My Mass license arrived in the mail the other day, so I took the
opportunity to check out a spot on the Nissitissit that I'd been
wondering about. A short walk from the road along the edge of a field,
down an embankment, and there lies the Niss. Downstream, there's a log
lying across the river creating a small spillway. Hmmm ... looks like
the ideal spot! I follow a trail along the river to a point just
downstream of the aforementioned spillway, turn to walk down to a
convenient-looking spot, and I encounter a heavy cable strung across
the path sporting a big "no trespassing, hunting, fishing, blah, blah,
blah .. violators will be persecuted .. blah, blah, blah..." (or words
to that effect).

I walk back upstream and take a somewhat more difficult path to about
the same place - no signs, shotguns, or constabulary encountered.
Perched on the roots of a big stump, I throw a little line into the
flow and let the fly drift with the current. I can't backcast, so I use
a roll-cast to reposition the fly in the current. A few casts and
something tugs & lets go. Try again - this time the fly is taken,
underneath the surface. The 6'6"/3wt bends nicely as I pull in a 10-12"
Rainbow and net it. Safely released, I try again. Another hit! This one
is nearly in the net but gets off. A few more hits with no results,
then things go quiet. I leave that spot & move back upstream to where I
came down the embankment. There's a small tributary flowing into the
main river so I decide to give the outlet a try. One bite, a few jumps
-one right at the fly, but he missed(!). No more action, but I go home
a happy camper.

Hope to return one day soon...

mark