

Fished the hoosic in Adams for a few hours today. Caught four browns in the 8-10-inch range and lost a very large rainbow. Browns apparently were recently stocked as they all looked alike. Don't know where the rainbow came from as it was much larger than the 12-14-inchers that I caught there earlier this year. Looked to me to be in the 16-inch range. Had it on for a few minutes then came off when I tried to keep it from heading for some rocks.

Fished a GRHE with a Grannom caddis on a dropper. All were taken on the hare's ear. Water temp was 55 degrees and the stream was at summer levels. Only saw a few bugs flying around.

[jlibs]

CTROY,

Can you call that a "quick release" or did the rainbow get off the hook too early?

JLIBS

[ctroy36]

Jlibs:

Too quick for me.

I would have liked to have landed it just to see how big it really was. If I had let the fish tire itself out first that might have happened, but I always try to land fish as quickly as possible in order to not stress them too much. I was trying to get it out of the current and away from some rocks and put too much pressure on it and the hook pulled out. I suppose you could technically call it a long distance release. But it's really just another one that got away.

[Mark Patenaude]

Sweeet!

Too bad the bigun' came unbuttoned.

Good to hear that GRHEs are productive. I have only had minimal success on the Hoosic with them. Copper Johns and BH Flashback PTs are usually what works for me.

Your reports just get me more pumped about my visit in a few weeks.

We you working the section along Rt. 2 (Grove St.) up to the Harbor? I have had some very productive days there.

Mark

[ctroy36]

Mark:

I was fishing along Rt 8 headed toward Adams. There are a couple of spots to pull off and park, one just up from the canoe/kayak place, the other just before the bridge.

As to flies, I started with a tung-head prince, which usually is productive there but it kept hanging up on the bottom -- the water is real low.

I thought about tying a copper John on as the dropper, but opted for the Grannom caddis as it has been working well for me on the Housatonic. Before I went to the GRHE and the dropper I fooled around with a lead-wing coachman for a bit, but the fish showed no interest in the darker flies.

Hopefully we get some more rain before you get here to keep the streams cool and fishable.

[Mark Patenaude]

Yes Sir! Those are very good spots. I'm sure you saw the one huge hole directly underneath the bridge. However, don't bother with it. Its full of sand and pretty much a dead spot. If you work the pocket water upstream from the bridge to the Harbor falls, you'll find fish everywhere.

FYI. If you drive a little further North over the Grove St. bridge and down onto Grove St.; take a left into the crushed gravel drive at Greylock Electric (at least that what it was the last time I was there, its a large white 3 story building that used to be a textile mill) and drive around to the left up to the dead end where it ends at a small grey building that houses a machine shop. Park there and walk to your right down the bike path a few hundred yards until you get to the bridge that was a RR trestle before the path was put in. Work upstream around the corner to the right from there. There is some really excellent pocket water with huge (I mean huge) boulders in the water. Joe and I fished there last year and picked up a few Brookies but I'm sure there are some hogs in there. Bring your camera, there river and rock formations in that area are worth a few pictures. There are even some flat bedrock that have some really cool "glacial pothole" formations in them from that period.

I spent my entire childhood in one of the houses on the other side of the stone wall where you will park. The wall was a d**e when the entire area where you will park was filled with water to run the mill's machinery. I used to fish that small stretch of river literally 3-4 time a week when I was a kid. My brother and I have caught 20"+ fish from that area. Pay real close attention to the outside bends that have cut into the banks and around the huge boulders along the banks and in the middle of the river.
a
Also, if you work quite a ways downstream on the other side of the Commercial Street (Rt. 8) bridge you will find the confluence of the Hoosic and Bellevue Rivers. There is some really nice water and a very large and deep run along some vertical cliffs that hold some very large trout.

Mark

[ctroy36]

Mark:

Very interesting. I've often wondered what was further up the river. I had the impression that the flood chutes started up there somewhere so never looked around. I'll have to check it out the next time I get up that way.

[ctroy36]

Fished the Hoosic in Adams this morning. Water bank-full high and running fast. Temp 64 degrees.

Took my refurbished Montague bamboo rod to see if it still fished. Hooked a fish on a prince nymph and when the fish got into the current and I put some pressure on it, the rod tip snapped just above the ferrule. Fortunately I had another rod with me so I switched and continued. Took a couple of small hatchery browns and also lost a couple.

Besides the prince, fish responded to an olive wooly bugger and a soft hackle hare's ear. No insect activity to speak of.

[Mark Patenaude]

Charlie (Ctroy36):

Excellent reports on all your recent outings. You're making green with jealousy as I haven't been able to get out.

I'm really sorry to hear about your fly rod. I'm sure it must have broken your heart to break a boo' rod. My respect goes out to all of those who use them. I steer away from even practicing with someones rod because I'm afraid I'll break it. I have a very quick casting stroke and the bamboo won't cooperate. Gee, I wonder why.

Based on your reports, I'll be bringing a 3,4, and 5 wt. The 3 and 4 are shorter, small stream rods and the 5 wt is a 9'6" for tossing into the wind and for fishing the big water and for Smallies.

I was also excited to see a post in the Housy's section about Smallies. Next to trout, Smallies are my 2nd favorite fish to chase. Man I guess if the trout don't cooperate, some nice Smallies on a fly rod will do just fine for me.

Charlie. I'll be in contact soon via. email re: getting out. Thanks for your number, I'll definitely be in touch. Sounds like you are having productive outings and I am looking forward to the opportunity to get out with you and pick your brain. Like I said, I have always wanted to fish that river and I'll be very happy when I can say that I did.

Lastly, I've been tying up a storm lately. Are there any patterns you would like me to tye up for you in return for the favor. Tell me which ones, sizes, and how many your would like. It would be my pleasure.

Best Regards,

Mark

[ctroy36]

Mark:

The rod is 48 years old, so it didn't surprise me that much. I've another tip section that I also refinished and I'll just move the ferrule, eyes and tip top over. Probably won't try to fish it though.

Your rod selection should cover all the bases.

As to smallies, yes, lots of them in the Housy, though I haven't caught one yet. Usually don't until the water gets much warmer. They make great fishing throughout the summer and are great fun to take on the top with hopper patterns and other terresterials.

With the rain we have been -- and still are -- getting the streams should be in good shape for your visit.

Talk to you later.

[ctroy36]

Fished the Hoosic in North Adams yesterday afternoon, river was a little high and cold and it was windy. Zero bugs coming off the water. Tried a variety of nymphs and streamers with no results. Finally changed to a copper and partridge soft hackle, and as usual, the soft hackle did the job. Took four nice browns in the 8-10-11-inch range.


Here's a picture of one of the browns. Fish is in the very bottom of the net and looks smaller than it was - really was a big one. Don't think I'll try taking pictures again. Trying to hold camera, rod and net requires one more hand than God gave me.

img83.imageshack.us/img83/2705/image001q

[hoxie]

I fished the South Branch in Adams (between ALADCO and Maple Grove) for about an hour on Saturday, and caught one footlong rainbow up towards the Old Stone Mill.

I was sort of surprised I didn't get any hits by Elm Rock (that's what the oldtimers call it, isn't it) (where the river doglegs to the right as you head downstream, and there's some big cliffs on the far shore) though. It's usually a pretty dependable hole.

[hoxie]

Slow day on the South Branch.

I fished for about a 1/2 hour Sunday between ALADCO and Elm Rock, without so much as a hit.

[Mark Patenaude]

Hoxie:

I have pounded that stretch behind Aladco in the past and it has produced little. It is very "trouty" looking water but for some reason doesn't hold many fish. Elm Rock (as you call it) most assuredly holds fish if the bottom has enough cobble. I wonder how far the sand projects into the pool. If its all sand, than proably few fish. I don't know how deep the pool is but I would have to guess a minimum of 10'. If you are flyfishing the pool at Elm Rock, you will probably need a 600 grain, full sinking line to get the fly down. When Joe and I fished it this Spring, the currents at the head of the pool are very complicated and consistantly pulled the fly out of the target zone.

Try further upstream starting at the bridge on Commercial Street. You can wade under the bridge, just watch your step and stay close to the piers. From there on up always holds fish.

Mark

[hoxie]

Thanks for the tip, Mark!

I have regularly fished from the Old Stone Mill, down past Elm Rock, right up to ALADCO, but I don't think I've ever done anything on the Hoosic above the Commercial Street bridge
(although I have had some good results on Dry Brook by Bellevue Cemetery in the late spring). I'll have to give it a whirl.

[hoxie]

I tried all three branches of the Hoosic this weekend and went one-for-three:

I caught an eleven inch brown on my first cast on the North Branch just below the entrance to the Natural Marble Bridge Park in North Adams.

I did not get so much as a strike on the Main Branch by the Ashton Avenue Bridge in North Adams.

I tried both above and below the Old Stone Mill on the South Branch in Adams. I had one strike, which looked like a small (8 or 9 inch) rainbow from the quick glimpse I had of him, by Elm Rock.

The water was cold (Brrr...) and high.

[hoxie]

I fished the South Branch in Cheshire, about 1/2 mile or so downstream from the Church Street Bridge, for about 45 minutes on Sunday, and caught two 8 inch browns and lost a third.

[ctroy36]

After being shut out by high water on the Housatonic Monday, I figured that was it for the year. However, when today turned out warm I decided to give the Hoosic a try.

Fished in Adams for a while with no takers and so I decided to motor up to North Adams and try there. River was down nicely but cold --46 degrees by my thermometer.

Took two nice browns in the 11-12-inch range on the same bead head GRHE that I was using in Adams. Fish fought well despite the cold water and both looked fat and healthy.

Tried a black-nosed dace streamer for a while to see if there were any bigger fish around, but nothing doing. Sun started to get close to the horizon so I left and headed for home before it got dark -- and cold.

This should do it for 2006.

[ctroy36]

Took advantage of the sunny day and gave the Hoosic in Adams a try this afternoon.

River is still very high, cold and flowing at a furious rate. Rigged up a GRHE with a San Juan worm dropper and put on some lead to get it down. No takers.

Was moving to a different spot when my collapsible wading staff decided to collapse. That sent me head first into the river where I got very wet and cold. Took off my vest, pockets were full of water, and fished for a while more with the same results as before. Figured it was time to take off my waders, pour out the water, light a cigar and call it a day.

Can't imagine that many of the stocked fish can survive the torrents that our rivers have become in the last week.

[jskowron]

Jeez Charlie, you've had a few tough weeks of fishin'. Between the "escape from the gorge" last weekend and taking a swim today, you're cutting it close! At least the cigar didn't get wet.

[Mark Patenaude]

Dang Charlie, it's a good thing you are still around to tell us about it. Judging from the video that was posted recently, that river is running pretty heavy.

I've taken a couple of slips (running down Steelhead and Salmon)but haven't fallen in completely enough to fill the waders (I probably just jinxed myself)...

You know if that ever happens on a really hot day and somebody asks what happened to you, you could always tell them that you sweat heavily and didn't apply your anti-perspirant that morning...

Mark

[ctroy36]

Mark:

The river was not as bad as it was in the video, though it was running real fast. I probably would have been a lot drier if I had not fallen forward into the flow and tried to keep the rod in my grasp. As it was I got washed downstream a bit before I could grab onto something. Waders were not full of water, just enough to be uncomfortable. Only real damage was to a knee that got banged on the rocks.

As to running down salmon or steelhead -- or any fish for that matter -- I'll leave that to you young guys.