Opening window between storms.

Here in New Jersey we've been hit with a lot of rain this past week. As you can see from my "Finally a Day on the Water - NOT" there was a lot of water in our system. Here is a graph from the USGS of the stream I frequent.

Now I typically monitor several streams I fish to determine which has the best water so I can have a better fishing. Factor in time of year and temperatures you'll have a good chance in predicting hatches with this information. Cabin fever is a funny thing. Normally don't fish this river when it's above 7 feet, because is wading is hell, but the fever had me in it's hold so I went for it.

The best that could happen is I get a few fish, and the worst is I going for a swim and bouncing down stream. Neither happen. What transpired was a unbelievable day . Once I found the fish it was hard keeping them off off. The sad note was I lost two 24" fish. A rainbow that shot out to fast water and took off down stream (I could do nothing unless I want to go for a swim), and a brown I lost at the net when my point fly got hooked the net, and the brown broke off. No regrets like I said it was an incredible day. The top producer was a black rubber leg stone fly. All the fish were in great shape thanks to all the snow and rain this winter.

Here are a few photos.

This Bow took the UV Chewee Rock Worm.

This Bow took the Black Rubber Leg.

Healthy brown.

Another on a Black Rubber Leg.

A healthy Rainbow.

This Bow took the The Gubbler.

My Green Rock Work worked this time.

The Release.

Yet another on a Black Rubber Leg.

Finally a Day on the Water - NOT

It's been a cold long winter here in the east.  Finally, the temperatures rose and the snow started to melt, but than came the rains.  Because it was so cold for so long and the melt was slow the streams are in great shape.  The ground water seems to be recharged and I thought I could get out, but then the rains came.

Flood stage is at 10' the USGS gauge
read 9.8' when I took this photo.

Sunny day, temperatures in the high forties, but way am I going to get my flies on the bottom and forget fishing the edges.  Too boot there is more rain on the way I'm crossing my fingers that I can squeeze in some time before the next storm. I love to have water in the system, but I've got cabin fever.