What Fly to Use on the Swift River

Tailwater Central Massachusetts MA

Small tailwater below Quabbin Reservoir. Constant cold water creates a year-round fishery with dense insect populations.

Current Conditions

Live USGS water data — updated every 30 minutes

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River conditions

Data: USGS Water Services

Conditions-adjusted recommendations for right now

Matching the hatch...

Complete hatch calendar with peak windows and matching fly patterns

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Blue Wing Olive Baetis spp.

Parachute BWO, RS2 Emerger, Zebra Midge

Midges Chironomidae

Zebra Midge, Griffith's Gnat, CDC Midge Cluster

Hendrickson Ephemerella subvaria

Hendrickson Dry, Hendrickson Nymph

Caddis Brachycentrus spp.

Elk Hair Caddis, Caddis Emerger

Sulfur Ephemerella dorothea

Sulfur Comparadun, Sulfur Emerger

Trico Tricorythodes spp.

Trico Spinner, Trico Cluster

Blue Wing Olive Baetis spp.

Parachute BWO, RS2 Emerger

Active season Peak activity

7 documented hatches with peak timing and matching fly patterns

Insect	Season	Peak	Time	Patterns
Blue Wing Olive (Baetis)	Mar 1 - May 31	Mar 20 - May 10	Afternoon	dry Parachute BWO #20/22emerger RS2 Emerger #20/22nymph Zebra Midge #20/22
Midges	Jan 1 - Dec 31	Feb 1 - Apr 15	Midday	nymph Zebra Midge #20/22/24dry Griffith's Gnat #18/20dry CDC Midge Cluster #18/20
Hendrickson	Apr 15 - May 15	Apr 25 - May 10	Afternoon	dry Hendrickson Dry #14nymph Hendrickson Nymph #14
Caddis	Apr 20 - Jun 30	May 5 - May 31	Evening	dry Elk Hair Caddis #16/18emerger Caddis Emerger #16/18
Sulfur	May 20 - Jul 10	Jun 1 - Jun 20	Evening	dry Sulfur Comparadun #16/18emerger Sulfur Emerger #16/18
Trico	Jul 20 - Oct 10	Aug 1 - Sep 15	Early morning	dry Trico Spinner #22/24dry Trico Cluster #20
Blue Wing Olive (Fall)	Sep 15 - Nov 30	Oct 1 - Nov 15	Afternoon	dry Parachute BWO #20/22emerger RS2 Emerger #20/22

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