Oh my...there is snow in our forecast this week. Yes the local weather guys say anywhere from 1 to 6 inches depending where you live. You want change in New England wait a few hours.
I have been fishing quite a bit over the last week and have had some good days and some days where they were not so good. March can be a difficult month to figure out what trout will take and what time of day they will take it. It is on those days when success is slow and a bit of frustration is setting in. It is those times when you look into the fly box for a fly that will turn around your day. A fly that may be a large colorful streamer, perhaps a small dark nymph, maybe a tiny midge dry. I looked in and saw a dry fly that I like and have confidence in. The thing is that fly is truly a warm weather one and 50 degree weather is not cold but not ideal for this fly.
This stream has a population of wild brown and brook trout. I like fishing this stream a great deal but it's quite far from home. So my big travel cup filled with black coffee I headed out to try the stream. Perfect conditions, weather and stream. Like I said above it was a tough day bite wise. I had 1 bump on a soft-hackle and that was it. It was then when I reached into my box a selected the fly that saved the day. Tied on the fly and drifted it along the calm side of the pool. I saw the flash of a trout and then he was gone. A few more casts and I had a trout chase the fly as I was retrieving it. Perhaps 10 more casts and the fly was nailed. The fish went airborne and actually did a very good job of trying to throw the hook.
In moments I was able to slide my hand under a true living wild jewel. And in the corner of his mouth was a Cinberg....
Why did this fly work that day, I don't know, I'm glad that it did.
Ha,I would have guessed a bomber! With that snow I'll bet you put the bamboo away again.
ReplyDeletebillp
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Bill I had thoughts of fishing bamboo last week when we had some great weather, but I didn't. Maybe this week at some point. The bomber would have been a good choice but the Doctor caught my eye first.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteA late season snow fall is a good thing for the stream if not the fisherman. Glad you found the right fly. Funny how all it takes is one fish to save the mood of the day. Thanks for sharing.
JJ
Beaverdam
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Joe it's exciting to experience something positive that you really did not think was possible. I guess something good will happen if you give it a try.
At least you're getting out. We are to a certain extent. Yesterday we took a ride over to the local meat shop to get some sausages and such. The line was 25 people deep and NO space between them. We just kept going. I think my fishing rods are collecting mold just sitting there.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark I venture out to the streams, no contact out there. Yesterday I saw a half dozen mountain bikers riding through the woods. Going out for sausage, your a good man, sorry you were not able to get any.
Alan, great post. As often as many anglers try to break down flyfishing to an exact science, I love the fact that there is nothing exact about it & chance still plays a very big role.
ReplyDeleteMatt Harding
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Matt be it a well known river or a small stream it's the fish that decides what it wants. What has always amazed me is the Mickey Finn, Why?
Glad you're not stuck in the house. Walking the local streams is the perfect therapy to counter this mess. -6 below here this morning; my streams aren't in any danger of melting out any time soon. Stay well, Alan.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike I could not stay indoors. Avoiding people I can do that but I need fresh air. Mike I love Maine truly just not in the winter.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteThat stretch of river looks so much like my local river here in Yorkshire (I know I have said this before but the similarities really are uncanny!). Glad to hear your selection worked - it feels so good when a hunch comes to fruition.
I have tied up some Cinbergs myself and a some with a Yorkshire twist (dark hares mask & fox squirrel body, gold rib, cree tail & rear hackle with bronze mallard front hackle). I did not try them today (the first day of our river trout season!) I went for euronymphs and the trusty waterhen bloa. The results where 2 brown trout and 1 out of season grayling all around 8 - 9" and 6 other fish released at distance.
Like Mark, I called into my local farmshop / butchery to find it packed with patrons - the proprietor was trying to do his best to reduce contact but without much effect!!!!!!! Fortunately there was no one else on the stream!
Thanks
Alistair
Alistair
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Alistair I believe I could fit right in on your Yorkshire streams. A awesome first day for you. Long distance releases are as good as a catch. The grocery stores here are the same, I go early, it's worked out for me.
Alistair, how did the Waterhen Bloa work for you?
DeleteA beautiful gem, Alan. I'm glad you connected with a top water fly, nothing beats that. Next time out I will try the same, maybe hang a small midge dropper off. I'm due to connect again some time!
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Sam
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Sam each day that goes by we get closer to better fishing. Fussy fish are easy to avoid as the water warms. I read of reports of the larger rivers fishing very well, in fact my son fished the Salmon river yesterday and had a great day. My day was beautiful and I only managed a couple....soon Sam soon.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteAll the fish landed were on the nymph, a baetis pattern with wood duck tail, macaw quill body wrapped in fine gold wire, olive hares mask thorax, olive shell back wing case touched with a black sharpie on the back face and finally a pearlescent strip over top of the wingcase. Several of the fish released at distance took the waterhen bloa. Not sure why none were landed - I checked the hook point several times for burs but none were seen? Maybe my stricking is a bit rusty!
Alistair, your hooking rate will improve, I' certain.
DeleteAlan
ReplyDeleteI've found when fishing on days the fish are picky that some of the oddest flies you have in your box will produce. I had a trip planned this past Thursday but the wind was gusting so bad. I didn't want to fight the wind, not mention the pollen we are getting here now. I hope Thursday with the temp reaching 85 will my day to connect with some of the big gills on Walker. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill isn't that true. Not certain why but it works.
85, that's going to feel nice. Good luck.
Glad you had the chance to fish the stream and enjoy it Alan!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will the outdoors can do magic. Clear head and refreshed body.
G'Day Alan,
ReplyDeleteAs always, it's a joy and a pleasure to join you on your streamside ventures.
Fly choice often boils down to maybe some bug observation but often, in my case anyway, it's tying on a favourite fly that I have confidence in--eg the Black Woolly Worm. I've never got into the "Shall I try a size 18 or 22( insert fly name )?" I also have a liking for the"Hornberg" because it is so versatile--dry, wet or streamer. Did well with it, the first time I tied one on. OZ trout seemed to like it a lot.
Here in OZ we are experiencing lack of supply with certain commodities due to the COVID 19 panic buying. We are taking the crisis seriously and sensibly but many aren't. I've seen so many situations where people, en masse, are totally ignoring the precautionary social distancing spaces in order to get a cappuccino or packet of toilet paper! I find how others are dealing with the situation,more of a concern than the actual carona virus. On a slightly lighter note. My son recently told me a joke. "What's the difference between COVID19 and "Romeo and Juliet"? Answer--One is a Carona Virus, the other is a Verona Crisis. That almost rates as a "Dad Joke ".
BTW, Alan, did you get my email with the photo of my first trout for 2020? My computer is being a bit dopey with emails lately.
Kindest Regards,
Steve
Steve
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Steve being cautious and following guidelines should be practiced at all times. Be reckless is bad for everyone. The panic buying seems to have lightened here. A few outages but not like it was. Your right on about the wooly worm and hornberg.
I did get your email, that's a dandy rainbow.