McClory: A Swift trip to New Hampshire yields two trout

Last Saturday morning, my alarm clock sounded at 3 a.m. As I lay half asleep, I could hear the rain pounding on the roof. I wasn’t concerned because, according to the weather forecast, it would be partly sunny where I would be in three hours, knee-deep in the Swift River about 125 miles away in New Hampshire. I met my fishing buddy Bill from Lynn at Kittery, and we carpooled from there. Our first stop of the morning was Lower Falls, a productive deep pool that is usually loaded with trout. Donned in chest waders and my fly fishing vest, my weapon for the day was a 4-weight fly road loaded with floating fly line, and a 5x fluorocarbon 9 foot leader. To start, I chose a size 20 caddis brown and white trico fly, with no success. Usually this time of year, the best fishing doesn’t happen until mid-morning, when the surface water warms up, insects start to hatch and fish come alive. Both dry flies and nymphs should be on the menu. As the sun gets higher and fish go deeper, switch over to wet flies. Before the morning was over, I was able to land two colorful brook trout eight and 12 inches long. Both fish were fooled by a white winged brown trico.Now that the Labor Day holiday has come and gone, and the end of the summer is close, many will hang up their rods and reels for the season, and break out the hunting gear. If you are thinking along those lines, hold off for a while. It’s OK to be thinking about the upcoming hunting season, but don’t give up on fishing. This month is one of the best times to wet a line, both in the fresh and salt water. Bodies of fresh water will be turning over soon, as surface water changes with the season, bringing fish closer to the surface. Up north in the larger bodies of water like Sebago and Winnie, salmon fishing has turned on. At the inlets of rivers, salmon and lake trout are dining on baitfishes that are migrating upstream to spawn. Streamer imitations like joe smelts and Meredith specials should be on the menu. The trout stocking of local ponds will happen soon. Stripers are starting their southern migration all along the coast.Nonresident young hunters may now participate in Vermont’s special youth hunt weekends for deer and turkey. Vermont’s legislative statute governing youth deer and turkey hunts was amended to include nonresidents as well as residents, effective July 1, 2009. Anyone under 16 years of age who has successfully completed a hunter safety course and purchased the required licenses may obtain free youth deer hunting or youth turkey hunting tags to participate in Vermont’s special youth hunts for deer and turkey. The young hunter must be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 years of age who holds a Vermont hunting license. The adult may accompany up to two young hunters. Landowner permission is required to hunt on private land during the youth deer and turkey hunt weekends.Ippi’s 5th Annual Deep-Sea Fishing trip will take place on Sunday, Oct. 4 (7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.). The cost is $100, and it includes bait, tackle and prizes for the largest fish (first place $250, second, $150 and third, $100). For additional information, call 781-596-0317 or check ippisbait.com.There are still a few spaces left in the Beyond “Becoming an Outdoors-Woman” (B.O.W.) Intermediate Fly Fishing Weekend being offered Sept. 25-27 at Purity Spring Resort in Madison, NH. The registration deadline has been extended, but time is running out. The weekend workshop costs $275, which includes meals, lodging, materials and instruction. Participants must be at least 18 years old and should have some fly-fishing experience. A registration form and course description can be found at the Becoming an Outdoors Woman website, www.nhbow.com, or call (603) 271-3212 to request an application by mail.All for now.