Well, it looks as though both flows and water temperatures are improving (Oct. 2 edit: Or, not. See below this post for comments from some very kind readers). For example, click here to see some metrics for the Quinapoxet. And, the Massachusetts DFW stocking trucks started to roll on September 29.
I’ll be fishing during Columbus Day weekend. I target that time for a trip, usually to the Farmington and Westfield rivers. That is usually when the weather has turned and the fall stocking has been completed. New fish will make the existing fish more aggressive, for there’s new competition for food. The rivers are less crowded, as more people turn to hunting. And, the scenery of autumn leaves is often absolutely stunning.
Keep an eye out for updates on the fall stocking. Massachusetts lists its updates here; for example, the Deerfield was just stocked. Connecticut’s updates are here.
Enjoy the weekend!
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With this week being the last for stocking according to the State website it would seem that regardless of the lower water temps it would be a waste to stock hatchery trout in most of the major freestone rivers unless a really large rainfall happens. The Westfield system for example is the lowest I can ever remember (50+ years). It will take a lot of rain and quickly to make any significant impact on the flows and allow the surviving trout to manage winter's impact.
That's a great point. DFW usually starts stocking end of Sept and ends by Columbus Day, but per your note, this year is an unusual year.
Honestly, I don't think there can be enough rain this fall to offset the deficits we are facing in the watershed. A meteorologist wrote recently that the drought really started with the 2013-14 winter. We got plenty of snow but most of it was unusually fluffy and contained much less precipitation than usual. So, I suspect we need a good winter snow pack.
I've been following the gauge data for the Quinnie all summer – it doesn't seem to reflect what's happening on the river at least to me. Thursday I hiked & waded from the dam to 190 & the water is stil very low despite what the gauges have been showing. Sure hope it comes up for the fall; putting lots of miles on driving to the Swift & Deerfield!
I've driven by some of my freestones and they look absolutely stagnant. So, I'll be continuing to put on the miles to/from the Farmington….
Between the gauge and the bridge under construction on river road there is a bunch of debris at the bottom of the pool going into the short riffles. The pool above is just about stagnant, looking at the guage data you can see that it has spiked down a few times when some of the debris became dislodged, one occurrence correlates well with when poster on another blog says he kicked some of the debris dam away. Looks to me like the actual flow of the quinnie is more like in the range of 5 CFS give or take, nowhere near 60. To bad, looks like we might not get rain in time for stocking.
Great G2. Thank you for writing, so that our readers are fully aware of conditions before they commit to the drives to and from that river.
Thanks – had a feeling it might have to do with the bridgework.