How a tiny Massachusetts river has become a star in the fly-fishing world - The Boston Globe (2024)

But before we get to those massive, savvy fish, we must tell the story of the Swift itself, which begins, rather dramatically, with the Winsor Dam. The largest in the state, the behemoth structure opened in 1939 and eventually backed up the original three branches of the Swift River, flooding four towns off the map forever. The body of water that formed behind the dam was named the Quabbin Reservoir, and today it supplies drinking water for much of Greater Boston.

Our story begins just on the other side of that dam, with what fishermen call “the bubbler.” It’s a gurgling volcano of water coming from a pipe at the bottom of the dam, and it restarts the Swift with something crucial for trout — constant, cold water.

How a tiny Massachusetts river has become a star in the fly-fishing world - The Boston Globe (1)

“It’s essentially the perfect trout habitat,” said Adam Kautza, the cold water fisheries project leader for MassWildlife, who had done extensive studies of the Swift River. “There are 1,300 wild trout streams in Massachusetts, and you see things at the Swift you don’t see anywhere else. We have stretches where there are several thousand wild brook trout per mile, and they’re huge. Anywhere else, they max out at 7-8 inches. On the Swift we find brook trout up to 22 inches, and there are loads in the 12-18 inch range.”

This stretch of river, which forms the border between Ware and Belchertown, is an angler’s dream, so also a nightmare, for the Swift is not a secret. Crowds on the half-mile stretch behind the dam, which is reserved for catch-and-release fly-fishing, can get downright congested on a weekend. Pandemic closures – which pushed more people into outdoor pursuits of all sorts, including fly-fishing – only magnified those crowds.

“I’m from the school that says you are supposed to give someone room for a cast upstream and a cast downstream, but that etiquette has gone to hell,” said Daniel Trela, who at 76 is often referred to as “the dean of the Swift River.”

How a tiny Massachusetts river has become a star in the fly-fishing world - The Boston Globe (2)

Trela runs a fly shop out of his house in Ware — D.T. Kustom Tackle — that specializes in making flies and rods specifically for the Swift. He no longer battles the crowds behind the dam and instead fishes mostly on the other side of the Route 9 bridge, near another public works project that is an accidental boon to the trout in the Swift River: a state fish hatchery.

The McGlaughlin Fish Hatchery breeds trout, then “stocks” them into rivers throughout the state, including the Swift, which gets supplied with nonnative rainbow and brown trout to join the native brook trout. The hatchery fish are grown in concrete canals constantly fed by cold water from the Quabbin, and the runoff is piped into the Swift. What’s important about that, if you’re a trout in the Swift River, is that discharge is loaded with uneaten food from the thrice-daily feedings of the fish at the hatchery.

Advertisement

This creates the second-most crowded fishing spot on the Swift – the “hatchery hole,” where it is thought the knowing trout wait for the free buffet to come down stream. Trela suspects they even know the times of the feedings.

How a tiny Massachusetts river has become a star in the fly-fishing world - The Boston Globe (3)

As he drove there on a recent visit, Trela, a retired pharmacist, insisted that in 66 years of fishing the Swift he had only failed to catch a fish one time. This day would make two, although he could reasonably say it was because he constantly helping his guest, a demonstrably inept fly fisherman, cut his line out of trees.

“There’s no question you have to be a good fly fisherman to catch a fish in the Swift,” said Rick Taupier, a guide and the owner of Swift River Fly Fishing in New Salem. “You need tiny flies and good technique, and then you need to do everything right or you’re probably not going to catch anything.”

The exception to this is if the state has just stocked the Swift, since hatchery fish are said to be dumb and trained to bite anything a human feeds it, though they are also said to wise up fairly quickly. Fishermen say a lot of things.

How a tiny Massachusetts river has become a star in the fly-fishing world - The Boston Globe (4)

So is there any truth to this idea that the fish in the Swift are somehow smarter than your run-of-the-mill trout elsewhere in the state? That the constant, year-round pressure from anglers has left them smarter than their cousins elsewhere in the state?

Or perhaps the real appeal of the Swift River is knowing that it will always be full of fish to catch, and excuses when you don’t.

Billy Baker can be reached at billy.baker@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram @billy_baker.

How a tiny Massachusetts river has become a star in the fly-fishing world - The Boston Globe (2024)

FAQs

Where did fly fishing start in the US? ›

In the late 19th century, American anglers, such as Theodore Gordon in the Catskill Mountains of New York, began using fly tackle to fish the region's brook trout-rich streams such as the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Creek.

Can you fly fish in Massachusetts? ›

Western Massachusetts in known for having some of the best trout water in New England. 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.

Why is fly fishing great? ›

Fly fishing allows you to customize every aspect of your cast and also provides for inconspicuous casting. It's an excellent choice for river and still water fishing. However, other types of fishing can sometimes be a better choice, depending on your goals.

What is the trout of Massachusetts? ›

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), also known as eastern brook trout, brookies, square tails, and brook char, are Massachusetts' only native trout. Mature, wild brook trout are often less than 8 inches, whereas brook trout from MassWildlife's hatcheries are 9–18 inches.

What is the fly fishing capital of the United States? ›

The big rainbow and salmon flyfishing capital of America: King Salmon, Alaska. The big brown flyfishing capital of America: Bull Shoals, Arkansas.

What state has the best fly fishing? ›

Florida. Florida makes the list as the top spot for saltwater fly fishing destinations in the United States. It also makes our list because it gives anglers an opportunity to catch some truly weird species only found in Central and South America.

Why is fly fishing so hard? ›

Why is fly fishing so hard? It's hard because you're not simply 'throwing' a weighted lure out in the water like you would when you're spin or bait fishing. You're using the energy generated in the rod and the weight of the line to create the momentum to carry the fly to its destination.

Why is fly fishing so addicting? ›

Many of these prospective anglers think the soothing sound of flowing water and the pull of a fishing line would be enough to drive their stress away. That stress response is triggered when we perceive threats to our well-being.

What fly catches the most fish? ›

Nymph flies mimic the larvae-stage of aquatic insects and float at or just below the surface of the water. They are arguably the most successful fly for fly fishing since fish feed below the surface 80% of the time.

Is fishing with corn illegal in Massachusetts? ›

The use of natural or artificial baits such as worms, shiners or other live bait, cheese, corn, or salmon or other fish eggs is prohibited.

What is the fishing capital of Massachusetts? ›

Once the whaling capitol of the world, today the Port of New Bedford/Fairhaven is the largest fishing port in the northeast, and has been the nation's most valuable fishing port for the past sixteen years.

What fish is Massachusetts known for? ›

The most popular and pursued species in Massachusetts are striped bass, summer flounder (fluke), scup, black sea bass, and haddock. All these species have accessibility in common; they are mostly fish that are present in waters close to shore throughout all or great parts of the coastline.

Where was the first flying fish? ›

A series of remarkably well preserved fossils found in Xingyi, China, have allowed researchers to describe the earliest fish known to take to the air.

What is the oldest fly fishing company? ›

Orvis is an American family-owned retail and mail-order business specializing in fly fishing, hunting and sporting goods. Founded in Manchester, Vermont, in 1856 by Charles F. Orvis to sell fishing tackle, it is the oldest mail-order retailer in the United States.

Where was trout fishing in America first published? ›

Trout Fishing in America
First edition
AuthorRichard Brautigan
PublisherFour Seasons Foundation
Publication dateOctober 12, 1967
Publication placeUnited States
9 more rows

What is the origin of flying fish? ›

The oldest known fossil of a flying or gliding fish are those of the extinct family Thoracopteridae, dating back to the Middle Triassic, 235–242 million years ago.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 6099

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.