Copyright 2010 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Swift River
Massachusetts
The Swift River in Massachusetts is one of the only true
tailwaters in the state in the sense that the water comes
from the cold deep, depths of a lake or reservoir. It is
discharged from water that is seventy feet deep and
therefore, stays cold year-round. You can fish the Swift
River successfully in the hot Summer or cold Winter.
The river contains wild streamborn trout as well as
stocked trout.
From Quabbin Reservoir downstream, the Swift River is
only seven miles in length but trout fishing is excellent
the entire way. In fact some of these trout are as far
down as the Chicopee River at the Swift Rivers
confluence with it.
There's a three mile long catch and release section that
extends downstream from the dam. The first mile below
the dam, downstream to the state highway 9 Bridge, is
fly fishing only. There are other special regulations
subject to change, so make sure you check on them
before fishing. Fly fishing the Swift River in this section is
usually provides a good catch.
The stream backs up slightly in the Blondsville section of
Palmer. Two dams slow down its flow but the water still
remains cold and clear enough to support trout. The
water below these dams isn't fished as much as it is just
below Quabbin Reservoir. That doesn't mean it doesn't
have a good number of trout because it has plenty. It's
just largely overlooked by most anglers. This leads to
overcrowding of the upper section of the stream at peak
season times.
There's excellent access along the upper section down
to Blondsville. A grid of public property follow the river its
entire length. There an unpaved road that follows much
of the river below the Blondsville dams that provides
access..
The Swift River has one tributary worth fishing. The
Jabish Brook The stream flows from Pelham for twelve
miles to its confluence with the Swift. Access is provided
along state road 181 and U. S. Highway #202. It has a
good population of brook trout that are stream-born as
well as trout stocked by the state.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies
Massachusetts
The Swift River in Massachusetts is one of the only true
tailwaters in the state in the sense that the water comes
from the cold deep, depths of a lake or reservoir. It is
discharged from water that is seventy feet deep and
therefore, stays cold year-round. You can fish the Swift
River successfully in the hot Summer or cold Winter.
The river contains wild streamborn trout as well as
stocked trout.
From Quabbin Reservoir downstream, the Swift River is
only seven miles in length but trout fishing is excellent
the entire way. In fact some of these trout are as far
down as the Chicopee River at the Swift Rivers
confluence with it.
There's a three mile long catch and release section that
extends downstream from the dam. The first mile below
the dam, downstream to the state highway 9 Bridge, is
fly fishing only. There are other special regulations
subject to change, so make sure you check on them
before fishing. Fly fishing the Swift River in this section is
usually provides a good catch.
The stream backs up slightly in the Blondsville section of
Palmer. Two dams slow down its flow but the water still
remains cold and clear enough to support trout. The
water below these dams isn't fished as much as it is just
below Quabbin Reservoir. That doesn't mean it doesn't
have a good number of trout because it has plenty. It's
just largely overlooked by most anglers. This leads to
overcrowding of the upper section of the stream at peak
season times.
There's excellent access along the upper section down
to Blondsville. A grid of public property follow the river its
entire length. There an unpaved road that follows much
of the river below the Blondsville dams that provides
access..
The Swift River has one tributary worth fishing. The
Jabish Brook The stream flows from Pelham for twelve
miles to its confluence with the Swift. Access is provided
along state road 181 and U. S. Highway #202. It has a
good population of brook trout that are stream-born as
well as trout stocked by the state.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies
| Type of Stream Tailwater Species Brown Trout (wild and stocked with holdovers) Rainbow (wild and stocked with holdovers) Brook trout (wild) Size Medium Location Western Massachusetts Nearest Towns Palmer Season Year-round Access: Good Non-Resident License State of Massachusetts Weather National Weather Service Link Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Trout Flies |
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Swift River Massachusetts
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Photo Courtesy Steven Lamb
| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |