Upper Housatonic Report

Thats really good water, I have fished it many times and it doesnt get alot of pressure. In fact the housy in Mass is pretty good overall(very underrated). I have been in Colorado for around 6 mos. Fished every week since I got here which is great but there is definitely something nice about the home streams in new england. Dont get me wrong the Platte is great and only 35 mins away. The Arkansas is on Fire! Fished soft hackles through the caddis hatch last friday and was getting disgusted looks from all the anglers around...hammering fish on every 3rd or 4th cast. I am going to try to employ some wet flys on the South Platte this year. I know the majority of the forage is very small but I think the fish are immune to the PT, RSII, San Juan cycle that never ends on this river...

Brookie.
There may be some reasons why you did not get fish to take when fishing dead drift.
Which may be related to choice and size of flies and presentation, which would include length of leader. Typically l will use a longer leader when fishing this way with 5x and may be 6 at times depending on fly size.

Look at it like this, if the fish take the fly dead drift they do so because it looks like a natural food source tracking downstream. If they take it on the swing they do so due to the movement, all be it here will be certain flies that will trigger a better response at times.

Therefore, in the case of upstream use flies that are more imitative, a Peter Ross would not be in this category, but it may be the anchor fly l use to control the two flies above it, such as spiders and soft hackles.

PP Your goodies are on the way.

Davy.

Also, I would say that confidence in the technique is a major factor to consider when choosing the way that you are going to fish. I would rate the soft hackle as equally productive in that stretch of water. The only exception would be the deep runs below the dam at the top of the stretch. However, I would not have said the same thing if I did not see how well they work, when properly fished. They are my number one choice for shallow riffles now.

I went back up there today and had a great time. I landed a big bunch of stockies and some really pretty wild fish. The fish were from 10-14in, regrettably, nothing bigger. I also tangled with an ~8-10lb carp, a real thrill for me on 5X. I came close to getting it in the net, as I really wanted a good picture to post! In the last part of the battle, the great beast rolled and broke me off. The carp hit a size 12 Prince.

The list of hatches is growing. I saw Cahills today, tan caddis and yellow sallies.

Here are some pictures.

Almost there:
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0060.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0059.jpg

The river is so pretty:
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0065.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0066.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0068.jpg

This is never a good sign, especially in a catch and release artificial lures only stretch!
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0067.jpg

Me in my crazy goretex rain hat the "Seattle Sombrero." This hat is awesome!
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0071.jpg

and finally, the boss, a great-looking wild fish
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0072.jpg
with the characteristic "blue dot"
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...9/IMG_0074.jpg

I stopped to fish in CT for an hour on the way home. The Hous in Cornwall area is simply rotten with fish. I was telling Aaron that you could literally catch a rainbow there with a handline. I think I landed 8 rainbows in that time.

Great looking fish Alain. That brown has the blackest black spots I've ever seen, it looks like a leopard. I wish you had got the carp that would have been awsome. I love the hat, I've got a full brim waxed cotton rain hat that I like so much I just wear it all the time.

Nick: thanks a lot. I also spooked a half dozen carp in the 4-6lb range, they seemed to be everywhere. They are extremely spooky. I forgot to mention that I also landed 5 smallmouth and one 12in brook trout. I bought the hat from a huge fly-fishing retailer with a 50% off coupon. It truly keeps your head dry even in a heavy rain.

Looks like you are about to go into the "outback". ;D

You should try hooking some of those carp. You would be surprised how hard they can be to catch because they are so spooky. They also eat nymphs.

VT: I did hook that one on a nymph, just not intentionally. That fish hit the "lime" prince.