Just got back from a trip to the Swift. It was a rough trip- it was freezing, rainy, and tough fishing. I fished below the Y-Pool for most of my time, and landed one 13 inch rainbow on a zebra midge. The new Simms Raincoat held out well, and I was dry despite the rain. However, I learned the hard way that you need to bring warm gloves, and my hands were frozen solid. It took me about 10 minutes every time I changed flies! But anyways, I was sight fishing to this rainbow with a size 24 zebra midge, when after about 30 casts, he hit it. I reeled him in, netted him, and began fumbling through my vest for my camera, so I could take a quick picture. It took me a minute to find it, and I could barely unzip my vest pocket to get it out, because my hands were so cold! I finally got it, but my camera has waterproof housing, so the buttons are very hard to press (because you are pushing down on a spring which pushes down on the button, so it takes more force than an ordinary camera). Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not very hard to push down, but my hands were so cold that I really struggled with it. Finally, I smashed down on the button with my opposite hand, and it took a picture. I wasn’t sure if it turned out, but I wasn’t about to check and go through the whole thing again, so I released the trout.
Hello, I live in Eastern Massachusetts and love fishing for wild natives but that usually means going out of state, I find. I've never fished the Swift but was under the impression that it was mainly a heavily pressured put and take fishery that didn't support many wild fish, but if there are baby brookies in there, then that clearly isn't the case. Thanks very much for the info and keep up the good work.
G
I agree with you G I am also from Eastern mass and go out of the state to fish for the natives. It is great to hear of the swift supporting wild brookies. What branch are they in?
Thanks for the comments guys,
The Swift is loaded with brookies, probably throughout the entire river, but the best spot right now is right below the Y-Pool. If you're walking up the river, towards the Y-Pool, shortly before you get there you will see a fallen tree on the right side of the river. Around this tree is always a massive school of brookies. Now this school may eventually end up moving, but it doesn't really matter because you can find brookies all down the river, from the Y-Pool to the pipe. And I've heard reports of them being in the Bondville section too. Throw a tiny dry fly at them and prepare for some great hits!
~Troy
Thanks very much for the info again.
G
Great to know!