Fly fishing with the boys!

Ethan holds a nice Black creek pike.

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to take the boys out for a little fly fishing at one of our favorite WNY warm water fisheries.

Black creek is one of those spots that never really disappoints. Sure, there are those days when the fishing is a little on the slow side, or maybe you don’t quit get that “big” fish you were looking for. But when a slow day is catching 20-30 bluegill, small bass, and crappie and that big fish happens to be a 14” inch smallmouth bass instead of that 19” inch bronze back you were hoping for….well….it really isn’t that bad!

Ethan and his sucker

On this trip however the fishing was just fine, and having the company of my two boys was even better.

We started our little adventure right near the spillway and eventually worked our way downstream before heading back up for a few last minute casts before the trip back home.

The fast water right near the spillway proved to be very productive as my youngest son Ethan hooked several nice bluegill and I, a nice pike, which my son very enthusiastically fought and landed for me. My oldest (Jonathan) worked a section just below us and eventually hooked a few fish for himself. 

We then made our way downstream and fished a section of the creek that resembled more of a trout stream. Here we picked up plenty of small largemouth and smallmouth along with some rock bass.

Jonathan with his sucker

Ethan then took a break and walked around for a bit, eventually wading down to a slower section of the creek, just below where Jonathan and I were fishing. It didn’t take long for him to spot some very large suckers and carp working the head of a long pool.

For the next thirty to forty minutes the boys and I had lots of fun trying to get some interest from the fish. And in the end persistence paid off and both boys were able to play a few and even land a fish for each of them.

Ethan's smallmouth bass

Our afternoon ended with a few “last casts” back up in the slower section, a good 90 feet or so below the dam. Ethan and I picked up a nice largemouth and then a few casts later a rather large carp intercepted our olive bugger and Ethan grabbed the 5 weight and tried as hard as he could to turn the fish. Within the next few minutes the carp tore off all of the fly line, took a right turn up at the spillway, and proceeded to break the leader off on a rock.

The largemouth before the carp!

Ethan could only stand there in awe of the power of his first carp battle on the fly rod. And even though he lost that round, he has since vowed to get back there and land one all by himself. And when we get that chance, I’m sure he will.

All in all another great fly fishing adventure with the boys!

Spring Scouting Trips

34 inches of death

During the last week of April I had the chance to scout a local stream for the up and coming warm water fly fishing season. And leading up to that weekend the water levels of many of our local WNY streams where starting to come into shape even with some recent rain.

Black Creek in Churchville, NY was still running a bit on the high side but the water clarity had improved drastically since my last visit. In fact it looked down right fishable! So I guess it was a good thing I brought my gear along with me just in case…heehee.

I did not anticipate a great hour of fishing, in fact I found myself daydreaming of tangled lines, lost flies to submerged boulders and trees, the constant task of trying a multitude of flies in the hopes of finding one that worked and in the end no fish to show for it. And even though early season scouting missions can and will often turn out like this; it is those few trips where you find a bit of fly fishing heaven that keeps you going.

And on this afternoon, for an hour, it was fantastic!

1 of 2 Largemouth Bass on the day

I did not catch a lot of fish, but the quality of what I caught made me realize that Black Creek should be fished earlier than when I usually go in early May.

Three fish came to hand - Two nice Largemouth Bass and a rather large and very thin thirty four inch Northern Pike. They all fell for a weighted number four rabbit strip streamer pattern. And just like in years past, the fish took the fly on the drop as I would lift and strip, lift and strip, lift and strip, lift, stop….fish on.

Scouting trips are usually those throwaway trips that you don’t really count. Sometimes you don’t even fish. As a busy father of three and Husband I have learned to appreciate any time I get to spend on the water – “Scouting trip” or not!

But I will say that some of the best fishing I have had, has come from those short little “scouting” trips.

Fishig with the kids - Part 2

Katie, Jonathan and cousin Helen fishing on 4th lake

Well…the kids are back in school and it’s been a bit busy around here with all the new schedules and changes in work, lessons, and sports, etc. But I feel as though we are starting to hit our stride and find some sense of order.

So before our glorious WNY fall tributary season starts to kick into high gear, I wanted to share some of the adventures in fly fishing I had with the kids this summer.

Katie's largemouth

Ever spring, in anticipation of the upcoming summer break, I start to mull over some ideas for fishing with the kids. I spend a great deal of time day dreaming about new locations and new fish, but in the end, reality never really lines up all that well with what I envision. But it’s all good!

Jonathan's largemouth bass

Ethan holds a rather nice rock bass

This year we spent time on Oatka creek in search of picky wild small stream trout, we threw streamers, poppers, and nymphs to bass and panfish at our local ponds and Black Creek, we fished under the dock at my parents camp at Fourth Lake, and we even found some time to cast some flies at Honeoye Lake at a family get together where Katie caught a beautiful largemouth bass all by herself.

Jonathan with a nice Black Creek largemouth

And just before the kids went back to school we hit up Black creek one more time. And it did not disappoint. The kids caught a bunch of fish and even dad got to tangle with a few. If there were ever a way to put an end to the summer fishing, to "go out on top,"

Katie and I with a big Black Creek smallie

this was as close to perfect as we could get.

The kids and I will now be regulated to a few choice times to get out and fish together. And It may not even be all of them at the same time, but that’s okay – We still have next summer!

WNY Warm water fly fishing

Black Creek Smallmouth

Summer fishing has been great this year, even with all the rain we’ve had. 

The high water gives us fly anglers an opportunity to brush up on some different techniques that we normally would not have a lot of opportunity to practice – such as tossing big streamers.

These conditions also force us to fish different water, especially when streams become way too high and dirty to fish. 

Black Creek carp caught on my JP Ross 7 foot 2 weight Beaver Meadow fly rod

Warm water fly fishing provides us these opportunities and they have fished very well for us this year. 

Plenty of bass, carp and panfish have provided hours of enjoyment, and when you live so close to many great warm water fisheries, there really is no excuse not to get out there and enjoy an hour or two.

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Cruising carp

Here are a few photos from some of the great warm water adventures we have had so far this summer…..enjoy!