Winter Fly FIshing - Inland trout 2015

Leif tying up a new offering while fly fishing the Oatka

Winter has certainly made a home here in WNY.

With prolonged spells of arctic air that never seem to moderate, we are now beginning to suffer from the effects of cabin fever. An ailment that seems to run long and hard this time of year.

Colored up Spring Creek brown

Weather windows seem to be few and far between, but when they do happen, its cause for great celebration. A little over a week ago I found some time to take full advantage of one of those windows and am so glad that I did. Maybe. Just maybe, that little bit of opportunity to get out and do a little fly fishing will hold me over until things start to thaw out a little…..maybe?

With daytime temperatures that worked their way to just above the freezing point, we made every bit of the time we had on the stream count. 

Fishing was not easy, and fish didn’t find the net with any measurable regularity, just enough to make the day a success.

All fish came by way of small midges dead drifted under an indicator. And even though I tried a streamer for a while, it only produced a few pulls and nothing else.

I was joined by a new friend – Leif Mermagen of StreamwalkerNets. 

A fine example of Leif's craftsmanship - Streamwalker inland series net.

Before we headed down to the stream I had the chance to check out some of his beautiful hand crafted landing nets. And as he showed off his work, he told me about the different models that were available, the custom work that he was doing for a client and his passion for fly fishing. I find it truly amazing that we seem to have so many wonderfully talented people in our WNY fly fishing community. What a blessing!

Someday soon I plan to add one of his nets to my ever growing collection of fly fishing gear. A net that will truly be as unique and beautiful as the fish it will hold. But I fear that may have to wait a little bit…..at least until winter decides to find a new home.

Make sure to check out his work with the link above.

See you on the stream.

Birthday Fishing

A nice pre-spawn female brown trout. Photo taken by Jessie Hollenbeck

With the recent extreme cold and snowy weather that we have been getting, much of the WNY tributary fishing I like to do will be put on hold until a prolonged thaw. Not that I mind fishing in temperatures well below freezing mind you, rather, the streams I like to fish will be locked up with ice.

These conditions, believe it or not, are a welcome change….at least for me. I can now work on filling fly boxes, making repairs to gear, changing old fly lines and work on producing some art for my portfolio. It will also force me back to my favorite inland trout streams and rediscover those skill sets that are required to pursue the trout that inhabit them.

But before I relent to the inevitable, I had an opportunity to fish for about an hour at a local WNY trib on my birthday. My wife accompanied me and I had fun watching her fish through the head of a run with a streamer. And although she didn’t get a pull from a fish, she stuck it out and did amazingly well. But I do have to say that if I had an extra pair of waders for her I know that she would’ve gotten into a few fish. She is certainly very capable. In fact, during our first year or so of marriage I convinced her to join me on the Salmon River on more than one occasion. And on one of those trips to the “Staircase” in the town of Pulaski, NY we did pretty well for ourselves, and more than that, I watched Colleen out-fish every other angler there. She ended the morning with five fish hooked and almost two landed. Yes almost! I had a part in that “almost” when I went to tail a rather large Chinook salmon and realized that I was not in the right position and retracted my hand to reach around the other side, the fish took a small run and popped the hook. “Fish Off!” She was not happy and I got a well deserved razzing from the other anglers who were watching her manhandle a thirty pound Chinook to shore only to watch her husband botch the landing……ughhh! I am glad that was not the whole story, because she did hook and land a gorgeous ten pound steelhead that we had to chase downstream for at least a hundred yards before landing. She certainly proved herself then, and did again on this day whether she caught fish or not.

I ended the day with three fish landed and a few more hooked and lost, but it was great to have her there with me. And as I was able to land my last fish I was joined by my friend Jessie Hollenbeck of Wide Sky Flyfishing. We shared a few stories, swapped flies, took a few photos and then said our goodbyes.

Not a bad way to spend an hour of your Birthday right? ….Right!

If you are ever in the WNY area and want to experience our fantastic lake run trout and salmon fishery, make sure to contact Jessie Hollenbeck.  Jessie has an amazing knowledge off all our WNY tribs and is patient teacher which, in my opinion, makes him an exceptional guide that will do everything to make your trip a success.

See you on the stream!