Frustrated Fly Fisherman on the Swift River

[NausetDog]

I fly fished the Swift River on Sunday drifting the exact double midge nymph set up recommended by a local fly fishing outfitter. I was able to get many seemingly perfect drifts over the heads of a bunch of rainbows but didn't see them even budge toward where the midge nymphs were drifting. They did however share a fascination with nudging the strike indicator many times. My only success ended up being a small Brookie that nailed a yellow marabou muddler minnow which my first and only fish out of the Swift after a half dozen trips there!

I spend most of my time fly fishing in the salt, but am determined to learn how to catch trout this winter fly fishing the Swift River. Any info or someone interested in teaching a newbie for an hour or so on the Swift some weekend would be greatly appreciated!

[Tuna Meltdown]

Mark, that river can drive people nuts. I have seen a guy snap a fly rod in half over his knee there before. I used to fish there alot with one of my good friends who worked the fly section at the natick outdoor store. We would typically fish for 6-10 hours and leave only catching a handfull of fish between the two of us. As I remeber the best fly I used was a very small size 20 something griffiths nat.

[NausetDog]

Thanks Tuna. Is the Griffiths Gnat fished as a dry fly or a nymph?

[Strat]

One tip would be to focus on fishing the faster water where the fish don't have a lot of time to inspect your offering. There's more of that south of RT 9 with just as many fish as the upstream section.

I enjoy fishing the swift but am always amazed that I see the same cast of anglers EVERY time I go. I mean, how many times do you need to catch the same fish (over and over and over again)? Personally, I would lose interest in that pretty quickly. No wonder the fish are so conditioned.

[danny]

hi nauset,
i sympathise, i went thru a similar thing 6 or 7 years ago. i grew up ff'ing salt. anyway, keep at it, after a while you'll get good. but you should know (i don't know if it's true in mass, but i would assume so) in new york and ct, some of the trout fishing has been slower than usual, as we had a hot dry summer. a lot of fish didn't make it. i have visited streams that have fished great for me every winter, and they are dead. so take that into account when you're on the water.
i also would guess if the fish are nosing an indicator, maybe you could try an attractor pattern a little smaller than the indicator...

[bdowning]

Agree. Those fish in the pool are well educated. Visit faster waters where the fish aren't as fat, smart, and happy. :cool:

-bd


One tip would be to focus on fishing the faster water where the fish don't have a lot of time to inspect your offering. There's more of that south of RT 9 with just as many fish as the upstream section.

I enjoy fishing the swift but am always amazed that I see the same cast of anglers EVERY time I go. I mean, how many times do you need to catch the same fish (over and over and over again)? Personally, I would lose interest in that pretty quickly. No wonder the fish are so conditioned.

[NausetDog]

Ho far down stream from the Rt 9 Bridge are you talking about? I fished all the way down to the first dam or spillway and didn't find any particularly fast water. Should I have gone farther down than this?

[Strat]

Will send you a PM

[carrsallstars]

Always take what the locals/guides/fly shops tell you/give you/sell you and start there. But be ready to switch out and trust your instincts once that doesn't work! The Swift can be a great place to learn, as the fish are right there and you can watch their behavior. So nose right up to them, and start trying whatever you think might work and watch what they do. Try something brightly colored that YOU can see and follow like a san juan worm to get your drift just so that it passes right by their nose and with the correct drift. Then switch out to a tiny nymph that they'll be more likely to eat but you can then be confident will be wonderfully placed. If nothing happens you then know that fly is not the "it " fly or the tippet is too thick and switch out.
Also keep in mind that this type of fishing (up close to the fish) gives you a much smaller margin for error because when the fish can see you, they alter their behavior and become more selective. They may not move, they may still eat, but they put their spectacles on.
Be patient. if you walked into a graduate degree astronomy class- you wouldn't expect to get an A on day 1. After a year, hopefully a B. After 2 or three years, you can get your degree and usually catch a few nice fish each trip to teh Swift.

[GULFSTREAM]

Sometimes it pays to throw something on that looks totally out of place on that stream for them to bite. At times, it's midging minute nymphs in the current with gossamer tippets. If they were nudging that indicator I might try an egg pattern? :brow

[MDaoust]

...I hate that place...:brow..couldn't get anything to bite but I'd have a half dozen 14-18" bows at my feet (sorry rex) feeding on whatever was getting kicked up by me walking around....it's maddening

[uptonfloyd]

I have posted this before...I fear no fish but the trout of the Swift River.

What makes you crazy was already referenced. It's the way the fish will gather at your feet to eat the microscopic matter your inadvertentkly kicking up. Heck, you can kick the fish away from your feet and they will come right back. Once, I justv started kicking uop the bottom and worjked them into a frenzy, then started walking slowly backwards. I got an 18-incher to come in so shallow that I just closed my feet on either side of him and lifted him up.

In other words, if the midges and muddlers don't work, try wader boots in size 12...

[Rod Champion]

Are you talking about wild fish or stock fish?
catch one and pump his throat to see what he is eating- is it a 6x and 7X river?