"I think I fish, in part, because it's an anti-social, bohemian business that, when gone about properly, puts you forever outside the mainstream culture without actually landing you in an institution."
The Pinhead
During the winter we must spend our days working the tailwaters and leave our freestones for a more pleasant time. This condition makes it rather easy to supply our fly boxes - if you are going to fish the Swift and/or the Farmy make sure you have plenty of small flies. It may not be your only style of fly to use on these rivers but they are a necessity.
The Swift, being a tailwater, will have huge numbers of insects BUT very little insect variety and most of the insects will be small (size 20 to 28). Some sections are loaded with insects such as the water below the Pipe and that is because the outflow from the hatchery is loaded with black fly larvae and other little guys of similar size and color. The Pinhead fills the bill for me when I'm fishing that stretch through the Fall and Winter. Sizes 18 through 26 seem to work.
The Swift Serendipity is another go to fly for the tailwaters. It may be the closest that I come to a dreaded attractor fly but it may represent a blood midge (I think).
Both of these flies fish very well at the Bubbler Arm, in some of the riffle sections above Route 9, below the Duck Pond, below the Gauge and of course, below the Pipe. There is one key element that these locations have in common - they contain fairly shallow riffles which is home to blackflies. I've never had good luck in deeper, slower water with these flies.
Place an order and try some out!!!
Book For Now And For The Spring
In one month we turn the clocks ahead. The amount of daylight has greatly increased over the last month but that will really jumpstart things for sure. I'm booking already so don't wait too long.
This blog has spent the last 15 years doing what is appreciated by its readers and that is to provide information on our rivers. "Where to go" and what to do when you get there is knowledge that's in demand and I will continue to provide it. Nobody wants to know about a great day of fishing on some mystery river. I'd rather share that info.
Ken
5 comments:
nice flies here, your pin head has been a mainstay in my fly box for a few years now and I even tie it in larger sizes, its a great fly to use in tandem with a soft hackle or nymph(although i dont really like to fish more then one fly) I think the contrast of the peacock and body material is the trick with this fly and makes it a good searching pattern as fish seem to take it for me during different hatches
Unknown,
Thank you for the endorsement on this fly. It's not just a cold weather fly but it seems to work best then.
Ken
Love the intro quotation about just avoiding landing in an institution. Was that Gierach?
and the small flies.
Super pretty bugs there Ken :). Definitely has me thinking about warmer, nicer weather...
Bob O,
It certainly is one from Gierach.
Hibernation,
Good to hear from you and YES, I want it to be a warm morning on the second week of May on the Millers River!!!
Ken
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