U were working, I was fishing
Here are some pix for u working stiffs. And yes, I'll be fishing again on Tuesday while you are back at work.
2nd & best fish of the day-
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09003.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09004.jpg
It came out of this relatively shallow lie-
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09005.jpg
Healthy 'Bow-
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09006.jpg
This Brownie couldn't resist my awesome Cased Caddis pattern-
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09007.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09008.jpg
Made another pass thru the run with a smaller fly, and.....
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09009.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09010.jpg
Last spot produced zero on the first pass down thru with my tried & trusty trio of nymphs, so I chopped all 3 off & replaced with totally different patterns. In fairly rapid succession, these 3 nice fish all came to hand-
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09012.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09013.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...3-23-09014.jpg
Water temps were cold today, varying from 36 to 38 degrees. Air temps never got out of the 30's, and it was windy, gusting up to near 30 mph. And I had the river all to myself, only saw one other angler all day. Wrapped in thermals, windblock fleece & fingerless gloves, I was warm as toast. Think of me while you're sitting in your cubicle at work on Tuesday. Muah.
Re: U were working, I was fishing
Just on my way to work and thought I work check email and the forums before I head out. Wow, nice success. One thing amazes me when I take a moment to watch others; how infrequently they either change flies or location. They just keep throwing the same presentation over and over and over again. Maybe they are thinking "They will REALLY like the presentation THIS time."
How long before you change your presentation? After you cover the water? Or about 20 minutes without a strike? Just curious, Meister.
Steven
Re: U were working, I was fishing
Thanks, I'm jealous. Looks like you had a great day. One of those poor guys literally looks like he got his lips ripped.
Re: U were working, I was fishing
Worst part of it is I am off work today but since I don't drive I cannot make it to any TCA's here in Jersey to fish. I still have the Delaware though. ;D Nice fish Torrey.....is that the Housey?
Re: U were working, I was fishing
About your cased caddis. I use very similar colors on the Tully with size 8-12 SCUD hooks. Do you use straight nymph hooks for your caddis? I have to admit, the reason I use curved hooks is that in slower water I don't hang up as much.
Re: U were working, I was fishing
Nice job and predictable results given your knowledge of the river and preparation. Do you agree that the fish in February seem bigger on average? This goes along with your theories about the bigger fish getting the best lies early on. Also, the up and downstream stocked fish move really quickly into the TMA, and I guess the high water facilitates this. Great day out, I'm sure you are netting another fish right now!
Re: U were working, I was fishing
Well today we will see what happens. He is going to be out there again. Last week he landed 11 and the next day 5. Yesterday the count was 8. What's it going to be today? I would put my money on less than that. Yes the fishing is better than what it was a few weeks ago, but it is not comparable to last winter/early spring. The size of the fish is the same but the numbers appear to be way down.
Re: U were working, I was fishing
Why, Mr. Shroot, aren't we Johnny Positive today? ;D
Re: U were working, I was fishing
Torrey!!!! You miserable....taunting...NICE FISH...
Regarding more or less fish...wondering if the water temps are similar...
did we have warmer water? Less ridiculous fluctuation in temps...can the wind blow any harder today? Looking forward to not hearing my furnace turn on.
Re: U were working, I was fishing
I'm gonna put my money on more today.Once he finds a something that works he'll stick them .Supposed to be less wind but since I HAD TO WORK I wouldn't know.
Re: U were working, I was fishing
There probably were more fish last Winter, it was the best year of Winter fishing I ever remember on the Farmington. However, there are still plenty enough to catch, the water temps are still on the colder side, bouncing between the mid 30's and low 40's- still needs to get a touch warmer, and then the fishing will really pick up.
I've mentioned before, the fish are biting super-light, and I'm of the opinion that people aren't detecting most of the hits they get. I might have had one obvious take in the last 6 or 8 outing, other than that every single other one was either my line pausing or stopping momentarily, that's it- no twitch, no jump, no tap-tap.
Sholgate-
If I feel I'm over fish but not getting any, I'll change up every 15-20 mins or so, unless I'm 99% sure I've got the killer flies on. Or I make make one pass thru a run, and then change one or more of my flies for the second run thru.
I use a 2xl hook mostly on my Cased Caddis, as the naturals are straight. You are right that the scud hooks snag bottom less though. I used scud hooks for my non-Cased Caddis because the naturals do drift with a curve to them.
RipnLips-
Yeah one of those browns looks like you got 'em, Lol.
Lopat-
That's the Farmington.
headhunter-
It was milder last Winter, this was one of the coldest I can remember in my entire lifetime. My experience on the Farmington is that brutal Winters make for slow fishing until the water temps get back into the mid 40's & above. I think the trout back down into the slowest, deepest water where it's really hard to FF for them.
