Fall on the Border Waters

[wwelz]

I just returned from three days fishing the Delaware Border Waters of NY and PA. I had a great time even though the fishing was mediocre . The water was severely stained and full of debris. The word is work going on in the lake is fouling the water. I did manage a few on egg patterns. I did a test between yarn and plastic otter egg and sperm patterns. The yarn patterns outperformed the the clear plastic egg and sperm patterns. I do not have much experience fishing egg patterns . I would like to hear from more experienced egg pattern fishermen on this subject.





The great thing about fall and winter fishing is the solitude . I had long stretches of river all to myself.






I landed a few

[Troutastic]

When fishing eggs I use the mcfly foam much more versus the otter eggs. It may be the way I'm tying them up, but those otter eggs seem to have a serious durability issue after a couple fish... The preventative measure for this is to make a few wraps in front of the egg and then go over it, make a few wraps and then go back over to finish the fly. Even after doing that, they just don't seem to hold up as well. On a sunnier day, I think the otter eggs may tend to work better, especially with clearer water, but if not then I stick with the foam eggs. To be honest I haven't seen a huge difference in catch rate between the two. I was using a double egg rig a few times this fall with one of each, and the fish didn't seem too partial to one or the other.

[Esopus Guy]

I like to use Hot Glue eggs in low clear water or dead of winter. Solves the durability issues but can be rejected rather fast. I hav'nt tried "veiled eggs" much locally but have caught a few nice Browns and Steelies up state with them. I feel the reg. Glo Bug yarn sinks faster than the Fly Foam but the foam makes a nicer finished product I think. I don't tie my patterns completely round . Just 2 small peices on top and then brushed down a bit after the cut. Less material to sink.
As far as colors. Some days some colors are better than others but sometimes it seems to depend fish to fish.

[Esopus Guy]

Were you floating or wading. Was thinking of giving it a go this winter.

[Davyfly]

Go for worms, they can often be way more effective than eggs and very underrated.
Micro jigs are also another option.
Other than trout l have caught a great many steelhead and Salmon with worms.

I assume you are not fishing over trout on redds here. That's not my deal.

Color can make a big difference likewise size of fly.
Primary colors should include, red, claret, orange, various tans and FL pink.
Patterns may include Dynamite, Prism and San Juan worms, also use curved style hooks.

I would add for you here that a very large number of trophy Browns l and my clients catch here at this time of the year on the White river are with worms.

Two tips for you here. Minimise the weight you are using and have the fly at least 15 to 20 ins from the shot. A worm should drift real free as opposed to being dragged by a indicator.
If you get real good you can do away with the indicator and free line controlled drift.

Davy.

[wwelz]

Fly Fishing is a sport of self imposed limitations. All of us have differing opinions about what those limitations are. My self imposed limitations include not to using bait for trout . I hold no animus against those who do use bait. I do have concerns about survival rates for fish caught with bait. I trust you have a method of catching and releasing trout caught on worms that does not harm the fish Fishing during the spawning season is a tricky question. Growing up it was not a problem because the season was closed. Now with year round fishing there are more challenges. I would not knowingly walk through a spawning bed . I have zero problem fishing with egg patterns as I use barb less hooks and the fish I have caught so far are lip hooked ensuring an easy release. I have heard that you are no fan of egg patterns . I would like to understand your objection to egg flies as I may reevaluate using them myself.

[Esopus Guy]

I'm shure he was referring to worm immitations His Prism worm ect...

One associated problem with egg flies namely Glo bugs is that fish tend to inhale them to which they end up gill hooked. The pro of the Trout Bead with the hook 3-4in below. You still end up with hooks fairly deep in the mouth at times with the "Bead" method. But this might be a bigger case with the larger fish.

The free lining method Davy explained is a deadly option. Pretty much what we all did at one time or another with spinning rods. Like I tell everyone who thinks I'm a nut "It's fishing not rocket science". I like it Davy 8)

[Jkilroy]

Davy,
Would the curly sighter work with the worm rig? That probably wouldn't "drag" the worm rig.

[tim_y]

I never knew that worms would work so well. I've always had a few San Juans in my box, and almost always passed them over. This season I started tying up an Acetate red worm that I saw in a magazine last year. Pretty much its a chenille tail, and then an Acetate Floss body, once the epoxy hits it, it gives a very realistic segmented look. That pattern has been killer for me in high water. It makes me wonder about all those times I passed up the San Juan. As far as egg patterns go, my favorite patter is some egg yarn pulled tight over a tungsten bead. One single trout egg. It's caught fish in all of the Catskill streams that I fish this year.

JKilroy - I've used a coiled sighter on both, I usually run it off of with a stone as the anchor fly.

[Troutastic]

The popular term for the rig a lot of guys use during the brown spawn in CO is "bacon and eggs." This consists of leading with a San Juan and trailing with an egg pattern. No doubt that the SJ catches its fair share of fish, even while most of the trout are gorging on eggs drifting into the deep slots from the shallow flats and redds above. This is probably my favorite way to catch those big lakers!