The Pot of Gold at the End of a Hike

Last year, Spring and Summer came early, throwing off the timing of hatches and the pre-planned trips of many a diehard angler. This year, we attempted to replicate the early success we had last year, if only we could time it right. During mid-April of 2012, we had outstanding dry fly fishing in the heart of the Catskills. This April, we waited an extra few weeks to experience some more great dry fly fishing. Mother nature threw us a curve ball, but we nonetheless had a great time.

On the morning of day one, we hiked almost two miles into the gorge where we saw the conditions we'd be facing for the rest of the day. With the overnight rain, the tailwater was higher than expected, and the color of chocolate milk. Throughout the entire day, there was not a single rising fish, which put a damper on any hopes of throwing dries. Instead, we broke out the streamer boxes and sink tips for a phenomenal day of streamer fishing.

We relocated on day two and again hiked into the river. With the waters levels still high and the water now clear, we expected some Hendricksons or Caddis to start popping. It never happened. Instead, our streamers proved to be the best bet to entice the brown trout from their lairs. The fishing wasn't as good, but the action was still hot. In the clearer flows, the fish often gave chase but veered away at the last second. There were so many heart breaking refusals.

The two days were not without their difficulties. The long hike into the river was actually the easy part. The rigors came stream side, crossing the raging torrent where a single step could take you from 1 to 5 ft. and a swim. Two of us took the plunge at the end of day one. The water was 42 degrees, and we had a 2 mile hike uphill to the truck. Well worth it considering the gold rush we received throughout the first day. Despite our struggles on day two, the promise and potential of a fat wild brown was more than enough to keep our spirits high and yearning to take a peak around the next corner.

Good times.

Shad to Be Had

I was able to get out two weekends ago with my buddy Tyler Nonn, from Tidewater Charters for some morning shad fishing. Needless to say, but my first shad fishing experience out on the river was pretty lights out. We fished fly and spin gear and caught perch, hickory shad, and even some American shad for two straight hours. For the most part, I used a Loop 6wt. switch rod with a 420 gr. Airflo skagit switch with a 10 ft. type 6 sink tip. I threw double shad darts and worked my flies down and across. Several times, I caught two shad at once. In the low flows, they were a lot of fun. When they raised the water level some 70,000 cfs. it was incredibly fun. After fishing Great Lakes tributaries and local streams for trout on the swing, it was refreshing to simply know and anticipate a pull on virtually every cast. 

Looking forward to next year.

The most wonderful time of the year...

The month of April in the Mid-Atlantic region brings a plethora of fishing opportunities. An angler can pursue trout under blanketing hatches mayflies and caddis, intercept shad running up river, or chase stripers just to name a few. I obviously didn't do any of those things…

Spring was now in full force. Temperatures stayed above freezing for the most part and soaking rains turned the landscape green overnight. The carp were enjoying the weather as much as I was. April was my most productive month of fishing so far this year. So productive that I decided not to take pictures of the forty or so smaller fish I caught. Reason being our last couple of posts were loaded with one pounders. I like catching small carp but not looking at pictures of cookie-cutter one pounders. I decided only to take pictures of fish that I thought were roughly five pounds and over. A five pound fish is a worthy fish in my eyes. The only fish to put me in my backing so far this year was a five pounder. I also managed two grass carp this month, which is extremely rare.

This month I decided to use some strategy when it came to my fly selection. Water temperatures were now warm enough to begin using my favorite patterns again. Adult dragon and damselflies were already flying about. I used my dragonfly nymph pattern almost exclusively but incorporated some sucker spawn patterns on some fresh fish. I opted to only use my dragon because I target the same group of fish over and over again. The fish will soon be conditioned to the pattern and later in the year I can switch over to my smaller damsel pattern and be successful once again. This technique worked for me last year, I'm hopeful it will work again.

Overcast + Light Rain = Perfect Conditions

Dry Fly FTW

Nets make things too easy...

Carping/Herping





I didn't care how much this guy weighed. It was getting it's picture taken.

Another shot of the first fish pictured...

Fly of the Month: Carp Dragon

(#8 SL45)

Best not have your fly dangling in the water while waiting for a carp to cruise by... Crappie every time. 

The most challenging part of fishing this month was getting my fly down in the column past the hordes of bluegill and crappie. Such a pain in the ass.

Carping 20 feet above the water on a cliff...



Trying not to kill myself on the way down...

Jumping in for the grip and grin.

Vantage point/Casting platform

The mulberries are coming along nicely...

Beautiful...

Simple Is, As Simple Does

Over the past two months, my top carp fly has experienced a slight change from subsequent seasons. Normally, my "go to" fly in the early spring is a sucker spawn pattern tied from sizes 10-14. Although highly successful over numerous years, I wanted something a little less intrusive and simply more versatile in fishing the entire water column. My big complaint came from the sucker spawns inability to catch educated carp anywhere but the bottom. This is due to their sinking rate once they become saturated with water. I've since transitioned to using small glo-bugs, or "the easiest fly to tie of all time." Since the change, I have yet to tie a sucker spawn on. A simple size 14 glo-bug can effectively fish the entire water column for carp and is incredibly productive.

In order to fish the entire water column using a glo-bug, you will have to adjust the amount of saturation of the fly. A fresh, unsaturated glo-bug will float, hover, and sink really slow, which is perfect for laid up fish on those clear sunny days. If fish are prowling below the surface, I'd saturate the fly, which will cause the pattern to break the surface film and slowly sink towards the bottom. By timing the descent with the speed of the fish, you can easily intercept them and offer an easy meal to a cruising carp. To get the fly to the bottom faster, I will rub a saturated fly in mud or detritus to give it some extra weight for a deep dwelling fish. For on the fly changes in saturation, I like to pinch the water out of the glo-bug in between targeted fish. Depending on the scenario, I can cast a slightly saturated fly, quickly dip and cast for a higher sink rate, or false cast a few times for an unsaturated presentation. Using these techniques, you can effectively fish for carp near the surface, in the middle of the water column, or to mudding fish on the bottom.

True Versatility.