FlyFishNewEngland.net 7th Annual Fly Swap

FFNE 7th Annual Fly Swap

We are in to our spring fishing season here in New England -- rivers and ponds are freshly stocked, the herring runs are going strong and sea lice laden schoolies are being caught in Rhode Island. And in true fashion of the "occasional blogger", the 7th Annual FlyFishingNewEngland.net fly swap, that happened in January this year, is finally being documented.
It's actually the dead of winter 2020 and one year has passed since the last fly swap. I started to write this post in the spring of 2019 (see lined out intro paragraph above) and am finally finishing just a few weeks before the FFNE 8th Annual Fly Swap.
Better late than never....

First Fish of 2017

-- First 2017 Fish --

I'm shocked, yes shocked, to find stripers in January! First fish of 2017 and it seemed like the "fish on every cast" action from November continued. The expectations where very low heading out, but I fished with a very "fishy" guy who figured it out and got us all into some.

Dock Talk 365 Interview

--Dock Talk 365 Interview--

I was a bit surprised to have a fellow angling blogger inquire about a Question and Answer interview for the Dock Talk 365 Blog. What could a "weekend warrior" fly angler say or offer that hasn't been discussed a million times before?

I took a look at Chris' blog, read some of the other interviews and thought it would be fun to give my perspective with some background of why I fish and love it so much. This sentence from the "About Us" helped seal the deal, "Our focus is on the recreational or local tournament anglers who love to spend time on the water and are willing to share their valuable knowledge of their local waters and techniques as well as their overall perspectives on our sport."

2015 Top Twelve Days on the Water

-- First fish of 2016 --

I'll open this long overdue post with the first fish of 2016. A sweet native Massachusetts brookie from a stream with no name. We are now three months into 2016, but I'd like to look back on a personally successful 2015 fly fishing New England waters.

I use the phrase "occasional blogger" in my Instagram profile for a reason. It's hard to provide relevant content to the blog on a regular basis. It's been 11 months since the last post and I hope you'll enjoy this one.

New England Spring Float with Harrison Anglers

-- Harrison Anglers --

To some, the 2014-2015 New England winter was brutal. For me, it was just another beautiful, snow filled wonderland that is rapidly changing into a glorious spring. This is the reason I love New England. Seasonal changes in New England are rapid and intense. Deep snow is morphed into blooming forsythia and the fish in both fresh and salt put on the feed bags.

Nine years ago, my son Matt, bought me a fly rod for Christmas. Six years ago, Matt convinced me to float a Western Massachusetts river with Harrison Anglers. Before that float, I had caught a few bass and bluegills on the fly, but salmonids continued to elude me. Tom Harrison, our guide on that float, put us on fish and I caught my first trout that day on an olive woolly bugger. I didn't know what I was doing then and probably forgot to tip (sorry Tom), but it was a memorable day. Thanks to Tom's patience and guidance, all aspects of my fly fishing game improved and I started having success with catching trout.

Spring is in the Air

- The Melting Begins -

We've experienced a record snowfall this winter and the rivers and streams in New England will benefit. After two months of brutal cold temperatures and multiple 1+ foot snow storms, warmer temps have started the process of melting the ice on the streams and the snow in the woods.

I took advantage of the warmer air temps and went searching for open water this past week on the local trout streams.

Marlboro Fly Fishing Show

-- Marlboro, MA - 16 and 17 Jan 2014 -- 

If you live in New England and are a fly angler, you've attended The Fly Fishing Show in Marlboro, MA at least once. Also, as a New Englander, you attend the show in Marlboro (not Marlborough -- the proper spelling). This year, I attended Friday and Saturday.

This was my 6th year at the show and, frankly speaking, it hasn't changed much -- most of the exhibitors are the same, most of the speakers are the same, most of the tiers are the same, but (and a big but), I got more out of this year's show than I have in years past.

Family Fall Fly Fishing Firsts

-- NY & MA Landlocked Salmon --

We all love fall fishing. Here in New England, not only do we have excellent fresh and salt water options, we also get a spectacular display of color as the leaves change. As my favorite time of year, fall is too short, but that's what makes it all the more precious.

With my son, Matt, being about 300 miles away attending school in the Adirondacks, our fall fishing outings together are usually limited to just one around the Columbus Day weekend. We had a great trip last year on the West Branch of the Ausable in the ADK with Matt putting me on my largest brown trout to date (Matt just posted a video "Golden Brown" which captures the beauty of this big brown).

Local Confidence Builder

-- Good Day on the Water --

Oh forgive me bloggers, for I have sinned! It's been 4 months since my last post and I have no excuses. Summer has flown by, again with no vacation, but a couple of fun outings chasing local bass & gills.

Yesterday was definitely one of the highlights of the summer.

With the trout streams at record low flows and recent salt skunkings, I needed a confidence builder outing and decided to hit a local pond yesterday. I've had both good and bad days on this pond, but that didn't matter -- its 10 minutes from the house and has some decent variety of fish (pickerel, bass, perch, cats, and gills).

Why Knot Fishing

-- Why Knot Fishing Team --

I had the privilege of connecting with a new group of New England anglers through social media earlier this year. One of the founders of the group, Joe G. (@j_googe on Instagram), started a conversation with me about the group and I offered to help spread the good word.

Joe sent me this info to share about their mission.

"Why Knot Fishing is a community fishing company based on the North Shore of Massachusetts, but with team of anglers located around the state.  We will be focusing on providing fishing reports, fishing reviews and fun fishing stories.  We will also be running events over the summer including a surf fishing event on Plum Island on June 14th and a kayak fishing even later in the summer.

5 Months

-- Bookends of a Skunk --

That's how long I waited to feel another fish on the end of the fly line. In the eight years of active fly fishing, I've never had a skunk that long. Would like to blame it on the brutal New England winter or lack of time on the water, but for whatever the reason, I'm calling the 5 month skunk over.

The Winter Solstice post last December was the last time I had a fish on the line. I've been out plenty of times -- chasing trout, bass, gills, carp and stripers -- but no luck for 5 long months.

#theartofskunk

-- First 2014 Outing --

It's been a very long, cold winter here in New England and most other parts of the country. In the seven plus years I've been fly fishing, I don't remember the local streams being as frozen over and unfishable as they have this winter.

With Matt (aka Troutdoors) home for spring break, our first order business was to get out to the river and wet a line. We checked flows and they were rising so we knew the spring thaw had finally started.

The title of this post, #theartofskunk, comes from Ariel over at Atom Fly Fishing, who coined this hashtag about 2 years ago. It's become an unfortunate label to many of my Instagram posts, so if you looking for some fish porn in this blog post, leave now.

Troutdoors 2013 Video Wrap

 -- Troutdoors 2013 Video -- 

My son Matt (aka Troudoors Fly Fishing) bought a GoPro over the summer and is becoming proficient with getting some nice fly fishing footage both in Massachusetts and in the Adirondacks where he's attending college.

I really enjoy the edits Matt puts together and this summary of 2013 came out very nice. The best part (boast, boast) is the big brown landed at the end. That is the largest brown I've ever landed and the first on a streamer (a black nose dace - one of the first flies I've tied about 5 years ago).

Enjoy...

Winter Solstice 2013

-- Winter Solstice 2013 --

It's been awhile since the last post and I thought it would be nice to share some of the simple winter beauty found today in the New England woods, next to the stream, while out fly fishing with my son, Matt (aka Troutdoors), on the shortest day of the year.

The winter solstice is my favorite day. It's the turn of the season and as the days get longer, spring is on the doorstep.

It's been about a month since I've wet a line, and with Matt back from school for the Christmas break, I dragged him kicking and screaming out to our local river.

5 Things You Won't Find at #F3T

-- #F3T Coming to a Theater Near You --

I'm getting pumped to check out the 2013 Fly Fishing Film Tour next week on 13 February at the Somerville Theater in Davis Square in Cambridge, MA. I've attended a couple F3T's in the past, but never at a legit theater, so this should be a real treat.

Discount tickets for the event are available at the Bear's Den Fly Fishing Company. The Bear's Den will also host two showings on 16 February at Noon and 7:30 PM during their annual Fly Fishing Expo in Taunton, MA.

Having reviewed some trailers of the films and knowing the filmmakers from their past work, this is a show you will want to see.

Winter Solstice and Holiday Cheer

-- Merry Christmas --

We have reached the tipping point between night and day. A winter solstice for 2012 is finally here. There were plans for wetting a line today, but high winds and downpours gives solitude and reflection a seat at the table.

2012 has been an interesting year. High school to college transition for our son, Matt, a spirited election and a world facing many economic, social and environmental challenges. Where to go from here?

As long as the rivers flow, I know where my direction will be.

As we look forward to more day than night, we wish all hope for a prosperous new year and tug with every cast.

Thanks so much for your continued support and following. I will close with some holiday cheer from Matt's Troutdoors Productions.



Best of Troutdoors 2012 from Troutdoors on Vimeo.

Trout Stocking the Nissitissit River

- Nissitissit in Jan 2012 -

We have some beautiful rivers in Massachusetts and one of the local favorites is the Nissitissit.  It is unique in the state having both a "fly fishing only" and catch & release section.

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will stock a selected set of rivers with a healthy amount of 12+ inch rainbows, browns and brookies. The Nissitissit is one of two rivers in the Northeast District to receive the biannual stocking.

Given tight state budgets and very short staff with the DFW, the state does a phenomenal job with raising healthy and vibrant fish then distributing them through out the Commonwealth.

Chasing Bass and Carp on the local ponds

- Warm Water Action -

When the summer heats up and the trout start to hide in the cool deep pools, we are fortunate to have ample warm water fishing opportunities on the local ponds.

Matt's Troutdoors Productions but together a nice video about targeting these great fish on the fly.

 Enjoy the action!

Thankful

--Bushwacking in the Parker River Reservation--

When I started this blog, it was driven by a new found passion for fly fishing. There was no agenda then, and still now, other than to find a creative outlet to share and express my experiences with the sport.

Over time, I've discovered many others in this community (just look at the list of  "Stuff Followed" on the right) who also share the passion and love to write about their experiences as well.

I'm not as active as many in the fly fishing blogosphere and certainly cannot keep up with all the great content they publish, but still feel connected to a new community I was unaware of less than a year ago.

I've also found a fishing obsessed group on twitter that gets together every Tuesday at 7 PM MT (9 PM ET) under the hashtag of #Fishchat. #Fishchat is spirited group of dedicated anglers who post lots of great fish porn and offers sage advice.  I connected with @AncientAngler during a #Fishchat and learned he lived in my neck of the woods.

Charley (aka @AncientAngler) and I found a time to meet and fish together on a local trout stream just north of Boston last weekend. Neither of us had fished this area, but we were both up for an adventure on new water. Charley captured the adventure nicely on his blog titled Ancient Angler, so I won't repeat it here, but he is the first internet fishing friend that I've had the opportunity to fish with.

While we both agree this trip to the Parker was not an ideal fishing outing, we are glad to have met and are looking forward to future adventures together.

On this Thanksgiving Eve, I'm thankful for my family, our good health and new found fishing friends like Charley.

Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful Thanksgiving.