Sign up to receive updates about outdoor activities. Tie the wing full and twice the length of the body. Notes: Dub a sparse body. Therefore, resort to nymphing and streamer fishing during the winter months. Snowshoeing at The Blue Hills Reservation! Since 1856. Winter in the northeast and on the waters I call home, the Upper Delaware System, can vary greatly in conditions. Posted by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, Create a VisitWidget account and Winter can be fierce, or it can be mellow, with each year showing some variance. Try to resort to lighter tippet in the winter … There are many things the state of Massachusetts is known for and good fishing is one of them. . Since these fish are predators in the truest sense, big, flashy fly patterns, the more movement the better, work best. Massachusetts has fly fishing reports and conditions for the following fisheries: Many great trout rivers across the country are in prime shape during the winter … Ice Cream Cone Midge (size 16)Although it sounds like a summer treat, this is one of guide Ryan Furtak’s winter favorites. Add a flashback and have a party. What is carp doing on this list? Still, knowing that there can be some good fishing … I think you’ll find many trout feel the same way. It’s not just the nostalgia of fishing a fly developed by George Griffith, one of the founders of Trout Unlimited, it also has a lot to do with the fact that it works so well. 3 South of Boston Beaches to Visit This Summer. There are many things the state of Massachusetts is known for and good fishing is one of them. Body: Dark brown or dark gray beaver dubbing. A Simple Formula for Winter Fly Fishing Success. Woolly Bugger (size 10) In black or olive, I can fish this fly to mimic many critters … All photos courtesy of Postfly, TOPICS: Fishing, North of Boston, Outdoors, Western MA, Add your business, event, or deal to visitma.com, © 2021 Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, Get monthly emails on events, deals, and getaway packages to MA. Written by: Joe Demalderis, Cross Current Guide Service and Outfitters. More Fishing… 1 of 3 Go to page. Hook: Standard dry-fly hook, sizes 14-18. Most people do not venture outside their homes so winter fly fishing keeps the crowds away, and often times you’ll have the water all to yourself. Early winter can be fall-like at times with mid-winter having the potential to be downright brutal. Guide Justin Lyle’s winter favorite is a white Beadhead Woolly Bugger. 10. Our guides at Cross Current Guide Service and Outfitters are serious trout bums, so I asked them to give up some of their favorites. Griffith’s Gnat (sizes 18-22)On those warm winter days that we all long for, where the wind is still and the trout sip midges, guide Tim Oliphant will tie on a Griffiths Gnat is size 18 to 22. Desmond likes to find areas of the river where the water is slower than the main current, often a submerged log or hole, where pike can stack up and hunt for food. Thread starter teamtrout; Start date Oct 19, 2014; 1; 2; 3; Next. Winter Fly Fishing MA. I like this pattern because it simply works, and the fish love it even more.”, 7.Beadhead Egg (size 10)This is one of guide Anita Coulton’s winter go to flies. Because of the severity of our winters, our … . He likes to strip it painfully slowly or swing it on a sink tip. Rick Taupier 25 North Main Street New Salem, MA … The area below Bondsville is productive and faces much less pressure. These small, fertile bodies of water house multiple species of bass and bream, giving the fly angler a multitude of choices on where to fish on any given day. Fly Fishing The Swift River Massachusetts The Swift River in Massachusetts is one of the only true tailwaters in the state in the sense that the water comes from the cold deep, depths of a lake or … Fly Fishing in the United States. Amidst the factories and urban landscape of Lowell, MA, the Merrimack River is home to giant carp swimming just a few feet from the main drag of town. As long as it’s black or brown and has rubber legs, I’m good with it. I tie a heavier version with large dumbbell eyes for winter and keep the body very sparse. Current fly fishing reports and conditions for Swift River in Massachusetts! Fly Fishing The Deerfield River Massachusetts This river is a tailwater for certain. Learn more. Go. Don’t be afraid to skate it on windy days!” (See the recipe below. Whether you’re planning on fishing the Swift River or the Deerfield River, be sure to look up the local flow charts to make sure you won’t get caught in the current at a high water period. I typically fish this fly in tandem with a larger fly, such as Pheasant Tail, Stonefly, or Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear Nymph, which brings me to . There’s a good chance that wherever you are in the country, you’re sure to find a good carp fishery that would be willing to eat a fly and make you a believer. From mid-November until mid- March, fly fishing in the Vail area is fairly straight forward. Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear Nymph (sizes 20-24)It’s buggy, and oh, that gold bling. This is the perfect time to brush up on your freshwater trout fishing in one of the many available rivers in the central and western parts of Massachusetts, or go up north and there are … The striper fishery is so popular in New England that it’s easy to find out the current presentation that works best by going into your local fly shop. Wing:  Dun CDC. Clip the hackle flush with the bottom of the fly. Swift River Fly Fishing, New Salem, MA. Down in the southwest corner of the state, the Housatonic River is home to some real life river monsters. Guides like Harry Desmond of Berkshire Rivers Fly Fishing, take clients downriver in a row boat, pointing out the best spots to lay down a cast and helping to land these toothy giants. “This pattern is super simple and versatile: it can be bounced along the bottom of deep holes or elicit takes in fast riffles. 4. Instead of making you burn up your free time looking for a spot, start at the locations below and you’re on the fast track to landing a trophy on the fly. Winter Fly Fishing: How to Catch Trout on Streamers this Holiday Season. If you do hook up to one of these giant fish, just remember to hang on tight. “Midges are one of the primary food sources for trout during the cold months. MT’s CDC Winter Stonefly (sizes 14-18)Always looking for the dry-fly opp, John Miller wouldn’t be caught on the water without his favorite late-winter dry. https://www.mass.gov/service-details/best-bets-for-trophy-trout In the spring, striped bass will often swim up into the estuaries and marshes nearby, chasing bait into the skinny water. Its coloration is a perfect imitation of the sculpin, a small baitfish … Massachusetts Fishing Report – January 7, 2021 Safe ice is taking hold from the Connecticut Valley Region to the westernmost part of the state where anglers have been icing good numbers of crappie, trout … ** NOTE: This is Part Seven of a Troutbitten series on fly fishing for trout through the winter months. Chances are, tailwaters won’t be the place you find the lonely fly fishing experience many anglers crave during winter, especially as you get closer to a dam. Thread: Black, 8/0. ** When the water emerges from the ground at forty-five degrees, it takes a while to equalize with the surrounding air and surface … start creating your own sharable itineraries. Since most of the fisheries are tailwaters, that is, located beneath a working dam, the water temperatures remain constant all year long, so fly anglers are angle to fish for trout any time they like, depending on the water flows. Looking for clothing, home decor, or fly fishing gear in Massachusetts? 5. The river actually starts at Haramon Reservoir in Vermont, flows through a section of Massachusetts … Get the latest up to date fly fishing report for Trout fishing in Swift River with the top producing flies and … With that in mind, I like to break it down to early, mid, and late winter. Joe Demalderis operates Cross Current Guide Service and Outfitters, guiding for trout and smallmouths on New York’s Upper Delaware system and for striped bass and bluefish off Northern New Jersey. Use Google Maps to find and explore your local area. Required fields are marked *. Zebra Midge (sizes 18-22)Because midges never seem to go away. Show room sales Friday to Sunday (9-3)and by arrangement. Fly fishing in Winter provides some unique issues that anglers face and some Winter fly fishing tips are always good to have. Bon appetit, Mr. Trout! Great tips Joe period I’ll be trying and trying some of those as soon as I get done fishing the Rockies this winter! By Dave Karczynski. The holidays are a blessed time of year—especially if you like to throw streamers at brown trout. Aside from the typical cold and wet weather, fish tend to decrease their activity during these cold winter … But it’s not all about tailwaters. Pheasant Tail Nymph (sizes 16-20)Another standard, this fly can often save the day. As an avid winter angler, I encourage you to give this a read, and think about hitting the water while it’s bitingly cold out. You’re sure to find a small body of water just beyond the clutch of town, where you’ll find largemouth and/or smallmouth bass, in abundance. 3. Western Massachusetts offers excellent fly-fishing 12 months a year, notably in the Pioneer Valley and Berkshire Mountains. Back in the remaining years of the Ice Age, the glaciers retreated, scouring the land beneath and gifting the anglers of the world with glacial kettle ponds all over the state. These winter … Find the lodge at flyfishinglodge.com and more fish … If you are new to fly fishing, go to the Hatchery Pipe (overview here), which fishes well from July 1 to Dec. 31. Western Massachusetts in known for having some of the best trout water in New England. Look for a spot in the river where the current has backed up into slack water, behind obstructions or small side channels off the main current. Check out Postfly to save even more time by getting flies and gear sent to your doorstep every month. Open daily for on-line sales. , Your email address will not be published. What is considered a trash fish by most of the US, our fishing cousins over in Europe consider carp a game fish, because of their giant size, fighting strength, and widespread availability. 6. This will all read a little better if you back up and find Parts One, Two, Three, Four and Five and Six.. Smith and I found ourselves on another late December, post-Christmas fishing trip with light snow and good winter fishing. 413-230-1262. It’s also a great indicator dry in a shallow water dry /drop rig. Since so many are so small and secluded, many times you can even have the pond to yourself for the whole day. He’s also a former Trout Bum of the Week. Slow moving fish and limited food sources make winter fishing a great option for anyone willing to embrace the chill. Ben Kryzinski put together a good piece for Hatch Magazine on the basics of winter fly fishing. Late winter can be anything from spring-like to that sick feeling that spring is never going to arrive. There’s something fun about winter fishing … —- Still, knowing that there can be some good fishing nearby and actually deciding where you can catch your favorite species are two very different things. Woolly Bugger (size 10)In  black or olive, I can fish this fly to mimic many critters trout feed on. Downsize your tippet. The flats, bays and inlets surrounding Newburyport’s Plum Island are a treasure trove … The flats, bays and inlets surrounding Newburyport’s Plum Island are a treasure trove for the striped bass angler. Hackle: Black. Want to get a hand-selected collection of flies, fly fishing gear and cool swag sent to your door every month? As far as retrieve, I’ll start fast, switch to a vertical jig, and then, if it’s not getting any love, I’ll swing it slowly through the runs.”. I always spin orange deer ahead of my first spin of hair, like an orange hot spot. The Deerfield, Millers, and Swift rivers abound with wild and … There are very few hatches in the winter time but if there are, it is usually the midge hatch. Oh, and watch your fingers. When it comes to finding fish, look for pinch points that will funnel bait into the mouths of waiting striped bass. ** Find the full Fly Fishing in the Winter series HERE. Whether you’re chasing fish in skinny water or searching for more of an adrenaline rush and chasing busting schools of bait, Massachusetts’s striped bass fishery is the best in the world. 2. Your email address will not be published. Stephanie Winter is a fly fishing guide at Big Hole Lodge in Wise River, MT. This small dark fly wiggles in even the slightest breath of current, important when you are fishing nearly dead-drift in winter. Generally speaking, trout are a smidge … Dry fly activity is slim to none unlike the warm summer months. Join Postfly! Where you can legally fish is also a consideration, with many waters closed to fishing to protect spawning trout, so always be certain to check the regulations. Use a topwater popper along any side channel and wait for a blowup. “I like that I can rip it, swing it, or jig it. Swift regular Gary Metras has a presentation on winter fly fishing… “I use it as a dry when the opportunity arises. One of the limitations of New Hampshire is the scarcity of waters that are open to fishing and/or hold fish year round. This article first appeared as a guest post on the Massachusetts Tourism blog, massvacation.com. Tight lines and see you on the water! Stonefly Nymph (sizes 8-10)I’m not as selective as a trout. Striped Bass. How To Contact Swift River Fly Fishing: swiftriverflyfishing@earthlink.net. I prefer the bead, which helps it penetrate the water column quickly and allows the use of a tight line or contact-nymphing set up.”, 8. Copyright 2021, The Orvis Company Inc. "Off-season" fly fishing in Massachusetts. These small ponds often don’t receive a lot of pressure, so fly choice can be nearly anything you feel like tying on. Carp will stack up in these stretches and a well-presented fly, either a buggy nymph pattern or a dry fly, will get you hooked up with a giant. Sometimes you’ll find there are only small fish in a certain pond, but other times you’ll be truly surprised and find a monster of a fish. Mini Sex Dungeon (size 6)This is the fly Mike Bannon ties on in the winter. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife stocks the state’s rivers, lakes, and streams with roughly half a million trout annually, with one deposit in spring and one in the fall. 1. The Commonwealth makes sure that residents and visitors alike have an abundance of angling options throughout the year. Northeast. Also, there are many local fly shops that will help you nail down the fly that is going to be the most productive at any given time of year. Favorite colors are black and olive. ), 9. January 1, 2021. It's a series of five dams in located in the state of Massachusetts that control the flow of water. As we have discussed earlier if you find deep, slower pools you have already found trout. Cross Current Guide Service and Outfitters, Top 10 Flies for Winter in the Northeast | Online Fishing Expert, Top 10 Flies for Winter in the Northeast | FishingsBest, Tippets: School of Trout 2019, Winter Flies for the Northeast – LB Hunting, Tippets: School of Trout 2019, Winter Flies for the Northeast – Fishers College, Tippets: School of Trout 2019, Winter Flies for the Northeast – Fishers School. Winters, our … a Simple Formula for winter and keep the body very sparse early winter can be from. Guide Justin Lyle ’ s also a great indicator dry in a winter fly fishing massachusetts dry... ; Next call home, the Upper Delaware System, can vary greatly in conditions sources. 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