TROUT STOCKINGS HAPPENING AND SHAD SEASON APPROACHING

March 9, 2010

With a HUGE turn in our weather, trout streams are warming and everyone is getting itchy to get fishing! I have spent my entire winter trout fishing over natural trout streams, The Gunpowder in Maryland and Valley Creek in PA. Mostly nymphing but Valley has had rising fish ALL winter long, with midges mostly along with a few BWO's. These fish haven't come easy, but a few fish in the middle of our MONSTER snows is well worth the trip. I typically fish 9' 3 wts. this time of year, for softer presentations over flatter slick water. Fewer casts with quality presentations is CLUTCH!!!

Black stoneflies are coming, but I have only seen a few so far, and fish haven't been on'em yet. When the wind dies down, a few have gotten on the water and fish will respond when more start emerging; check the banks, bridges and rocks for these critters. It's getting to be time!

The hickory shad will start showing in small groups by the end of this month, but tax day is shad day for me! Last year they showed up in strength around the 22nd of April, but with warmer temps on now, it should get going a bit sooner. Everyone has their "set times" for these great fish, so gear up and be ready;) Tight Lines! Terry

Trouting for Natives on the Gunpowder   Feb. 25, 2009

Matching 9' 3 wts., a beat up turkey sandwich and Odwalla Bars, box of midges and attractor dries and cold beer (for after), has been the drill for the last 4 Sundays for me and my crew.  Rick Bender and Bill O'Connor have joined me in this winter adventure, scouting the Gunpowder State park, hoping for midging brown trout and waiting for the early stoneflies. Water temps were lifting our spirits, @ 44 degrees one day, but last Sunday it'd dropped to 38 much to our chagrin. Fishing has gone from fair to TOUGH, pitching our smallest of flies to sulking/frozen trout, under micro indicators and indicator dries. Water has been low and "gin clear" and fish are hunkering down in the deepest water waiting for the easiest meal. Fish have been caught each week, but numbers have waned. I took the "skunkin'" last week, but learned a ton and saw a lot of water. Fishing "low and slow" is one of my favorite tactics for cold weather fishing, which requires tiny flies (#18 and smaller) and light tippet (6X & 7X). I'm not a huge proponent of lighter than 7X tippet, 8X, but some do favor it. In "quieter water" I tend to fish "dry and dropper" style, while in "busier water" I will switch over to a micro indicator (strike putty and yarn work well too). A heavier beadhead nymph usually becomes my lead fly, while the dropper is usually the "minutae". Rummaging around in the rocks, detritus and deadfalls has always been one of my first moves, along with temping the water in each section of the stream I'm fishing. Always a good way to help make pattern selections, for me.

Try the Gunpowder some time and enjoy this beautiful stream and all it has to offer. The hiking trails are amazing and well marked, very "family friendly". It's one of my favorites!!! TIGHT LINES!

PS. The Gunpowder has taken great measures to control their current Didymo problem, by placing footbaths @ each access point and I STRONGLY recommend that everyone read the info and follow the instructions. If everyone follows these guidelines for the future, then there will be a better chance of controlling this invasive organism and avoid future contamination!

SALT or FRESH???   Sept. 11, 2008

Rains have freshened up our trout streams and smallies are still boiling in the Brandywine, with crickets, hoppers and beetles everywhere. False albacore and bonito have started their migration and silversides and bay anchovies are stacked up at the inlets and beaches. OK, now the big choice, what do I do???

After double-checking my gear bag the other day, before going fishing, I realized that I’d packed my smallmouth bass flies and a pair of 4 wt. rods with a back-up 6 wt.. This all sounded good, except I was headed to the beach to fish the salt. OOPS!? Normally I’m SO organized that I know right where my gear is and ready to fish most applications. Must have been distracted, as it would have been a nightmare trying to cast to saltwater species with trout/smallie gear. Even more exciting if I’d hooked up with the wrong gear. This has happened once before, only I showed up at Valley Creek fired up to catch trout, realizing that my poppers and sliders, along with Clouser Deep Minnows, weren’t the right fare for spooky, educated spring creek trout. BIG dilemma!!!

My brain is definitely made of ½ freshwater and ½ saltwater, I’m convinced. If it swims, I’ll cast to it with flies, depending where the hottest fishing is at the time. If trout are sipping BWO’s, smallies busting terrestrials and albies blasting silversides and bay anchovies, my brain goes into overload. Depending on the time of year, and most know that the fall fishing season can bring on this tough decision, I’m usually leaning toward the salt or fresh. Too many choices and never enough time, UGH!?!

Larger blocks of time usually make my decision(s) in these instances, as one needs more drive time to get to the salt, on the average. Unless I hear the word “BLITZ”(I’ll jump at anytime here), these larger blocks of time will push me toward the salt, which keeps me on my “days off” or “nights off”. Shorter openings in my schedule will keep me local, trouting or chasing smallies on the Brandywine. Gearing up is critical, as many times plans are last minute and there’s NO TIME to tie the necessary flies, rebuild leaders, lube reels and check waders for leaks.

Salt or fresh, prep time is important so you don’t miss any water time. My gear’s ready, lets go fishing!!!

STONEFLIES, MIDGES AND BWO'S! March 9, 2010

Some watersheds are showing more Early Black & Brown Stoneflies than others, but when the wind calms down, they're starting to get on the water and fish are beginning to look for them! Water temps are creeping into the 40's in the freestoners and trying to push toward 50 in the limestoners; ALL GOOD! The dry fly fanatics will be happier, because the adult version of this aquatic insect is the most crucial to fly fishers. Black bodied caddis imitations along with many others can be solid for this hatch. Most local streams have taken early stockings, so the usual attractors, such as Buggers and Green Weenies and assorted beadhead nymphs will work well too! Stop by the shop for pattern selections.

Early Stockings in Local Trout streams, YEH!!!   Feb. 25, 2009

Most of the South Eastern PA "special regs" areas have been stocked over the last 2 weeks, or float stocked I should say. Thanks to the volunteers for all their hard work! Water temps have been waffling between 38 and 40 degrees F, and fishing has been decent, but challenging. With newly introduced fish, larger flies will be the norm, including nymphs and buggers. The wait for the early stoneflies has been tedious with high winds, low water and COLD conditions. Even the absence of midges has made pattern selection challenging; checking rocks and underwater foliage has proved the best course of action, then match up your imitations to the naturals you find. The Limestone streams haven't been fishing any more consistent, but warmer water temps have been found. It IS still FEB> for a few more days. With March on the brink, warmer weather, water temps and hopefully "Bitier Fish", make sure your gear's ready and flies are tied/bought, because it's coming and will be here before we all know it. Stop by the shop for pattern selection(s) and daily water conditions.

Tight Lines!

COLD WATER STILL! March 9, 2010

A few stripers are being caught at Indian River, and there are rumors of fish moving on the outside off the beaches, but the water temps are WAY too low for now. With warming trends, the water will warm up soon. The Upper Chesapeake will start off slow with the "catch and release" fishing on the Flats, but if we stay unseasonably warm over the next few weeks, it may rally up sooner than previous years. 10 wts. and BIG herring imitations would be my 1st choices for targeting these pre-spawn stripers, along with using sinking lines for the deeper edges. I always carry a floating line and poppers/sliders for the skinnier water, but those fish can be TOUGH! Spring is on the brink, so get geared up and be ready for the spring striper runs!

Still Early For Local Salt Action, BUT...   Feb. 25, 2009

Between tying flies and inventorying gear, my spare time is all TOO important so I'm sure to be ready for the spring run(s). Finding OLD tippet and leaders to clean out has been the latest adventure. Dating my tippet material has saved me a ton of time over the years, so when it's time to gear up I'm not having the "fresh tippet debate". Checking fly line to backing connections is also an important part of "spring tune-up", and I've paid dearly over the years for not doing that! Lubing reels, for those that require it, is a must for early spring and will often take you through the year, depending how much "water-time" you're getting. Waxing ferrules and checking reel seats and tip tops are also on the list; have shown up on a trip with a tip top roaming around in circles, yet still attached, not good!? Cleaning out gear bags and restocking them with all the necessities, especially the FIRST AID KIT, is usually in the "most important" catagory. Making sure waders and wading jackets are water tight is HUGE! Using Revivex to recondition my jackets has saved early season trips. My lists are long, but yours don't have to be, just make sure you're covering your bases so that you can enjoy a full filled spring season on the salt!!! Stop by the store with any questions.

 Tight Lines!