New to the Westfield River

[millerbrown]

By the end of this month I will be moving to Leeds, Ma. which is just about 10 miles from the Westfield Gorge on the East Branch and only 15 miles or so from the confluence with the other branches. I've spent the last 20 years fishing the Millers River (a great river) and the Swift in Belchertown (a savior during the winter) but know very little of the Westfield. How does it hold up during the summer? What's the brown trout population like? Is the best fly fishing on the East Branch?

I've been addicted to fly fishing for almost 40 years so any info would be much appreciated.

Millerbrown

[jskowron]

Millerbrown,

Welcome to the board and welcome to town (I live in Northampton). The East Branch offers some pretty good fishing. The water levels and temperatures in the C&R area can get low and high, respectively, during the dog days of summer. The river is still looking good now, and with the wet spring and early summer it should hold up for a while. Last year was tough on her, and from mid-July through August it wasn't the best place to fish. There are some deep pools and holding waters.

It seems to be mainly rainbow water, though people do pull out the occasional brown and brookie. Hatches are good, with caddis dominated. Big stoneflies and you typical mayflies can also be found. There are some nice grassy banks in spots, meaning grasshoppers and ants can be a savior during the summer months.

The Main Branch is bigger water with some big fish, and it holds better throughout the year. The middle and west branches are smaller, and the fish are harder to find, but they are in there.

Let me know when you get to town and I can give you more information or we can hook up on the river some time.

Jeff

[millerbrown]

Hey Jeff,

Thanks for the information on the Westfield. It looks like a great river from what I've seen of it.

One more flyfisher in Northampton won't hurt things! Once I get settled in I'll try to contact you.

Millerbrown (Ken)

[bearsdenbill]

hey millerbrown

looks like you made the move! good for you. you'll like this site - lots of friendly people and good info...

everyone - watch out for this guy - hey catches fish when nobody else can.....

[millerbrown]

Hey Bearsden,

Wow, I'm not THAT good, just persistent!!

See you on the Millers. I'll still be there.

Ken

[millerbrown]

I just moved to this area two months ago and have spent some time getting familiar with the Westfield River, namely in the "Gorge" section. This river has the reputation outside of the area as being a river that "warms up" during the summer. I don't know if this summer, with all the rain, has changed things but I have had some very good evenings working caddis drys through the beautiful pocket water that this section has. Strong, healthy rainbows came to the net and it's good to know that I live less than 15 minutes from this river. My long time home river, the Millers, has been blown out for most of the last two months so the Westfield and the Swift have been lifesavers for me.

Have others been on the Westfield over the last two months?

Ken

[hoxie]

There's a pretty good stretch on the East Branch along Route 9 in Cummington, where the Swift River enters it.

I happened to hit it late this afternoon on my way home from the Springfield area, and caught a nice 11 inch brookie, although the water was kinda high (and cold).

[bartman]

Fishing the gorge section was on my "to do" list this year but it never happened. It looks great from Google Earth.

Maybe next year.