I took today off and all of next week. We have received some rain and the reports on the USGS streamflow page showed above average flows - sometimes 10X (and higher) for some small streams, so figured I would take advantage of not being on call and the cooler better fishing conditions and take some time. I'm middle age, so want to focus on getting out some more while I can still move around fairly well, although I am a shell of what I used to be when it comes to wading. Have studded felt and a wading staff with a backup in the trunk of the car.
Anyway, today I took out the Cortland FR2000 loaded with a 4wt DT line on a LL Bean 4/5 Streamlight, a Shakespeare FY-A310 7.5 6wt balanced with a 1495 and a Cortland 444 peach 6DT line and a Aventik 4pc 8' 5wt with a Medalist and a Maxcatch 5DT line. I did not end up using the FR2000 today, but will next week. Flows were up and I was nymphing on a mid-to-smaller steam, and I wanted to use the Wonderod, so that came out first. The reel looks really large on it, but it does balance nicely. I had a Martin 67A that I was considering, but did not bring it at the last minute. Anyway, spent about 4 hours at the first stop that is pictured below - only reward were 5 fallfish, but they were fun and the rod was responsive even on the smallest one. I am now coming to the conclusion as to what some members on here have posted in replies and posts about the benefits of the 6wt for trout fishing - can throw small to larger stuff on it and still have fun.
Around noon I got a little hungry and had to make a decision if I was going to head to the Swift River at the bottom of the Quabbin, as I had to be back as my youngest is with me this weekend and was arriving for dinner. I packed up and headed the 45 minutes from this spot to the Swift. For the Swift - I wanted the slightly longer rod for the section I thought I might end up with, so I was going to use the Aventik.
When I got to the Swift I cruised by the parking lot on the highway and it was like a shift change at the factory - a bunch of anglers appeared to be gearing up ready to go on the post-lunchtime shift. I spun the car around and went below the highway. The next spot I went to already had 6 cars in the parking area - I thought it was a bit crowded the last time I went with three already there, so I went back to the place that I like that has consistently not had people.
I fished for about 1.5 hours there and was able to pick up 3 small brookies nymphing and foul hooked another - did not get any on EH caddis drys. I had a much bigger fish go after my indicator and I missed a few more strikes. Don't know how this happened or when it did, but my dropper nymph had the hook bend closed on it. It was not that way when I tied it on - I did snag a tree branch - maybe that did it??? Another oddity - the water flows everywhere but here were much higher - the Swift was 1/2 the flow it averages for this date and the water was very warm. Much warmer than my last visit a short time ago. Maybe they were not releasing as much to build up reserves in the Quabbin after so much dry weather.
Will see what next week brings - no fishing this weekend, but plan to be at it next week.