Wet Spring

First my apologies for not posting as often as I usually do, life, holidays and taxes made this April a bear of a month.

Here in the east we are having a very wet and until recent cool spring.  This shouldn't be taken as a complaint, because so far this is a good water year (I hope it keeps going through July).  However with all the rain the stream has put the local rivers at high level some times even unsafe levels to wade.  Keeping me off the water on some days.  On the other hand the fish are healthy and on the bite.  With the weather as it's been I've not gotten out for some dry fly action, but nymphing is producing.

Rather than talking about the flies, technique, and what's been producing I'm going to let the photographs tell the story.

Enjoy.

River Clean-up

Point Mountain section.

Every year Central Jersey TU (my chapter) as well as other NJ TU chapters in association with Musconetcong Watershed Association and South Branch Watershed Association have there annual river clean-up.  This year it was cloudy and cold but once we started to walk the banks of the river we warmed up quite quickly.  The big hauls were several tires, a mattress, and ton of bottles, cans and coffee cups.  It's amazing how every year we manage to pick-up lots of garbage (everyone felt there was less this year).  At least this year there were large items like  shopping carts and washing machines (a good sign). We were out on the Musconetcong river and our group spent four hours cleaning up a 4 mile section of river.  We were lucky, the rains held off until after the clean-up and lunch. 

River Road and Rt. 31 section.

Can and bottle in the clear bags.

Open Day Weekend

Opening day of trout season one can say is no different than any other day on a trout stream. After all the trout and the bugs don't know what day it is, they are in the business of survival and sex. While we also concern ourselves with sex and survival we add rituals help us mark time and remember.

One ritual I and many other anglers partake in is opening day of trout season. Some states have longer close season so trout may reproduce and the young of the year have a fair chance of developing. Whether your streams are closed for three weeks or several months opening day opens the possibilities of trophy trout, socializing with friends, and enjoying nature.

We pass on these traditions and rituals to our offspring sharing experience and memories. Here are some photographs of this years trout opening day weekend. I only guided my oldest son this weekend and didn't wet a line once. With the smiles on his face there was no need.

First cast, eyes on the drift.

Caddis focused on one thing.

"Caddis Porn"

Trout to the net.

Grip and Grin

Grip and Grin take two.

Fish of the day, need I say more.

With all the caddis on the rocks the trout were readily taking a Hare's Ear Nymph and Hare's Ear Winged Wet on the swing.

Costa Presents...Fly Fishing Film Tour hits NYC

For the last four years The Fly Fishing Film Tour has become the fishing entertainment event. The Film Tour is making it's New York City stop on April 6th, 2011 (sorry for the late notice). The tour showcases some of the best independent outdoor film makers. 

The Film Tour will be hosted by Urban Angler in New York, NY at the Helen Mills Theater - 139 West 26th Street (between 6th & 7th Avenue) New York, NY 10001

Directions to The Helen Mills Theater

There will be 90 minutes of fly fishing excitement, drama, and lore.

April 6th, 2010. $20 advance / $25 door. Doors open at 6:45pm, film starts at 7pm.

To buy tickets in advance go to http://shop.urbanangler.com/store/pc/Fly-Fishing-Film-Tour-Ticket-NY-April-6th-2011-96p7671.htm or pay at the door.

If your in the city maybe I see you there...

Some patterns just stand out.

Our streams close for three weeks before the state opener (this year 4/9/11), but I managed to get three hours in before it closed.  I noticed after reviewing my photos for the which pattern was the most effective.  Drum roll...Ice Pheasent Tail Jig. Now credit needs to be given to Johan Klingberg; he taught me the pattern. Many thanks Johan; it's a winner.  I've found it to be a great early season pattern. Here are some photos from that day:

Tie up some I know you'll be glad you did.

Fly and Fin - CDC Prince

 This is my variation on a classic prince nymph pattern.  I use red wire and substitute rust CDC for the traditional hen.  The CDC add a lot of motion to the fly and it's one of my most productive early season patterns. Tie some with or with out the bead and let me know how it works for you.

Little Black Stone Fly

Little Black Stone

Depending on the weather February through April the Little Black Stone Fly is the first top water action of the season.  It happens quick so be prepared.  Trout do key in on these little morsels, especially the fluttering and skittering females returning to lay their eggs. With the recent cold spell and spring snow these bugs should be around well into April.

They range in size from this chunky size 14 down to 20.

A pattern I've use with great success is my CDC Little Black Stone tied in sizes 14 - 18.  It's best fished slightly upstream and skittering it across the pool.  This pattern works well as a black caddis imitation.

Authentic Tenkara Net Auction to aid Japan Relief Efforts

In the wake of the recent earthquake and tsunami TenkaraUSA is auctioning off a very rare authentic Tenkara net.

The net was made by Ikichi-san, one of the last tenkara net makers in Japan. It is made from a single branch of the Kaya tree. Tenkara nets are becoming rarer with few makers and fewer trees with the right shapes and angles. This may be the only opportunity to acquire this type of net in the US.

The net is being auctioned on eBay and will end on March 19, 2011 at 19:54:02 PDT.  To bid on this net and aid in the Japan relief efforts go to http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Authentic-Tenkara-Net-Japan-Relief-donation-/320670445593.

100% of the proceeds will go to the relief efforts.

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.