tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66687577924524820942024-03-13T15:01:57.429-04:00Jim Thorpe Fishing CompanyGUIDED FLY FISHING SERVICEPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-15198034068498134502018-04-01T13:59:00.002-04:002018-04-01T13:59:50.200-04:00April 1st 2018It's now the first of April and fishing has been good for some time now<br />
Little black stoneflies have been around now for many weeks and the water levels in the streams and the Lehigh river have been just right to fish<br />
I've been out on the main Lehigh for weeks now on the warmer days and have caught some very nice sized brown trout using these little black stoneflies 16-18<br />
Also the streamer fishing has begun to take off now as the water is starting to warm a bit<br />
The Mahoning creek and the lizard creek are both now open to fish as they are early opening creeks here in carbon county<br />
These creeks fish very well early in the season and are very productive throughout the whole season<br />
Call/text or email me for info on fishing these or any other waters in the area<br />
<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-75184427509903400232016-04-28T18:54:00.000-04:002016-04-28T18:57:31.473-04:00SATURDAY 23RD OF APRIL TRIPOn Saturday morning I met up with a couple guys that wanted to fish the lower Lehigh river.<br />
at 8:00 am we started fishing at the bridge in bowmanstown and soon there was a hatch of hendricksons size 14 coming off the water by 9:00 we started catching trout on the imitation and soon moved down river to the spot where the Lizard creek spills into the Lehigh.<br />
here we had more action on the hendricksons and caught more trout.<br />
Most of them were browns with two large, one @17" and one @ 19" and we also caught two rainbow trout as well<br />
this action went on most all day and we had a great time.<br />
If you can get out and fish give me a call and we can go have some fun.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-39081290044414852832016-03-29T16:43:00.001-04:002016-03-29T16:59:21.366-04:00FIRST ARTICLE OF 2016Its been a long time since iv,e posted an article here and so I hope I find your all healthy and happy and ready for a new fishing season.<br />
This winter was very warm as most all of you know but I had found it not as easy to predict fishing conditions as I had in the past.<br />
the warmer days just did not produce the action I have in the past enjoyed and so this winter I did not hook and land as many trout as i have in the past winters<br />
I also did not catch my winter Dooossie!, like I have in past winters and am not sure why, except to say the trout may have been confused due to the unusually warm weather and the possibility of the hatches of insects being confused also.<br />
This made winter last a little longer as a good sized trout just makes things so much brighter.<br />
This spring has started off slower then usual but I have gotten some better reports as of late from many of my fishing buddies that are out more then I have been.<br />
In the fall, I brought back my camper to do some upgrades and touch ups on as well as a new storm door and repaint, and so on the better fishing days Ive been on that project instead of fishing and every time I look at the old girl I see more things I want to do, like wet sand the polyurethane that I did 4 coats of on the inside of camper on the knotty pine bead board planks that I finished the camper in years back.<br />
the polyurethane is minwax helmsman spar varnish and looks great but I have found that if you use 1200 grit then 1500 grit then 2000 grit wet sanding with each, then use a car finish swirl remover polish, then finish it with a good carnuba wax you can get the finish like that of a fine cars paint finish and it then looks unbelievably AWESOME! So I am staying on the project til its done and this way out at camp i can simply EAT, SLEEP, DRINK AND FISH! but not necessarily in that order.<br />
This year out in Tioga the snow did not fall at all<br />
I was told they had just over an inch from one tiny system and that was it!<br />
so I really hope we get some good rains this April without the crazy 6 inches in as many hours that seems to occur more now then in years past Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-69276182282855634292014-06-25T14:45:00.001-04:002018-04-05T11:06:07.658-04:00GREEN DRAKE HATCH ON THE UPPER PINE CREEK 2014 This year the green drakes had some tough conditions to deal with. It seemed to rain every other day in late may and early June. These really wet/cool conditions seemed to put a hold on the hatch and keep the numbers of flies down as I did not see the heavy clouds of flies that I have in past years. Plus a flood in mid may did not help matters at all. Then the water went up to over 9 ft down creek at the cedar run gauge and camper trailers on the bank at the camp had to be moved for fear of being washed away.But on Tues the 10th of June the fish finally came up and ate these flies.<br />
I got out early at 6.00 am and right away caught a 3 lb palomino trout on a size 4 long shank green drake coffin fly pattern tied down to 3x. When fishing these or other large mayflies you should tie down to heavier tippet so they wont spin when cast., and don't let anyone tell you "its too heavy" "The trout will see it" The trout don't care! How do I know? Because I have been using heavy tippet on large flies for 30 years and have caught more trout over 20 inches then almost everyone I know.<br />
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Fishing was great! It was as if all the big trout decided to feed on top that day as anywhere I cast I not only hooked a trout but half of them were over 2 lbs. after one hour in the camps lower pool I went up to the next one and caught more fish, then it occurred to me to go up to the big flat above the camp and fish there as it had been heavily stocked with fish, many over 3 lbs. There were not too many green drakes in the air but if I cast my fly on the water I would get a strike and almost all strikes were a hook up. After catching and releasing many more trout from 1 to 3 lbs I hooked a palomino trout that had to go over 5 lbs and 24 inches. This trout when hooked immediately ran to its right and jumped out of the creek turning upside down and at the same time was kicking its tail so fast it sounded like a Pheasants wing, the trout then hit the water and took off upstream so fast pulling the fly out as it swam away at maybe 20 miles per hour,...ZOOM! off it went. Then after re tying my fly as you should after any action with big fish I hooked a 3 lb male brook trout that had to go 18 inches after releasing him I ran back to the camper to make a sandwich and eat it in record time and went back to the lower pool where I saw another 24 inch palomino trout feeding on the big coffin flies across the pool so I cast three to four times and hooked her. This tout was also about 4 and a half pounds and a solid 24 inches long I played her to my side of the creek and had my iphone videoing the whole fight as I did a few of the other fish. running any camera and fighting a fish at the same time is not easy so the video looks like the ones you see on tv about UFO,S But at least I got it on video.<br />
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All in all I caught over 20 trout that day and half were over 2 lbs A few over 3 lbs and two over 5 lbs I figure I caught and released 45lbs of trout that day,.ALL FISH on the same pattern all by 4 pm. I then celebrated with a great meal and a great many beers in a very , very hearty manner!<br />
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This is the stuff that keeps me going through the rest of the year and on those cold winter days, knowing the drakes will come again. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-17833104925835343602014-05-13T21:12:00.000-04:002014-05-13T21:12:26.616-04:00May 4th to May 13th report on the Pine creek north central PA.<br />
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This week has been great fishing on the Pine with water levels very good and temps perfect. In the morning water temps have been mid to upper 40s and mid to upper 50s in the afternoon. Hatches have been great with plenty of Caddis in size 16 and 14 tan wing green body.This year they have been so thick that at times the flies were 5 inches apart over the creek. And on some days it seemed like they were there all day. But that was back in the end of April and the water was very cold and you could only move fish to beadheads with lots of split shot.Now the trout arte very willing to take them in a dry fly form here but even more so they will take the Hendrickson in a size 16 although they are on their way out. Red quills were working well also in a size 16 as well as Adams attractor flies in same size.<br />
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Most days start out with Me fishing Bead head nymphs size 16 in a green Caddis pattern with a prince nymph and a pheasant tail tied into my leader and lots of split shot to get em down. this way I cover all food sources and keep all fish happy and well fed. I fish the riffles in camp and do pretty good some mornings I stung maybe 18 landing 9 one day. later in the morning I can fish dries and start getting a steady pick of trout that way for the rest of the day off and on til dark with after 4 in the afternoon being best time for most action.<br />
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Yesterday a friend and I went down creek all the way to slate run and thinking ahead like I try to do I brought some Green Drakes with me just in case. I'm sure glad I did as they were just starting to show in the afternoon there and at Navel run I caught a 15 inch rainbow on the male Drake pattern I was tossing. We did not move to many more fish but got three before leaving to come back to my camp on the upper Pine some 30 miles through the most beautiful mountain farm country you might see in PA. The weather has been typical with thunderstorms almost everyday somewhere out here and today one must have been heavy up creek this afternoon cause when I went to fish the water was high and off color a bit so I got my steamer rod with the rio 150 density compensated line on the reel out and casted some big rabbit fur flies along the shore and got one tiger trout that went 13 inches then I went back to my site to make dinner early as not much was happening on the water. <br />
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Over all its been a great trip and I cant wait to get back here in another week or so to keep up the great fishing. we stock many big fish very soon and The green drakes should be on up here in camp in another two weeks here and that's what I live for. BIG TROUT ON BIG FLIES! Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-90682674253705360882014-03-11T16:40:00.004-04:002014-03-11T17:10:53.253-04:003/10/2014 TRIP TO THE PEQUEST RIVERYesterday A buddy of mine and I fished the Pequest river near the hatchery. The snow is still pretty deep up there and now very slushy. It makes for tough walking along the bank but its worth it considering how good the fishing can be. As is the case most all winter we had to fish very small nymphs. When using size 20 flies I like to tie into my leader Rios,shock gum. Its a rubber band like material that is about 26 thousands of an inch thick, so I tie it up leader just off the first section. This way when you hook a solid three pound trout it cant pull the fly free so easily. Its hard to tie in though however I find a uni knot works for me also a surgeons knot will work as well but the stuff is so stretchy and soft it is a challenge to get to stay tied, and you MUST cover your knots with Loons knot sense. Its so good to have in place cause it holds onto those doosey fish that we all want to catch. Last year I caught a solid 25 1/2 inch female rainbow on it right here on the Pequest that went almost 6lbs I was using 4x and if I did not use it she would have pulled the tiny pheasant tail (20) fly she took.We started off right near the lot and my buddy hooked a good rainbow within mins It poped off after a few mins of play and he fished on,.. A little while later he hooked and played another @ about 17 inches and that fish shook the hook at his feet. He then said to me "alright, give me some of that stuff " I tied it into his leader and he then went downstream where about a half hour afterwards I could hear him hollering "Hey Paul" I go stompin through the snow down there to find him tight-lined to an 18 Inch male rainbow that had to go 3lbs he played it into the net and that fish only had the fly in its upper jaw at the very outside edge of its mouth. If he had not used the shock gum I think it would likely have pulled free like the other trout he had hooked as he was on 5x fluorocarbon tippet. Many guys say you HAVE to go to 6x at least with flies that small and some use 7x. I find this is not true, Not true at all! I fish stone flies on 3x and they are often size 16. I drift them through some slow pools and I have caught many good fish that way. However fluorocarbon has almost NO STRETCH. so trout can pull flies right out as the size 20 hooks have a very small purchase when set. We fished for a couple of more hours and landed almost all the fish we both hooked. I think that if more guys used Shock gum they would also have a better catch rate. Like I always say,"when it comes to big fish",... "SHOULDA,COULDA,WOULDA" is a terrible thing to have to say!<br />
Laying in bed thinking "maybe i shoulda this or coulda that is so unsettling. My pillow however is very soft! Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-37668289749549188082013-11-12T15:01:00.000-05:002013-11-12T15:21:00.877-05:00NOVEMBER TRIP TO OLCOTT NY On the 3rd of Nov I went up to Olcott NY to fish the 18 mile creek for the Brown trout and Steelhead that are now up creek to spawn. I stay at the Lighthouse motel 716 628 2570. I find it clean,warm and comfortable. But most of all AFFORDABLE! My fishing buddies and I pay 660.00 for a 4 bed, two bedroom apartment with a kitchen and living room for a week, Thats 165.00 each and that is a deal. <br />
The motel is on Lake Ontario and the creek runs down into the lake right next to it. Fisherman's park is 1 mile up the road from it and you can park your truck in a large lot and walk down the hill to the creek there. Burts dam is just a short walk upstream from there and the fishing can be fantastic.They have a new kobota utility vehicle that you can ride up and down the hill for a buck each way and its nice cause I can bring down my Coleman stove and make chicken soup creekside for all who want it.When its 40 degrees and blowin even lipton instant soup tastes good but my homemade beats that by miles, ask anyone whos had it.<br />
This year it rained a lot and were talking 8 inches since Oct 1st, I was told. So that brought in the browns and steelies in big numbers with a few Chinook salmon as well.The water was off color and high. The fish were very willing to bite.We were using egg fly patterns mostly with pink or red being the best colors.<br />
A floating line and an indicator up near the top of a 7ft leader tied down to 1x fluorocarbon. A couple split shot to take it down and let it swing though the current. You want the fly as close to the bottom as possible.<br />
I see many fisherman using lighter tippet, I feel this is not necessary as I seem to Hook just as many fish as they do and I don't have to chase them all over to land them. Leaders and tippet are a personal thing, some guys will tell you this,others will tell you that. What works for one guy may not work for you, so nothing is written in stone.What works in one creek or river wont work so good in another. Go out and see what you like to use and use it .Once you find your "formula" you will catch fish easy and YOUR WAY.<br />
On Tues I went to The Oak orchard river and fished the Archery club section and had a great time.<br />
Here they have a great big pavilion right on the bank of the river that has a big kitchen and they make terrific meals. For 5 bucks you get a great big breakfast til 10:30 am then at 11:30 they serve a great big lunch for 7 bucks The pavilion has a big wood stove and its burning hot. There are easy chairs around it and you can BYOB and smoking IS allowed.The river bottom is very smooth as the stones are all small so its easy wading. The place is awesome. here there seems to be a better variety of fish as the river supports Brown trout, Steelhead, Chinnok Salmon, Landlocked Atlantic Salmon and lots of big rainbows too. Oak orchard river is 28 miles from olcott on route 18 east, but about 24 miles out there you cross the Johnson creek.<br />
Johnson creek is a little smaller then the other two and has the same fish in it as 18 mile creek. It also happens to be nicely uncrowded as its not as large and frankly overlooked by most fisherman.<br />
Here you have to take the back roads to find the best fishing and I think that is why its overlooked.<br />
Johnson creek runs along 18 but it is easier to fish if you go off 18 onto the other road that runs along it and most guys don't want to be bothered doing that, and nobody carry's a map anymore.Get the Delorme map of NY its like 40 or 50 pages and has ALL BACK ROADS IN IT. Thats what I have used for 20 years now and I find ALL the best spots easy. <br />
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Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-91533769074525388592013-08-11T18:31:00.002-04:002013-08-19T13:57:41.159-04:00TRIP REPORT 8-11-13Captain Mike Corblies, Director of the American fly fishing schools and I just returned from our "Trout bum" tour of the north east. It was great. on Saturday the 2nd we went up to the Catskill fly fishing museum in Livingston manor NY to take part in "Summer fest" this festival takes place every year up there and fly shops and enthusiasts come from all over to take part. They have a cane rod casting competition that is sponsored by Hardy/Greys and that's pretty cool to watch as these guys can cast some fly line. The collection of bamboo rods there is very large you see every thing from Leonard,s to Payne,s to Garrisons to Dickerson, Orvis bamboo rods as well. I own many Orvis bamboo rods, mostly Battenkill and Madison as well as a 2wt Flea. I even own a mint Leonard Catskill and I fish them all. These rods were built to be fished, not put away in a closet. Dont let anyone tell you not to fish it cause its too valuable. Wheres the value if you cant fish it? If you break it, it can be fixed, if its lost, you can find another one. Orvis made THOUSANDS of these rods and they are everywhere on the internet. They are much more affordable then you might think. Or you can call Orvis and they will put you through to rod appraisers that also sell these older rods and they will have one to sell you or find someone who does. I know these guys and they will give you a great price. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY... Fish that rod! <br />
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We then we set off to the upper Delaware and stayed with A.F.F.S. members Ben and Cindy Rinker owner/operators of the east branch outfitters in Hankock NY. Here they own a beautiful old farmhouse right on the east branch of the Delaware river that is very large and very comfortable to stay in. My room had a window that was as large as the Queen sized bed and right next to it. I had the big dipper as my bunk mate for hours. In the morning we had to start our drive up to Willsboro NY in the Adirondacks to long pond lodge on long pond owned and operated by A.F.F.S. members Jane and Pete Casamento we stayed there for the night. and after breakfast we headed out to fish the Bouquet river just down the road. I caught one smallmouth bass that was very small and we went on to catch the ferry that goes across Lake Champlain to Vermont so we could continue on to Maine by way of Quebec Canada, its shorter to Go that way and drop back into Maine. We met A.F.F.S. member, Hal Blood owner of Ceder ridge outfitters in Jackman. Here we stayed in one of the many cabins he owns, it had two bedrooms and a main front room that also was the kitchen and living room. I love to cook so we bought groceries at the local store and I made dinner for Mike and I on a 4 burner gas stove with revere ware pots and pans that are in the cupboard. I have been to MANY lodges and cabins in my travels but this was by far the best place I have stayed ANYWHERE. Everything was clean and very comfortable. Tile floors throughout the whole cabin, shower stall was 4 ft by 5 1/2 ft with Plenty of hot water and great pressure, about 1000 channels on satellite TV and everything. BEST CABIN EVER!<br />
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The next morning we were met by Tom Hamilton. He is the CRO fishing guide who took us 14 miles up a very rough road to fish a brook trout pond. Here Tom and Mike fished out of an Old town canoe That the outfitter supplied and I fished out of one of our sponsors kayaks, the KC12 made by the KC KAYAK COMPANY in Louisianna. We fished wooly buggers and nymphs to some picky trout but had better luck on another pond down that rocky road where at about 700 pm we had some action on top with small caddis patterns.<br />
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That next morning @5.00am we headed out to Portsmouth New Hampshire some 210 miles away to meet A.F.F.S. member, Captain and guide Dave Guerard Owner of RIP TIDE CHARTERS to fly fish for stripers out of his 20 ft Lund Alaskan.We had lots of looks and two hookups with one fish @25 inches boated The bait-fish were small spearing called rainfish and our flies were twice that size so the stripers were not sold so well on them.<br />
The scenery was awesome with rocks a hundred yards long that had pine trees growin out of them and light houses that were very old and still in service. The water is crystal clear and stripers are everywhere.<br />
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We then drove 210 miles back and about 10 miles from the cabin, around 11.00 pm we saw three Moose in the road ,A Bull a Cow and a Calf. They first looked like stains on the road but grew out of the surface to become Moose that were just hangin out on the highway (one lane each direction) We slammed on the brakes and they trotted off the road. As we started away the male then charged for the truck on my side thinkin he could not let us near the calf,.. I guess,.. and made me about poop myself right there in the truck. Fortunately he stopped just before hitting my door. I said, "lets get back to the cabin Mike so I can have a beer" Mike says, "A beer sounds good Pauly...WOW!"<br />
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The next day we meet our pond fishing guide Tom again and head off to another pond to fish Brookies with LOTS MORE LUCK! it is raining, and as they say, you want to be as about as wet as they are and we were. They were taking caddis on top and they were not at all picky today. We caught the hell outta them.<br />
At times, it was as if the trout would real quick see where your fly was going and race there to eat it AS SOON AS IT HIT THE WATER, Like it was a game they play. This pond is only 10 to 12 ft deep in the middle and we were catching trout at the edges too. I missed one that jumped almost into my kayak and he was 16 inches @ about two lbs. Hook jawed and all! most were much smaller 8 to 12 inches but some have been caught to 5lbs in that pond.<br />
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The next morning we went 20 miles or so to Forks maine to meet A.F.F.S. members Chris Russell and Mike Pilsbury They along with Greg Caruso own the Kennebec river angler. We then headed out to the upper kennebec river gorge to float that river in avon rafts with rowing frames and two seats on each end for fishing out of. They lowered these rafts down a cliff on ropes and pulleys to the river shore and we walked down a 120 step staircase to launch. it looks a lot like the Lehigh river gorge with a lot more pines along the banks. It was also a very rainy day and the Land locked Atlantic salmon were on the bite. Kris Eaton came along as well. Kris works with them as a guide and was a lot of help to us as our party consisted of two rafts. <br />
We floated 7 miles and Fished a Caddis pattern of theirs and green body Caddis bead head nymphs that I so happened to bring with me. I caught 6 land-locks up to 16 inches @ 2 lbs just like that Brookie I missed the day before. Then I hooked a very large Salmon that I played on film for many minutes til it slipped the hook just two yards from the raft. The salmon don't get much over 22 inches and a 16 inches is a very good specimen, They said, so I was very happy even though I had lost A BIGGER ONE. Then we saw a young bull moose crossing the river downstream as we rounded a bend, and he stopped right in the middle when he saw us,.. stood there wonderin how we got there until Captain Mike Corblies in the camera raft floated down to him, then he turned back to where he came from and stumbled over to shore and ran up into the woods. That's now on film and will be shown at our seminars at the outdoor/fishing shows this coming winter. The guys all said they only saw moose in the river two other times in 23 years as the gorge is so steep they can't get in. That was cool... REALLY COOL!..... Not like our first encounter with another Bull Moose.<br />
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Then we headed off to Vermont to stay at the Red sled motel in Manchester for the night and then go to the The American fly fishing museum to take part in the summer fly show on Saturday the 10th. It was good to see fellow fly fishers there that I know and to catch up on all things to do with our sport. We had great weather and smiles all around. After a Wonderful diner at a very nice restaurant we then drove back home that night. <br />
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Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-82078609813783214542013-07-03T10:19:00.000-04:002013-07-10T13:56:37.129-04:00VIRGINIA BEACH TRIP 28-30TH JUNE Mike Corblies The Director of the American fly fishing schools and I just returned from the American outdoor show at the Virginia beach convention center in Virginia beach. We were joined AFFS sponsors, David Rose. the president of FREEDOM HAWK KAYAKS and Dan Dietz, national sales manager for KC KAYAKS Who displayed and demonstrated their stand up fishing kayaks in our 50x16ft casting pond in the center of the show. Go to www.americanflyfishingschools.com to purchase one for yourself. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-74139462034643612432013-05-07T16:23:00.002-04:002013-05-07T16:23:05.159-04:00TRIP TO CAMP ON PINE CREEK 27TH APRIL TO 6TH MAYWent out to my camp in tioga county pa to fish the Hendrickson hatch. I found the fishing good, the water low! I guess the snow was not so heavy this year AND it melted very fast cause of such warm weather so early. Almost every day was in the mid to high seventies this trip with no rain, it was cold at night but not as cold as it should be for this time of year. So the creek warms up! It got up into the low sixtys in the afternoons and that made for crazy caddis hatches. Thicker then I have ever seen there! Of course the fish were on a smaller caddis then the size 16 green body that was most of what was hatching, a size 18 black body was working well and the Hendricksons showed up a couple days after I did and you could get some fish on the spinner size 14 seemed best. BUT! most of my fish were on a size 18 beadhead caddis nymph that had some sparkle to it. I would fish 2 of these little suckers and 2 Hendrickson beadhead nymphs size 14 to 16 all tied off the bend of the hooks, an indicator 8ft up the leader from the last fly and very small split shot to get it down. I want to catch trout, not just cast a dry fly all day and get three fish. I know the nymph fishing I do is rough,can be hard to cast such a unwieldy rig but IT CATCHES TROUT! That is what I want to do! not wait til the dry fly fishing gets good next week or whatever, I want to get TROUT NOW!<br />
With low water you don't do too much on streamers so they did not do much for me but others had some luck as they beat the water harder then I did. As it turns out I caught fish every day both in the morning and after 6.00 pm til dark that is when the dry flies worked best, after 6.00 at night. The trip was great but I worry that the water wont be there for long if we don't get some real good amounts of rain. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-44477900921924395742013-04-26T09:56:00.000-04:002013-04-26T09:58:42.362-04:00MUSCONETCONG RIVER POINT MOUNTAIAN SECTIONLately I have been fishing the point mountain section of the musky and it has been great. I,m fishing mostly bead head pheasant tail nymphs sometimes with some split shot to get them down deep and slow the drift, small size 16-18 work good. I tie them on to the bend of the last one so I can fish three in a row. This is very effective but many fish foul hook themselves on the loose hooks that are floppin round when they fight. if I fish one fly I don't hook nearly as many fish two work better but three seems to be best. It can be a bear to cast at first but a slow roll cast does it and most of the time I only have 6 to 8 ft of fly line out of the tip as I,m high sticking anyway. This section is LOADED WITH TROUT! I have been there 5 times in the last two weeks and have caught trout every trip. it seems to fish better later in the day and drys work well in the slow pools. However I fish almost all nymphs as the local sharpies do just that and they know this section very well. Its a very rocky stretch and some boulders are the size of a pickup truck. This is what makes it such good holding water but also very tricky to wade. 4x fluorocarbon is what I fish as I find fish dont care much about fine leaders like so many say they do. I got crushed twice the other day by big trout that broke the 4x like it was 7This placed is so beautiful and easy hiking too as the trail is very good and easy to follow. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-77398643542051047982013-02-23T11:30:00.001-05:002013-02-24T19:45:23.566-05:00SAT FEB 23RD TRIP BACK TO THE PEQUEST Going back today to the same pocket I got the TWO BIG RAINBOWS from on Tues. Its going to snow then turn to rain. I think that should do something for the bite. The river seems to be holding at about the same level as Tues according to the USGS. site. Hope to have more great news when I get back.<br />
SUNDAY 24TH REPORT ON YESTERDAYS TRIP. <br />
Okay that's fishin! I went to that same run and within 10 mins I hooked AND LOST another great fish.<br />
It looked to be over 20 inches, at least as fat and a rainbow also. I decided to rest the pocket and try another spot downstream. I find an Island in the middle of the river and go to the downstream side of it where there is a rock about the size of my truck right in the middle of the tail out. I cast a few times and down goes my indicator I lift and I,m on what turns out to be about a 21 inch female rainbow and she slips my hook and foul hooks herself on the next hook down my leader. I play her for maybe two mins til she pops off at my feet Where I could clearly see she was ABOUT 21 inches.It seems today that the trout are just barely kissing the fly so it cant get a good hook set into them. I fish there some more with no luck so I go back to the magic spot as I now call it and find no takers there either. All in All I fished for two hours and had four strikes, so,.. not really a great day, BUT! If I had not gone, I would not have hooked those two big trout. Its Still better then watchin tv!!<br />
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If you want BIG FISH?..... Go to places NOBODY FISHES!<br />
Most guys fish within 100-200 yards of their truck, right next to all the other guys.<br />
IN THE HERD!.. Like Buffalo trampling over the same piece of water. <br />
Hike away from where you parked,.. like a 1/4 MILE AWAY, until you see no bootprints, then go a little further until you come to the next pool or run/pocket. There, you will be over "unmolested trout", trout that are not fished so hard. I find that the best fish will leave water that is Unsafe and swim up or down to where it is safe. AWAY FROM THE CROWD. Also Rainstorms spread them out. They still have good holding water with plenty of food and are left alone, Until I come along, it might be a week or more since they have seen any people. <br />
It takes 10 mins to walk there or less if the trail is not too overgrown with thorn bushes, watch out for these as they tear Gor-tex. If you follow my advice you will find IT PAYS OFF!! Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-48437466965894095192013-02-14T20:28:00.000-05:002013-02-23T00:48:28.179-05:00 WINTER TROUT FISHING TECHNIQUES<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O-YAlVLfcxI/UR2NL1YMDQI/AAAAAAAAABk/F_d-ECJ8Ve4/s1600/Paul+with+Dec+rainbow+at+Raritan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O-YAlVLfcxI/UR2NL1YMDQI/AAAAAAAAABk/F_d-ECJ8Ve4/s640/Paul+with+Dec+rainbow+at+Raritan.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">22 inch female Rainbow caught on a size 22 trico Christmas eve.</td></tr>
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UPDATE. FEB 19TH PEQUEST RIVER CAUGHT 2 TROUT TOTALING.. 7 AND A HALF POUNDS!! 19 1/4" 2.15 LBS MALE..25 1/2" 5.45 LBS FEMALE BOTH RAINBOWS<br />
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The short days of winter can be brightened by a trip to your favorite river or creek so long as the weather is warming a bit. This can be a great time to hook and play trout. Just like us trout have to eat EVERY DAY!<br />
As winter goes on, we all fish much less then we want to, in fact most of us don't fish at all.<br />
That should not be. I fish whenever I can, and find fish are willing to bite just about every trip out.<br />
They don't always bite but that's fishing. Its nice just to be casting a fly anyway and fishing is like the lottery,<br />
"YA GOTTA BE IN IT TO WIN IT" I have heard guys say there is not enough food for trout to eat all winter and they have to wait until spring to start feeding again, living only on their fat reserves.<br />
I am not a fisheries biologist, but many fly guys talk like they are. I find that trout do feed all winter because I,m out there fishing. Sure, some days you cant see anything going on as far as a hatch, but I still can get a few bites on Prince or Pheasant tail nymphs. Other days Trout will come to the top for blue winged olives and trico flies but that can sometimes last only a little while as warm temps cool fast in winter and the hatch will likely be sparse. Most of my fishing is with bead head nymphs this time of year. Dry fly fishing is slow but can be pretty good some days.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">25 1/2 INCHES 5.45 LBS FEMALE RAINBOW PHOTO TAKEN THE NEXT DAY</td></tr>
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Don't forget to use a streamer as trout will swim right out of a safe place to get a big meal. Sculpins and Dace minnows are still in the rivers and creeks in the winter and trout will dash out to eat them. You may find that you have to cast over and over before a hookup, big trout get pissed when you bombard them with casts but they will crush the fly sooner or later, just on Principle. Change colors, rabbit fur is best I find, leach flies and so on. Zonker flies work great for this. Just keep working each run then move on to the next and sooner or later the line will go tight. For Steamer fishing I like to use a sink tip line.RIO DC 150, this keeps the streamer down near the bottom and will get more strikes. I find that my largest trout will be on Streamers. With nymphs I can often catch more in numbers but not always in pounds. Streamers, maybe only three all day but 7lbs or more in fish. NOW ITS 2 FISH... ALL DAY! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> SAME FISH THE NIGHT I CAUGHT HER. ALL FINS FILLED IN PERFECT, IN THE RIVER A LONG TIME SHE WAS</td></tr>
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Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-45927477387969952002013-02-13T11:47:00.002-05:002013-02-20T00:40:03.605-05:00FEB 11TH TRIP TO THE POHOPOCO CREEK<br />
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FEMALE BROWN TROUT 12 INCHES<br />
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MALE BROWN TROUT 13 INCHES<br />
BOTH FISH RETURNED WITHOUT ANY HARM RIGHT AWAY<br />
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Mon the 11th was forecast to be 50 degrees so I made sure to go to my favorite spot on the Pohopoco creek locally known as the Big creek. <br />
It was running at a nice level, not too high and fast as it sometimes can after snow and then warm weather. When this happens The Dam (Beltsville) will be opened up and it can run very high and fast. This can make fishing tough as you cant get a slow enough drift. But this was not the case on the 11th or 12th.<br />
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I waited til afternoon to fish so the water had more time to warm up. I fished my 5wt Winston LT with a Rio 5wt nymph line and a 6ft leader tied down to 4x Fluorocarbon. On my leader I tied three pheasant tail nymphs, second and third tied off the bend of the hook. Two size 18, last one size 16 all Beadhead.<br />
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The fishing was very good and in the first hour I caught 4 and missed two, all browns to 13 inches.<br />
I,m using a fish pimp indicator and have fed the leader trough the middle of it and used the rubber tube to hold the line in place. This keeps the indicator where you want it. With the line Though the indicator it wont fall off my leader. I also used two very small split shot about 8 inches up from my first nymph to get them down to the bottom and slow the drift as winter Trout wont move awful fast or come off the bottom to far the eat.<br />
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I fish til 530 and catch 6 total and missed about 3, dropped two, All browns,<br />
one was wild @ 8 inches. ALL IN ONE RUN! I did not have to move up or down creek at all.<br />
Trout will come up out of the Lehigh River to the warmer water of this creek and stay all winter. <br />
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This just proves that you can catch Trout anytime of year.<br />
Just like us TROUT HAVE TO EAT EVERY DAY!<br />
The New Moon helped as I do find there can be more action during that time. <br />
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Go out and fish anytime it gets a little warmer. it makes winter go faster and a little less of a DRAG! <br />
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Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-90638276510917069112012-11-20T15:23:00.002-05:002013-02-24T19:52:50.974-05:00OAK ORCHARD RIVER/18 MILE CREEK TRIP 11/12-11/17 2012 I went up to Olcott NY on Sunday the 11th to fish Oak orchard river and 18 mile creek with some friends.<br />
We went to Oak orchard river and fished the archery club section of water on mon the 12th and found it full of Trout and Steelhead, mostly brown Trout were in spawning with a few Rainbows and some Steelhead and just a couple Chinook salmon.<br />
I was fishing my Winston bllx 7wt rod with a Rio nymph line with a 10ft leader tied down to 2x Fluorocarbon. I tied on a size 10 green Caddis nymph and made short roll casts to the fish that were stacked up. After a short time the line went tight and I was on my first brown Trout of the trip, a healthy 8 lb male.<br />
There was so many fish being caught by other fisherman that it was hard to watch my own line. The guy next to me hooked and landed the most beautiful Rainbow Trout I ever saw!<br />
It was a 10lb male and the color was Incredible!,Crimson red bar down its side, hooked jaw all toothy, it was amazing! I start fishing again and then later hooked another brown trout that pulled the fly out as he was just not havin anything to do with it. The air temp in the afternoon was so warm I was down to my tee shirt.<br />
Then I saw an Atlantic Salmon caught that had to go 12lbs. That did it! I am always going to come up here to fish. Pulaski is great,but if you want less crowds and a more relaxed atmosphere this is the place!! For instance,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10 LB MALE AND A 13LB FEMALE BOTH BROWN TROUT ON MY 1948 ORVIS MADISON BAMBOO 8WT ROD</td></tr>
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1. Oak orchard has the Archery club where you can park right next to the river rather than hike down to it.<br />
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2. They have a new Cooking/Picnicking Pavilion where they make a big breakfast for anyone 5 bucks a pop.<br />
they do this at 6.00 every morning and at 11.00 am they serve lunch for 7 bucks. This way you can fish .<br />
all day long and not have to worry about going off river and drive to find a place to eat or take your waders off.<br />
They also have picnic tables right on the river bank that you can eat your own food on. I bring my Coleman stove and cook my own lunch right there on these tables when I feel like it.<br />
They are also BEER FRIENDLY!! Thats to say you can BYOB with no problem from club owners. I don't go fishing to drink but its nice to have one or two with lunch! THEY ALSO HAVE CLEAN TOILETS!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9 1/2 LB STEELIE</td></tr>
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3. It seems that all the people that fish this place are there to relax and have fun and not kill their limit.<br />
In fact I met a few guys that said take "This run were going up to eat", and one of them gave Me a scud pattern he said worked well.. and IT DID! <br />
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4.The river itself is much easier to wade! there are hardly any stones bigger than an orange in the section right in front of the parking lot. and that has got to be 600 to 700 feet long. You can beach a fish nicely on the bottom in the shallows and not stumble around walking backwards doing it. As I have Gout this is so nice! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ANOTHER BIG MALE ON A 64 YEAR OLD BAMBOO ROD<br />
IF YOU HAVE A BAMBOO ROD DON'T KEEP IT IN THE CLOSET GO FISH IT</td></tr>
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18 mile creek is right in Olcott NY. And one mile from the Lighthouse motel where we stayed is the Fisherman's park. They charge 3.00 dollars to park there and its just a short hike down to the trestle pool.<br />
on Tuesday we found it full of Browns and had great fishing with only a few people around.<br />
the fish were reasonably accommodating, that's to say they would bite the right fly if you threw it in the water enough times. Most Fisherman were using egg fly patterns., orange, pink, yellow, and chartreuse green.<br />
I was using green scuds size 10 that i bought the night before and they were working great!<br />
we would fish til say 10.30 am then go back to the motel and get warm, eat, hang out awhile then go back at 2.00 pm and fish til dark. We caught almost all browns there and after a couple days I really wanted a Steelhead. So on Friday I went by myself back to Oak orchard and fished there for the day.I pulled out my 1948 Orvis Madison bamboo rod for this place as the fishing conditions are so easy that I wont likely fall down and break it. but I have to say this about bamboo, it can be fixed so don't sweat it! Take it and go have fun! This rod fishes an 8wt line perfect, so I use an 8wt Rio nymph line on it. Its lots of fun!<br />
I fish right in front of the lot most of the day and get 5 browns up to 11 lbs. <br />
Finally in the afternoon I hooked and landed my Steelie. She was a 27 inch 9 1/2 lb beauty!<br />
The very next fish was a hook-jawed Rainbow that had to go 8lbs. Against my better judgement I let a guy try to net it for me, it saw the net, had a tantrum and BENT THE HOOK! OOOHHHHHHHHHHH!<br />
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I JUST WANTED TO HOLD THAT FISH!<br />
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I SHOULD have walked that fish down to the shallows, where it COULD NOT swim well and I WOULD have been able to beach it!<br />
This is where the saying.. SHOULDA..COULDA..WOULDA comes from.<br />
And nothing in life is MORE EXPENSIVE THAN REGRET!<br />
Oh well I,ll get that fish next year when hes a MONSTER! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">14LB FEMALE BROWN TROUT</td></tr>
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Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-20122144945295797092012-10-20T14:47:00.004-04:002012-10-21T21:40:49.598-04:00OCT 19TH TRIP TO KEN LOCKWOOD GORGE IN NJ Yesterday I went out to the Ken Lockwood Gorge in Califon NJ.<br />
The place I first learned Fly Fishing over 25 years ago.<br />
It had started raining early in the morning and I knew this should turn on the Fish to feed as the water has been so low for so long.<br />
The trout are now spawning and will take an egg pattern Fly if its the same size as their eggs.<br />
Back at my Moms house,<br />
The house I grew up in, the South Branch of the raritan River Runs right behind it.<br />
this is some 20 miles downstream from Califon and the water was already chocolate brown when I left her house.<br />
But up here in the the Gorge it was just starting to come up a bit and get a little of color.<br />
This time of year you will often cast a lot before a hookup, and today was no different.<br />
but after a while I caught a 13 inch brown trout on the pale yellow egg Fly I was casting.<br />
It was a male and very colorful! I fish awhile longer and moved down to another pool.<br />
There I saw many Caddis Flies starting to come off so I switched to bead head Pheasant tails, two size 14 and one size sixteen at the top I tie these flies onto my tippet off of the bend of the next fly about 6 to 7 inches apart. You can use an indicator up the leader if you want, this can work very well.<br />
After some time I hook another fish, This one a Brook Trout, its about 12 inches and real pretty!<br />
I stop fishing to eat a sandwich and just sit and watch the water for some time. <br />
Its now starting to get a little more off color now and come up the bank a bit but the leaves are not to thick in the water yet so I then start to Fish with a big Rabbit fur fly that a guy I know swears by. He ties it on a long shank hook with a stinger hook in back. its dyed dark olive and about 3 inches long. The stinger hook helps hook fish as they whack it short to see what it is and maybe stun it before eating it as it looks like it might bite back. That is what I think they do anyway.<br />
I fish this with a sink tip line as you want to fish these type of Flies very close to the bottom.<br />
a Teeny 130 is perfect for this BUT! they don't make it anymore so now I fish the Rio dc 150 and that works great as well. STRIP IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT! QUICK 10 INCH STRIPS! they dash for it. <br />
I fish this for some time and WHAM! I hook a real good trout! It turns out to be a solid 3lb female Brookie @ 17 inches and full of eggs I land her and let her go like all the rest, Giving her just a BIGGER GRIN! Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-87423342554908265312012-10-20T13:59:00.001-04:002013-02-22T15:56:54.716-05:00FRIDAY 12TH OCT TRIP TO PULASKI NYThe Director of the American Fly Fishing Schools, Mike Corblies called me about going up to the Salmon River in Pulaski NY to meet up and fish with Kevin Margosian of BIG KEVS GUIDE SERVICE.<br />
jmargosian@hvwisp.net phone 518 470 7908 <br />
Kevin has become our newest member in American Fly Fishing Schools. He invited Mike and I up to fish with him.<br />
very early that morning he picked us up at our motel and off we went to the Salmon river.<br />
Well before dawn we walked out into and up river to get to our run we fished at dawn.<br />
Local law states the fishing can only be done at 1/2 HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE UNTIL 1/2 AFTER SUNSET. So we waited until 6.45 am and started fishing egg pattern flies.<br />
Within minutes we had action, Chinook or (king) Salmon as well as Steelhead were stacked in the run we were on and they took flies every 10 to 20 casts.<br />
Kevin has been fishing this River since he was 9 years old he is now 39 and knows it better than just about anyone. He would make a few casts and hook a Steelie that he was just pointing out to Mike and I.<br />
when the light came up enough Mike had put the Fly rod aside and started filming.<br />
I hooked a King that swam downstream at first, saw all the other sports in the water and went back up past me, and like Joe Morris of the Giants back in the day just kept on going, pulling the Fly about 50 yards upstream.<br />
Just like most fish, he managed to "GET AWAY!"<br />
After more than three hours we landed three kings up to 30 pounds and two steelies up to 9 lbs, but had many more than that hooked and lost. <br />
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-87942376526052878452012-04-27T20:59:00.001-04:002012-04-27T21:20:09.791-04:00APRIL 26TH TRIP TO POHOPOCOTook a Guy to fish the Pohopoco yesterday and just caught the hell outta them!<br />
got to the falls up by the dam at 800 am and by 830 we caught three browns and one brookie.<br />
fished awhile longer and then moved down stream and found lots more willing fish.<br />
they were taking a size 16 tan body elk hair Caddis. The sky was nicely overcast and that made the fishing great! Every time we moved to another spot we caught more fish, LOTS MORE! We fished all day, ate lunch very quick and did not have any slow down in action. It was Awesome! you could cast upstream and let the fly drift down, across and let it swing, the fish did not care, you could even drag it upstream and some would strike it. by 830 pm my client had landed 18 browns up to 16 inches and one brookie, dropped or lost probably at least that many. We were beat but very happy!<br />
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-46123026715952005902011-12-11T16:09:00.004-05:002013-02-23T00:38:30.567-05:00NOVEMBER 2ND TRIP TO OSWEGO NYA good friend of mine and my most frequent Client John Farhy booked us a trip with Guide John Dembeck up in Oswego NY. At 7 am he picked us up at our motel and off we went to fish the Sterling Creek.<br />
We drove in our Guides truck to an open water section of the creek and started fishing egg pattern flies.<br />
We are targeting the Brown Trout that are coming up out of Lake Ontario to spawn. These Trout can go very large and this creek is very small! Right away our Guide points downstream to fish that are swimming up, pushing a wake out in front of them. This is really something to see as normally Brown Trout wont show themselves most any other time. Were fishing with an indicator up a few feet from the fly. These fish will eat eggs as they are falling down creek out of the redds (egg beds) so the fly should be drifted very close to the bottom. its pretty much bobber fishing but it works. Here we don't get much action so we move to another spot. <br />
We get back in the truck and John take us to a private stretch on the creek That he posts and patrols, and we find more willing fish.John puts me in a brushy but target rich run and heads off with my buddy to fish water that is not so tight to cast on. My spot is maybe 8 ft wide and 1 ft deep it tails out into less than 2 ft of water.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A SOLID 10LB MALE BROWN TROUT RELEASED RIGHT AFTER THIS PHOTO</td></tr>
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I can see males fighting for space closest to the female so they can fertilize her eggs. Their backs are out of the water and they roll around and bite each other trying to become the guy to make the next generation of fish. <br />
I fish this while standing in heavy thicket out of eye-shot of these Trout. I have maybe 5 ft of fly line out the tip of the rod and am roll casting this egg fly over and over until I lift for my next cast and the line gets tight!<br />
Its a big Brown and he starts swimin round the run as best he can trying to shake/brake loose. I get him to the side soon and hes a healthy 10 lbs. After a quick picture I take with my phone I let him go back to his station. Then I try a spot a few yards upstream and right away hook a Steelhead that has an absolute FIT! I find out finally why Santa Claus laughs the way he does, its gotta be CAUSE HES SO HAPPY! I now know hes gotta be a Steelhead fisherman. <br />
This fish was jumpin and flipin 5 times a second, it was the coolest thing I ever saw! After a very short fight I landed her on a sandy gravel bank and let her go right away she was 6 lbs and REALLY PISSED? I then wander down to see how my buddy John is doing just in time to see him get an 8lb male brown that I took a picture of him and our Guide holding. If you can get up to Oswego NY in early to mid November you can find these Trout and Steelhead up The Oswego Creek as well as the Sterling and many of the other creeks there. Do some homework first and you can find great fishing away from the crowds! <br />
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-13040897584435865682011-12-09T16:30:00.005-05:002013-02-23T00:40:24.490-05:00September trip to Alaska<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 15 LB SILVER SALMON I GOT RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE SHIP</td></tr>
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Moms wanted me to take a cruise now for sometime., and I just could not really get excited about it, thinking it was not for me. The idea of being stuck on a boat with people I don't know and otherwise would probably not want to, did not appeal to me. Then she said "How about Alaska?" Well that got my attention! I said OK but don't book anything til I find out more. I called some friends who had been there and one of them told me about ALL the creeks to go fish as he had been there 6 times and knew them very well.<br />
Joe Fusco gave me all the info I needed to fish in all the places the ship stopped in and I will be forever grateful to him for that! Mom and I flew to Seattle Washington then Boarded the Celebrity Infinity. This is an enormous ship 987ft long with 105ft beam. 14 decks and lots of incredible food,Pools filled with saltwater and heated as I later learned.I don't know how many Bars and Restaurants but you could probably eat and drink for weeks and not get board with this place. Its a hotel on the ocean! A really,really, BIG ONE!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 9LB HUMPBACK SALMON ON TIABA CREEK ICY POINT STRAGHT AK</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> NOBODY OUT THERE BUT ME</td></tr>
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So they shove off and we are on our way. I go to this outside Bar on one of the upper decks and have many 10 dollar martinis. And become VERY HAPPY to be on this trip. We sail for a day and a half, get to Ketchikan, AK. I get off the ship and its pouring rain, the wind is so strong I figure there's no way I can cast. I see this bar, The Sourdough inn as I recall, and I go in. Its 730 am and the bartender says "you can have a drink at eight"So I get coffee like the other three guys are having and every couple mins another would come through the door, some with their own smoked salmon that they caught and smoked themselves. Today is Sunday and like in most towns they are in to watch the games and drink a few beers.right at eight they all order shots and beers and the moods brighten considerably. The guy next to me says, as he looks at my carry on bag "Ya stayin awhile?" I tell him, yeah, all day if I can get some fish. Then I explain that my bag has my fly gear in it. you don't want to check that stuff through so some baggage handler can beat it around like they do.I have two pints of local stout and around 900 the wind lets up a little so I go off to the car rental agent, get a car and go to Ward lake about 8 miles from town.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A RIVER OF ICE POURING DOWN THE TRACY ARM FIORD. THIS PIC TAKEN BY ME STANDING ON OUR STATEROOM TERRACE. YOU CANT SEE HOW BLUE THAT CHUNK REALLY WAS</td></tr>
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The best thing about September in Alaska is that like the Jersey Shore was 30 years ago Everybody goes home after Labor day. So you have these little towns all to yourself. Even the locals are more relaxed! <br />
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I,m stringing up my eight wt rod wondering if the fish are up in out of the Sea. I look at the creek running into the lake just in time to see a hump back Salmon jump and I,m like YEAH! I wade in make three casts and BANG! I,m on my first Alaskan Salmon, about an 8 lb hump back then I got another, then a Coho 10 lbs <br />
The lake is maybe 10 acres and it had to have hundreds of salmon in it.Mostly Humpback and Cohos with a few Chinook in with them. Salmon in Alaska are hungry ALL THE TIME! not like up in NY where you make sometimes 100 casts a fish. Its like they know how much it costs to get there and figure "lets have some fun!"<br />
The clock spins real fast when your BUSY catching Salmon. I caught 12 before I stopped to have a smoke. And it was time to get back to the ship way too soon. Oh well I thought, I have three more ports I should do ok. Little did I know how well I would! Juneau,Skagway then Icy straight point. I rent a car in Juneau but I don't go more than three miles from the ship and start fishing in the ocean right off a Jetty. Its so beautiful I don't know weather to fish or just look around and grin so I do both! Before I know it the line goes tight,real tight! I play this fish for 6 to 7 mins it had to weigh 15 lbs its a really silver Coho Salmon and its Beautiful!<br />
I catch three more cohos up to 12 lbs then take a ride to Peterson creek 28 miles up the road. There are 6 local guys fishing in a run that looks real good but I just sat on the bank and had a couple beers and watched them for the rest of the afternoon, ate a sandwich and just grinned!<br />
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Skagway is very small and has one little creek that was filled with dieing Hump backs. so I met Mom at the train and took the greatest ride up the mountains into Canada. The White pass railroad If you go there you MUST take this trip! It gives new meaning to the word AWESOME!<br />
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Icy straight point is a really remote place that has 740 people year round and an airport next to the Tiaba creek for 5 bucks you can get a taxi there or walk its only 1 mile. DON'T cross the runway, Walk around it to the creek. The day I was there it had more fish than water in it! I could not see for the tears of joy! As I put my rod together my hands were shaking like crazy! just like the other places I was fishing an egg pattern but just about anything that's pink will work. Make a cast, hook a salmon! I,m blowin snot bubbles over how many fish there are AND GRINNIN!<br />
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Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-69111714138370031982011-06-30T15:23:00.000-04:002011-06-30T15:23:12.890-04:00Thursday 30th JuneI Just got back from the Pohopoco Creek. Today the fishing was great!<br />
I was busy all morning catching fish, mostly Browns with some Rainbows mixed <br />
The State must have put them in. these fish were on Sulphers and Caddis.<br />
When the fish would slow down on the Dry Fly I would switch to a light hares ear or<br />
Pheasant tail nymph. No bead as the fish would be up high in the water near the surface. <br />
All of these flies were size 16.<br />
To me this just proves that fishing on or around the new Moon is key. Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-45637115146125514472011-05-11T15:58:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:27:28.438-04:00MAY 10TH TRIP UPSTATE PAYesterday My friend John F. and I went to his club water on a tributary to the lacawaxen river up in Wayne county. We had great fishing! at about 10 am the little golden stone flies started to come off and for what seems like the first time this year trout were taking them OFF THE SURFACE! <br />
We were very happy to see this. With all the rain this spring on top of all the snow this past winter the water temps have been cold for a long time.<br />
yesterday temp finally came up to 56 degrees at 100 pm. and we were catching fish on top for the first time this year. The trout were not picky at all and we caught them on yellow sally nymphs size 14 and golden stone fly drys 14 as well<br />
John got a rainbow that was 17 1/2 inches at about just shy of 3 pounds. that fish took a nymph.<br />
I got two browns one 14 and the other 15 inches on a green body Caddis size 16 and we both had many fish missed as well as dropped/lost.<br />
It seems now with the air temps in the 70s we can count on Dry fly fishing to be very good here on out!<br />
My hunch is this summer is going to get hot fast so go now before its to warm for fish to be caught and handled without stressing them to the point that they wont survive it.<br />
Many fish are killed this way every year and fishermen don't even know the fish they just released is now dead on the bottom.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-41847642623044062512011-01-15T15:58:00.001-05:002011-01-20T22:27:14.141-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3GP5ceTK3Ig/TTIKZiJvO8I/AAAAAAAAAA4/f8fRmRqJ1-U/s1600/AFFSlogo%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3GP5ceTK3Ig/TTIKZiJvO8I/AAAAAAAAAA4/f8fRmRqJ1-U/s320/AFFSlogo%255B2%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a><b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>American Fly Fishing Schools Fly Casting Instructor/Guide</b></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-43166493301721460202011-01-03T14:44:00.001-05:002011-01-03T21:30:35.266-05:00Jan 1st, First day of 2011New years Eve had been very warm, as was the day before., so it looked good for a trip out to the Pohopoco Creek. This is a Tailwater that comes out below the Dam at Beltzville reservoir a few miles up creek from the Lehigh river. In Winter it does not freeze like most all other streams.<br />
I called a friend, Dale Leader from Yardley and he came out to my house and we headed out to Parryville Dam where the Big creek as its locally known falls overtop of and runs a few hundred feet down to the Lehigh river. I was happy to see that we were not alone as three others showed up to fish this stretch as well. Its good to see the cold does not keep people from using their resource.<br />
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Dress warm and go have fun! Plenty of room for everyone!<br />
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There is a lot of Trout in this creek all the way up to the Beltzville dam. its a good place for fish to get out of the colder water of the Lehigh river. Fishing this in Winter can be very productive.<br />
We started fishing about 10 am but did not start catching until about 12.30 when a hatch of some small flies came off the water. The trout were taking size 16 to 18 beadhead pheasant tails and I caught one nice brown about 13 inches and missed a couple more as these fish strike so slowly you miss many more than you hook.<br />
They will also take Big streamers like muddler minnows, clousers, woolly buggers and stuff like that.<br />
This time of year a Trout will take anything that comes along as so little food is available.<br />
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So like I said, Dress warm and go have fun!<br />
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668757792452482094.post-4343111522859949162010-10-29T13:14:00.002-04:002010-10-30T15:31:06.588-04:00Oct 29th last trip to camp for the yearSad to say that the year is finished for camping.<br />
I pulled the camper up the hill from where it stays all Spring, Summer and Fall down by the Pine creek. The winter weather is too wet/Snowy to leave your camper down for fear of flooding. so yet another year is over.<br />
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This Summer was very dry and I did not go to the camp much at all after the middle of June, and when the rain finally fell it was way into Sept already. Back in July three inches of rain fell and the fishing was good for about 3 days and that was all., other than that it was dry.<br />
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When they said rain was coming in the last week of Sept I went out and found fish then a near flood! rain total was 2.61 for the 29th. And it rained again Mon and Tues nights this week so the water was up and the fishing was spotty, but got a few and one at 18 1/2 inches about three pounds., all Browns, all in the camp. These fish are spawning now like the the Brook trout and the Rainbows, and ALL should be returned to the creek so they can get on with the spawn!<br />
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I am looking forward to next year and hope that it will be more like last year 09, the wettest in many years. The wettest month believe it or not was August 5.90 inches fell.The fish were able to stay put and that made it the best year Ive had yet on the Pine creek! I hope it happens again! Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966215368813940482noreply@blogger.com2