BRANDYWINE CREEK FISHING GREAT   AUGUST 1, 2008

The rains have freshened up the Brandywine and anglers have been catching good numbers of smallies along with panfish. As much as I enjoy fishing poppers and sliders along with many other attractor dry flies, fishing subsurface with streamers and nymphs has brought better success recently. Either trailing a beadhead nymph behind a hopper, stimulator, humpie, popper, slider or streamer, has been boosting my success rate. Nymphing under an indicator, even in the slack waters and slicks, has proved to be solid too! Copper Johns(with or w/out rubberlegs), Prince Nymphs, Hare’s Ears and Steelhead Nymphs have all been good choices. Animating and dead-drifting have both been working for me, while nymphing. Bonefish flies, especially bunnie flies, along with Clouser Minnows, have been good producers too. Cover much water to find where larger numbers of fish are holding, and walk away from the easier “put-ins”, to get shots at fresh fish. Stealth is still our best weapon, even with warmwater species. These fish are getting educated with many people fishing and watercraft cruising every day. Good numbers of fish have been caught from West Chester to Wilmington. Stop by the shop for directions to easy “put-ins” and fly selections. TIGHT LINES!!

PS. Give other anglers a wide berth, there’s miles of water to fish for all of us!!!

AUGUST TROUTING   8-1-08

Tricos are still around but fish are getting very finicky. West Valley, Tulpehocken and Little Lehigh are still getting good numbers of size 22-26 spinners. Fishing these in tandem with a larger dry fly will help see the “takes” A LOT SOONER!!! 7X tippets on 12-15 foot leaders on 000 to 3 weight rods will be your best bet. I prefer longer rods for mending and better line control, 8-9 footers, even in small streams. Getting to these streams early is great to claim a piece of water, but the better fishing is still “banker’s hours”, 8 AM’ish to 11 AM’ish. As the spinner fall starts to fade, or fish stop rising consistently, sinking your spinners and/or adding a sunken ant to the mix, will keep your fishing going. Be patient, cast for quality not quantity.

Hoppers and Crickets are becoming more active, especially on warmer days, which we’ve had our share of lately. Pitching BIG hoppers in small streams is not the norm for many, but our hoppers get pretty big. Size 4-8 hoppers may not get as many “takes”, but the ones you get will be quality fish. The “splat affect” will be the “X FACTOR”; do I splat or just gently plop my hopper in my presentation? On busier, riffly water, I tend to splat, and on slick, quiet water, I’ll gently plop. There are a billion ways to present these flies, and they’re all good! Foam hoppers are more progressive and I feel they float higher and longer. I go to these first, but always carry clipped deer hair versions if fish are being wary and refusing my imitation(s). Of course dropping a weighted nymph off the back will “up” your catch rates. Copper Johns, Rubber Legged Copper Johns and “OH, did I say Copper Johns?”, are the IDEAL choices for fishing these tandems. It’s “HOPPER TIME!” Tight Lines!

CROAKER FISHING SPORADIC   Aug. 1, 2008

Finding consistently clean water has been the biggest challenge for saltwater fly fishers. The DE Bay has not run clear for much of the summer, which has kept many fish OFF the beaches. There have been a ton of silversides and rain bait in close, but not many gamefish inside to feed on them. From the point at Cape Henlopen to Indian River Inlet, there’s been some cleaner water and more fish are being caught on fly. Hickory Shad have been “day savers” when other fish aren’t around. Fishing crab patterns, shrimp patterns and weighted streamers, such as Clouser Minnows, are all good choices. Darker to black colored flies for night fishing has always worked better for me, except under the lights in the inlet(s). Tying a black crab or shrimp for night fishing could be the ticket. Tight Lines!

PS. Remember, all beach bathers must be released unharmed!