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Journal: May 12, 2008

Although the fishing has been pretty good thus far, the surface activity has been slow. The reason could be as simple as, we have had some stretch of beautiful weather. Water temperatures (47 - 55 deg) are in great shape for some early season hatches, like Brown stones, Blue Quills, Quill Gordons, and on some waters the Hendricksons. The out of water environment is not so great. The May flies in this group prefer a more cloudy day to hatch. On the other hand, the water is still to cold for caddis hatches, while these beautiful warm sunny days are perfect for them. This could be the explanation. The game of trying to figure out the hatches is about to take another turn at tripping us up. Starting Thursday, some cloudy damp weather will change our strategies once more. Keep on throwing what you've been in anticipation of some splashy takes, soon you will have your day. Maybe this week........

May 10, 2008

River levels all over the state have reached fishable levels. With the plentiful sun shine we've been having, the water temps during the afternoon are causing bug activity and fish activity to rise. Buggers and nymphs are still the way to go even with Hendrickson's and small brown stones flies hatching on most waters.  Surface feeding should pick up as the fish see more and more of there food moving to the surface to hatch. The weather forecast over the next 5 days is out standing for getting out, however there isn't much rain which will effect how good the fishing will be. Mother day is tomorrow, so shower her with love in the morning, then get out of her hair in the afternoon when you may find the 1st good surface activity of the spring.

May 5, 2008

I had a wonderful weekend. I had the pleasure of guiding Charlie and Maureen

Metzger on our 1st Orvis endorsed trip out of The Inn at Essex on Friday.

We hit the Lewis creek hoping that the recent rains would have moved some smallies in. We did see any of that action, however Maureen was able to pick up a few of the stocked steelies. Sat. & Sun. I was in Manchester at the Orvis Flagship store for a 2 day class for Instruction on how to Instruct. I was very exited to have Truel Myers, the Head Orvis Instructor all to myself. I gained a wealth of knowledge on structuring classes and clinics as well as casting a number of the finest rods and having some of my bad habits tweaked.  I did get to do some fishing on my own on the Battenkill and the Trophy section of the Otter creek. I rolled a few nice browns on the Battenkill but never got one to the net. This week is looking good. Warm air temps with some some light precip to keep things fresh. Hatches will mainly be in the afternoon/evening with Hendrickson, and on the dreary days Blue Quills.

April 30,2008

I received just under 1.25 inches of rain from the system that moved out yesterday.  This will keep the big rivers up to there banks for several days. The small and mid sized streams are clearing nicely and will be fishable by weeks end. Hatches will be limited for at least another week due to below seasonal air temps and cold mtn run off. Big nymphs and streamers will be the way to go. The nice thing about the month of May is that Turkey season is open, so if you can't fish...Hunt. That what I'll be doing doing tomorrow morning.

April 28, 2008

I'm back! for any one who missed me. I left a day early for my Lake Ontario trip and then spent a week in and around NYC.  I had a good trip to the Big O. We had beautiful weather, which is why it wasn't as good as it can be. We Got to fish every day in very sunny and mild conditions. Two of the days the lake was a pancake. For those of you have fish "Ice Out" on the Big O you know that this is not a fish friendly combo. We actually hope to get blown off the lake for a day to cloud up the water and push fish in to the shallows.  We still managed to do a fair stroke of business each day. The trip was capped off by landing the largest fish of the trip, a 9 1/2 lb football shaped Brown on one of my tandem streamers. Pictures will be posted later today or tomorrow.

As for fishing in Vermont, reports have been hit or miss. Most of the hits are coming on some large trout and pike as well as some decent brookie action on some of the more sunny mtn. brooks. The larger rivers are still mostly un fishable and should remain so with some much need rain, to the tune of 1 1/2 inches by wednesday morning. The small and mid sized streams should clean up just in time for the weekend. The rain should also help with all the spawning that goes on this time of year.  My 1st guiding trip is this Friday, so I'm hoping things will calm down by then.

April 10, 2008

2 days until the 2008 opener for fishing trout state wide.  This time of year can be a tough go of it. One day it's spring the next it's winter. One thing you can depend on this year are rivers packed with mountain snow run off, which adds to the tough conditions opening day usually brings.  Another condition of the spring is spawning wild rainbows.  Since many of the medium and large rivers are virtually not fishable, many anglers take to the trib's where wild rainbow trout are trying to spawn future wild rainbows. Please be kind to these fish and let them finish there bushiness.  As tough as it can be fish can still be had. Using spinner set ups is truly the most productive way to go. Garden hackle, spinners and small stick baits I hate to say have it over flies right now, however there will be accounts Large nymphs and streamers have there day somewhere.  Where will you be opening day? Where ever that is have fun and be safe.