Reeling in an atlantic salmon on the Farmington River in Connecticut
The FishingChef caught this 19 inch Atlantic Salmon on the Farmington River, at about 4 in the afternoon. The hatch was a dark hendrickson, but his closest fly was a blue dun. The salmon took the fly once, spitting it out and then hit it hard a couple casts later. Of course the Atlantic Salmon is catch and release only on the farmington river, so it was released after it made it to the net.
I arrived yesterday to the Hawes Campground, and made my way down to the campground pool in the early evening.
There wasn’t too much going on at the surface of the water, but every few minutes you would see a rise. The water temperature of the farmington river there was between 49 and 50 at the surface. I hooked up a descent size trout with a Blue Wing Olive (BWO) Parachute Dry fly, but in the excitement I tried to muscle him in, and broke the leader. It was the first fish on of the season, and the first on a new fly rod, that is a bit longer than the rod i’m used to. Excuses excuses right? If i didn’t have them, I guess I wouldn’t be a fisherman!
Today I’ll probably head down to the church pool, which is just below where I saw the DEP stocking fish yesterday on my way in to camp.
The forecast shows a chance of showers later in the day, which may make the evening hatch a difficult (and cold) time to fish, I will probably start with the sinking line and some nymphs if nothing is going on on the water when I arrive.
See you out there!
I’ve had some free time from work this past month, and did a lot of research on fly tying. I’ve always wanted to tie flies but always felt that I didn’t have the patience for fly tying. Way back in college I bought a really cheap starter kit that I barley used and I think ended up throwing it away; I’m sure after one of my many apartment moves. Now don’t ask me why I had to move, that’s not really important here. Anyways, this past year fishing the Farmington River with Scott and tying flies on his set; I felt I needed my own set, to become a better fisherman.
So off to every web site on 
fly tying vices. Saw many different styles and in many different price ranges. Which one to buy?……. I finely settled on a Renzetti Travel Vice with cam and base at a cost of $189. First of all my feeling is that I didn’t want a cheap vise and what I mean by this is low quality; I wanted one that would last and was well crafted. I’m a Chef by trade and if you want to cook well, you have to start with quality tools and ingredients; as a fly fishermen I hold on to this maxim as well. Now I won’t go into all of the specs, because you can find them at the Renzetti web sight. What really struck me, is the fact that the Renzetti Travel Vice is pretty much exactly the same as the full model but half the price. Now as a beginner fly tyer I want a vice I can grow into and not the other way around. I’m sure I’m not gonna use half of the features of this vice for some time but it will give me a goal to strive for.
Now what about the tools?….. The hooks, thread, body, cape….. 
Well I’m half way there to getting everything I need to start tying. I stopped in at the Orvis store in Manchester a few weeks ago and bought a set of tools $80 which I thought wasn’t bad and picked up a multi pack of dry body material and dry hooks size 14-20. Now I’m sure you’re asking why didn’t I just save myself the hassle and just buy a premium fly tying kit? Well this time around I wanted to go through the whole process. I feel that I learn better working for something than just having it handed to me. Also if I didn’t like something then I have no one else to blame. Not the kit, the company, not the author of the tying book.
Now for the books I bought, “Fly Tying for Beginners” by Peter Gathercole and “Trout Flies for the 21st Century” by Dick Talleur. Again I want to work hard on the basics but have the resources and motivation to work towards more difficult flies. Just on a side note the web is filled with video on fly tying and is also a great resource, especially you tube; you can find everything! Wish me luck and I’ll post my first fly on my new vice soon!
Is a new reel (Orvis Battenkill Mid Arbor III with extra spool) and a new 4 piece 4 weight fly rod.
My entire Fly Fishing career has been spent with a 5 weight 2 piece rod. The two piece rod is just not convenient, and I feel that a 5 weight is a little more than I want for the rivers that I fish regularly. I’m hoping to drag the FishingChef up to Manchester VT to visit the Orvis store, where we’ll cast the different grades of rods that Orvis sells, and choose our favorite. (warning we may not agree! but i’m sure you’ll read about it!)
The reel has already been ordered, and it is on its way to me now! After viewing the mechanism in the Large Arbor reel that FishingChef uses, I was convinced that it was time to replace my bargain basement reel that I’ve been using for the last 10 or so years, and move up to a (hopefully) hassle free reel. The Mid arbor reel that I selected weighs a little less than the large arbor (for better balance on the lightweight rod) but still uses the same mechanism for drag, and changing spools (which I do way to often 
). I’ll put together a full report once I’m able to mount it on a rod and take it for a spin (pun intended!)
Hope you all get what you want for Christmas (or other holiday)!
The Crib Dam
The past two days of fishing have been outstanding; at least for me. Why not make it three in a row? I woke up this morning; scraped off my car of the newly fallen snow and like a hard fighting trout I was off. On my drive to the Swift I thought to myself this is too good to be true. Another nice day for December, a bit colder and with a little more wind than the past two days but what did that matter. I made sure that I had my fleece gloves and pants; it can get really cold in a New England river in December!
I suited up and found my way to the gauge station, I figured I’d try a new spot and stay away from the crowds at the “Pipe”. I didn’t stay long at the Gauge and worked up to the Crib Dam once again. I had a few hits on a Rusty Palmered Caddis from brookies but couldn’t land any. While fishing below the dam I looked up to the pool above the dam and saw a huge rainbow leap out of the water at least two feet in the air and for some reason it reminded me of Mary Lou Retton; you know the 1984 vault. It was a perfect 10!
Well I stayed put and worked the dam for some time mainly practicing my roll, and double haul casts. Then I thought to myself why not chase the big one. Well the pool above the dam is fairly deep and the water moves slow; I thought my chances were slim to none. I made my way to the center of the pool, and like I said it was deep, up to my vest. I made a long cast to the area where I had see the Wheaties girl. After a few moments I saw a rise about twenty feet further up steam. I thought “Man I can’t cast that far”; well what the hell. I picked up the line and in my humble estimation made one of the longest and straightest casts of my life. The fly landed nicely on that smooth clean surface.
Last night I came across one of the caddis patterns on the Orvis web site. It talked about the benefits of the palmered hackle and that it can be “skated” on the water to attract fish. Well this thought came to mind a a few seconds after the fly landed and so I pulled a little line in a quick motion, saw the fly “dance” and like that “Miss 1984 Gold Medalist” attacked my fly. Fearing too much line was out I quickly tried to set the hook, and sure enough felt the long bend in the rod. She fought hard and I tried to get her in the net as quick as possible; she wasn’t having any of it. I kept telling myself “keep your rod high” and what ever you do, don’t lose this one. Finely after missing with the net a few time I had her. I made my way to the bank and took out my Nikon that I finely remembered and took a few pics.
Now that I think of it this is what fly-fishing is all about, finding the right fly, remembering a technique, practicing casts, doing what you think is impossible with a rod and just going for it. It’s seems to me that landing this trout was the culmination of everything that I have ever learned about the sport and having it pay off.
Miss 1984 Gold Medalist
THIS IS MY FLY-FISHING GOLD MEDAL!!!!!!!!!
This past Friday and Saturday we were blessed with extraordinary weather for December. Just my luck I had both days off from work. I thought to myself a trip to the Farmington before my licence runs out and next year I have to pay 80$ or a short trip to the Swift.
I picked the Swift, and it turned out, I think in my favor. I parked at the “Pipe” parking lot around 11 am, and instead of working the Pipe section which can be crowded and I do mean crowded; I decided to work below the crib dam. I had seen a few tan caddis flies on the banks; they had worked the week before so why not this week. I tied on a Elk Haired Palmered Caddis and sure enough I had a small brookie in my palm. Sorry about the Pun; anyways in short order I reeled in two nice rainbows that followed.
I decided to move up stream right below the dam. A really nice pool and no one in sight. After a few casts a huge rainbow attacked my caddis and broke the tippet. I shouted out Dam; again sorry about the pun. I Looked in my fly box to pull out another caddis, I had many, but not a olive color; so instead tied on a BWO size 20. I was thinking that the color was more important than the type. After a few casts I had a twenty inch rainbow in the net. It was the quickest fight that I’ve ever had. The bow hit my fly directly up stream from me and then proceeded to drift right at me I quickly grabbed my net and like that the fight was over. Not more than eight seconds had passed from the bow taking the fly until he was in my net. Now I had one thought, man I wish I had my camera!!! It’s a Nikon Cool Pix it’s one of the medium bodies, not exactly one that you might stow in a vest easily. Maybe for Christmas I might get a smaller camera, who knows?
So Saturday found me in the same section with flurries in the air instead of bright sunshine like the day before. I thought tan instead of olive. I tied on a elk hair palmered tan caddis with almost the same results. Four large bows about fourteen to eighteen inches long in about three hours. Fly fishing in December with nothing rising and catching eight trout all on dries. I can’t wait to get out again! Maybe the Farmington.
On Sunday, an unseasonably warm November day found the FishingChef and I wading in the 50 degree waters of the Farmington River. We worked the Campground pool for a couple hours, to avoid the crowds lower on the river at Church Pool, and Greenwood Pool. In the late afternoon, we headed down the dirt road, past the parking area for Greenwood pool, and parked at the gate. We then proceeded further on foot, about a 15 minute walk down to an area of the river below the center riffle, called the Boneyard.
I was very impressed with this stretch of river. It was a little less accessible (read less busy) than other areas of the river, but offered some real deep areas, and plenty of rises. I had one hit on a Blue Winged Olive (size 20) but wasn’t quick enough to land the fish. I saw one very large trout working an area behind a large boulder, and taking something off the top of the water with exuberance. He however was smart enough to not be fooled by anything that I was offering. All in all, a great day of late season fishing on the Farmington River, and discovery of a new pool that I will definitely return to!
This past Friday (Oct 23) I had a few hours to kill and decided that I would try the Millers river off of route 2 just west of Erving center. I had just parked and was preparing to open the trunk of my car when another car pulled up. It seemed he had the same plans as I did. Working a new stretch of the river and trying to find some large browns. After a few quick words I opened the trunk of my car. Now I’m not sure how many fly-fishermen out there have said this “Where is my fly reel?” After an extensive search of my car only then did I realize that my primary fly rod was missing as well. After a few moments of questioning my self only then did I realize that I must of left it at the Swift river the week before.
The Orvis Store in Manchester, VT
I must of leaned my rod with my reel against my car, got out of my waders, put on my shoes and like an idiot forgot to stow my pole and reel away in the trunk. How stupid am I !!! That was about a $600 hundred dollar mistake that for sure I won’t be making any time soon.
So today off I went to the Orvis Manchester store. I had hoped to buy a new fly tying vise but instead ended up replacing my reel. I made pretty good time and I do have to admit the drive to Manchester is quite nice even on a cold and rainy day like it was today.
Now I would have bought a new rod as well but just could not afford to do so at this time. Plus my back up rod is more than good enough. Kyle the clerk and fly-casting instructor felt my pain after telling him the story about my rod and reel. Now I know what some of you are saying Orvis, is blue blooded and high nosed but my experiences have always been good if not great. I even got an invite to fish with him on the Battenkill this spring.
To sum up everything:
1. Lost my favorite rod and reel. Power Matrix 4 weight, Battenkill Large Arbor reel.
2. If you have seen my rod and reel please e-mail me
3. It really sucks buying equipment twice!
Skunked isn’t a word that I like to use. But it sums up my trip to the Swift river last week quite well. I parked in the Y pool parking lot and suited up. The sun was just making it’s way over the foot hills. It had been quite cold, cold enough to have to scrape off my car.
A favorite spot on the Swift
I made it up to the Y pool passing several favorite spots. I found two fishermen fishing the north end of the pool; which is very normal for the very popular pool. I fished the southern end of the pool, trying everything from a blue winged olive to caddis but to no avail. The trout were sipping off of the surface size 24 black midges. One of the few flies I did not have on me.
I stayed for just under two hours. Now you may ask why? I knew that the trout were not gonna bite, but that is the thing about fly-fishing it’s great just getting on the water; even if you have no hope of catching anything. Know that I will be stopping by a fly shop to load up on a range of midges for my next trip to the Swift.
Speaking of fly shops, this week a trip up to the Orvis, Manchester, and The Swift River Fly Rod store.
Campground pool looking upstream in the early morning fog
This past Friday afternoon, I had just made the turn for the Hawes American Legion Campground. I checked in and headed to camp 12. A nice enough camp with plenty of space and for the most part pretty level ground. I would be waiting a few hours until my friend Scott would be arriving. The weather wasn’t awful; a light rain was falling, with a slight coolness. Not cold by any means; helped by me wearing every fleece that I happen to own.
So I suited up and headed for the Campground Pool. Somewhere in the woods I made a wrong turn and ended up at Hawes Pool just north of the Campground Pool. So I decided that I would start my weekend of fly-fishing here. I tied a size 20 BWO (Blue Winged Olive). On my second cast it produced a very, and I do mean very, small Brook Trout. I thought to myself not a bad way to start the trip.
I had worked my way down to the Campground Pool and found two fishermen; fishing in a kayak, I made some small talk and found out that the men had been planning this trip for some years. They were older, and it seemed to me like it was a trip of a lifetime. I thought to myself this is what fishing is all about; getting out with friends and trying to reel in the big ones. It wasn’t long until Scott showed up, so we decided to set up camp and get back in the water.
Upper end of Greenwood Pool, where the water runs deep and fast
Saturday morning found us in the Greenwoods Pool; it had produced for me the week before. There is a nice riffle at the head of the pool, with a very deep section and a long wide flat; A GREAT POOL! The water levels are really low and my guess is the trout and especially the larger ones need the oxygen. So off we went to the head of the pool just down river of the riffle. I had noticed some Pumpkin Caddis flies on the way in. I tied one on that was similar but not exact. A nice brown came to the net, despite the difference.
The fishing had been very productive; Scott and I made it past Riverton all the way to the Hogback dam and back. We finished the day back at the Camp Ground Pool, where Scott proceeded to reel in two very large trout; large enough to make the trip worthwhile. I’ll be looking forward to the next time on the Farmington. I shutter to think, that snow will be on the ground and ice in the fishing pole guides. It still will make for a great time on the Farmington.
Look for a post on the Swift River this week.