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View Full Version : Western Mass small stream



caseydale
05-10-2010, 03:28 PM
Now that the ultimate frisbee season has finally wound down and I'm no longer coaching I was hoping to get out for my first full day of fishing this year. Unfortunately a cold front moved in and after thunderstorms on Saturday, Sunday turned out to be seriously windy...gusts of 40+ mph. So no fishing for me. But here are some earlier pictures from what's become my go-to stream if I only have a couple hours to fish, since it's only 20 minutes from my house and has a great native brookie population.

Went out in early March when we had some nice weather and saw these bear tracks in the snow that hadn't yet melted...I think they were a day or three old, given the temperatures the couple days before I was out. Usually once a year there's a black bear that wanders into downtown Northampton. They either wander off on their own or get tranqqed and carted off. I followed these tracks around in a couple different directions but they eventually disappeared after 40 or 50 yards.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_opVN9r6uQgA/S-gsPwzCGeI/AAAAAAAAAI8/7QGYLyBnn7M/s800/bear%201.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_opVN9r6uQgA/S-gsQrdPdsI/AAAAAAAAAIs/aKop5uU6nKc/s800/bear%203.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_opVN9r6uQgA/S-gsRsXceaI/AAAAAAAAAIs/8SUtqGnSgQI/s800/image22.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_opVN9r6uQgA/S-gsTupROSI/AAAAAAAAAIs/IFqthKklps8/s800/bear%204.jpg

Upstream of the bridge where I park.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_opVN9r6uQgA/S-gsUfVMeEI/AAAAAAAAAIs/3ukCz9YX2VQ/s800/bridge%201.jpg

One of the residents. This stream has a good population, fish from 2 inches to 9 or 10. Last time I was out I met an older local guy who was fishing with worms. He had 3 good sized fish he kept. Bummer for me, but he grew up down the street and has been fishing the stream for a long time and he said he throws the smaller ones back.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_opVN9r6uQgA/S-gsVGzHw-I/AAAAAAAAAIs/c-XX0m4hoVs/s800/fish.jpg

Downstream from the bridge...about 50 yards below where I took this picture the stream becomes a seriously straight channel until it eventually curves and goes down another straight channel until it gets to the next reservoir.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_opVN9r6uQgA/S-gsVmsce5I/AAAAAAAAAIs/wz8CvXOBvdA/s800/bridge%203.jpg

Upstream from the bridge again.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_opVN9r6uQgA/S-gsWIxbcmI/AAAAAAAAAIs/OiTwYlYWjaM/s800/river%201.jpg

There's also an otter that lives on this stretch of the river. Haven't gotten a picture of 'em yet, he's a quick little bugger.

LMarshall
05-10-2010, 06:12 PM
Looks awesome Casey! I have a strong suspicion that I've driven right past that stream on my way to other fishing destinations :lol: