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.

Cold Weather = Prolonged Spring Steelhead Season.

Our first Steelhead of the spring

I guess spring is here…isn’t it? I mean all those giant snow banks are gone and the grass is starting to become green again, trees are starting to bud, and I have even seen a few flowers starting to poke out of the ground. But there is something not quite right. We had snow yesterday and this morning’s temperature was a mind numbing twenty three degrees. 

High stained and cold water didn't help on this morning

Before yesterday every indication that spring was really here as pretty much a foregone conclusion and maybe that was the problem. Day time temperatures soaring into the upper seventies made it all too easy to envision resident small stream brown trout rising to those first emerging Hendrickson duns that struggle to work their way free of their nymphal shucks, and dare I say…even a little top water fly fishing for bass? 

We daydream of those first fish caught on dries before giving the spring steelhead season it’s due. 

Problem solved - The cold weather and snow gave us back our steelhead season!

Jonathan with his first largemouth

We needed that shot of cold air, snow and sleet to extend our tributary season. If it warms too quickly and stays that way for a prolonged period of time, our spring steelhead season will be shortened. And I for one would love to be able to fish for these big fish for a little while longer if I can. Besides we also want those big feisty drop back browns to take full advantage of our big swung streamers…right?

So, for now we are back on track.

The boys and I did however take full advantage of our brief stint with near summer like conditions with a few trips to a favorite lake Ontario Western New York tributary and a local pond.

Ethan with his 1st fish on his new fly rod

Our first trip produced no fish at the local tributary as conditions were not very favorable due to high, stained and very cold water. Luckily we did find some willing participants at a local pond that seemed more than willing to help us out on that day.

A few days later and we were back at our favorite WNY tributary.  And on this morning we were able to connect with a few fish and even land a nice twenty six inch steelhead buck. We even started to see many suckers moving upstream for their annual spring spawn. It won’t be long now until it will be difficult to drift through a pool and not hook up with at least six or seven suckers to every trout.

The warmer weather and our first dry fly action will come, but for now, I will welcome the colder conditions.

Articulated Streamer Pattern

A nice Oatka creek brownie taken on a black articulated streamer.

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of speaking at the Oatka Fish and Game club about my adventures in streamer fishing.It was a whole lot of fun and I had the chance to meet a whole new group of excellent fly fishermen and fly tiers. I promised them that I would post the recipe and tying instructions when I had the chance.

So here is one of the patterns I shared with them and like to fish on Oatka creek for trout, and when finished, measures in at around four inches. You may think that this is a bit extreme for such a small stream, but I have found that flies of this size actually make for better fishing.

Tossing larger flies, especially in fresh water situations like on Oatka, will give you an opportunity to move out of your comfort zone. Fishing during high water situations when stream conditions are less than perfect for dry fly fishing and spending your time on the move are prime examples. 

I also recommend using a six or seven weight rod, as it will perform much better when tossing big flies. Just think about all the false casting you would need with a lighter rod.

The articulation gives the fly some really great movement and with materials like marabou and those silly rubber legs - it is a fly that breathes.

This pattern is best fished while stripping in at ten to twelve inches at a time. And it wouldn’t hurt to open up your loop while casting and slap the fly on the water, as many trout will take the fly just as it sinks below the surface.

Kelly Galloup is perhaps the most well known fly designer when it comes to articulated flies. But there are plenty of others who have brought their own flavor to the creative world of fly design. 

Michael Schmidt of Angler’s Choice Flies,  Pat Cohen of Super Fly – Custom Fly Tying & Nick Granato of Fly Obsession are just a few of those innovative fly tyers that I like to follow.

Anyway….here it is. Kelly Gallops circus peanut.

If you are doing more than a couple of flies at once, I suggest making several back parts first before starting the front part. This will save time in the end. 

Recipe

Hooks (front & back) – I use size #4 stinger hooks or size #10 Bass Bug/popper hooks

Thread – Danville flat waxed nylon 210 denier/ UTC 140 Denier or other (color to match)

Tail (back hook only) – Marabou (color to match)

Hackle – Nice webby saddle hackle or schlappen (color to match)

Body – Woolly bugger chenille/estaz/Ice dubbing – anything that will give off a little flash is good.

Legs – Crazy legs/buggy nymph legs or anything similar (color to match)

Over wing – Marabou (color to match)

Wire - .30 or .38mm beading wire from Walmart or other craft store or Senyo’s intruder wire.

Beads – Plastic beads (color to match) Depending on the size of the bead you may only need 2, smaller beads you will need 3.

Eyes – Brass eyes/tungsten predator eyes/lead eyes (sized to match or one size heavier)

Here a few of the materials you will use.

Tie in marabou tail first (back hook only)

Tie in hackle and chenille. Coat the shank with super glue or head cement before wrapping material forward.

Wrap materials forward and then add rubber legs and marabou over-wing. Back fly is now done.

Front hook starts with a set of weighted eyes tied in upside down

Turn over hook and add in craft wire (about a 3-4 inch piece is good) and slide beads onto wire.

Feed the wire through the already finished back fly and then feed tag end of wire back through beads and secure onto front hook. Make sure to leave a nice little loop for good articulation. Trim access wire.

Tie in hackle and chenille, and then coat shank of hook with super glue or head cement before tying forward.

Wrap materials forward and add in rubber legs and marabou over-wing. And then tie in a short piece of chenille to wrap around eyes.

Wrap chenille in a figure 8 pattern around eyes and tie off. Then trim rubber legs to match the length of the hook and tail. Add some head cement and your done.

 Have fun tying this pattern. And remember you can mix and match different colors and materials to get the outcome you want.

 

Oatka brown with an olive articulated streamer.

February Fly Fishing/Tying Events

James Kinglsey works on a fly pattern at last years Guys, Flies & Pies

Anyone who has at least a small interest in learning anything about fly fishing should be looking for any opportunity to get involved during the winter months. It is a time when most guides, fly tiers, and other professionals in the sport work on other endeavors that do not include stalking fish. Meaning, they spend more of their time doing shows, lectures, fly tying classes and providing their expertise at other venues to try and lure others into our glorious sport of fly fishing. It is the time to gain some knowledge from those who fish their favorite water and have learned a thing or two….or three over the years to make them very successful , and we have quite the line-up coming up in February.

First on the docket is the Fly Fisher’s Workshop on February 8^th at the 12 corners middle school in Brighton, NY. It is an event that Craig Dennison of flyfishingchronicles.com puts on every other year to promote the sport of fly fishing to everyone who wants to learn, and there are plenty of great speakers who can provide knowledge to anyone from novice to expert in their pursuit of fish on the fly. And if that doesn’t get you fired up, then maybe a whole bunch of really amazing door prizes will – Check out the link here!

Even though I will be unable to attend this year, I am honored to be able to donate a piece of my original art work for the raffle to benefit this wonderful event.

Then it’s time to prepare for Guys, Flies & Pies - Rochester’s premier fly tying party at Michael Simmons’ house…uh…I mean at the beach house at 180 Beach Avenue, Rochester, NY on February 22^nd. Come and join us for plenty of pizza, fly tying and lots of fish tales. And with another round of fabulous door prizes, this should be another event that requires your full attention. And again I am honored to be able to donate another piece of art for this event as well.

Painting for GFP

Painting for the Workshop

Both events are extremely well put together and also encourage kids to get involved. So please make sure to save these dates and bring the family.