A September Morning

 Really, the only thing a psychiatrist can do that a good fishing guide can't is write prescriptions" - John Gierach

It was only 55 degrees on September 1st as I rigged up a 3wt bamboo to play with the Swift's bows, brookies and salmon. With the 58 degree water the fleece I brought felt good. Only a week ago it was 90 and humid.  The seasons are changing and we can't avoid it and why would we? September has the most comfortable weather (cooler and usually dry), less of the biting insects and a dusk that comes early and a dawn that comes late plus plenty of insects, aquatic and terrestrial, to keep us and the trout happy. (don't believe the naysayers who think that the trout food is too small in September. I like small trout food!!)

I stationed myself in the flats above the Duck Pond where bows, brookies and LLS have come to the net as of late but this morning started off as a complete dud. The #14 partridge and orange, usually as reliable as Tom Brandy, was totally ignored.  Now, I could not see any insect activity and the rises that I saw were sporadic at best.

Well, let's do what has worked before. Go down to Cady Lane?  No, throw on a size 18 partridge and yellow.  In my final hour that fly resulted in 8 nice brookies (6 to 8 inches) and two rainbows plus one that broke me off. Some of those fish were taken on the same fly in a size 20.  The technique was the classic wet fly swing which is deadly.  Have at least 12 feet of leader  in 5 or 6x and cast it down and across the current mending as needed. You will be imitating an emerging insect perfectly.

P.S. - For the first time in two weeks I didn't take a LLS. 

Brookies And The Fall

Have you noticed that the brookies are starting to color up? By mid October they will be migrating upstream to their spawning ground and every brown and bow will be trying to get into the act of robbing eggs.  Book me if you want to fish this Fall.

Ken

 

It's September And Fishing This Weekend

"It's hard to resist tying new flies for a trip. Day-to day life, with its death spiral of chores and errands, can make even a big fishing trip seem unreal right up to the moment you toss your duffel and rod case into the pickup and drive to the airport. But tying flies before a trip clears your mind and gives you something to do besides pacing, fretting and packing more gear than you'll ever use." - John Gierach

It's time to go fly fishing because it's September 1 and we will have all of this month and October AND November to do what we like best. The rivers are in good shape, the weather is cooling and the trout are becoming more active. We also don't have to wait our freestones out until evening because in a few weeks we will be catching trout at mid day under wonderful conditions. You also now have a guide who is now available ALL OF THE TIME. Book me up!!!!!

As you probably know the Swift went from 50 cfs to 128 this week and that's not a bad thing although I prefer the lower water and the tiny flies that I like. Bigger offerings will still work with terrestrials leading the way on rivers like the Swift and October Caddis and Isonychia making their presence seen on our freestones like the Millers and the EB.

The Swift - Thursday morning found me down by the Pipe adjusting to the heavier flow. I started off working pinheads and chironomid patterns with very limited success so I put on an old faithful - a size 16 partridge and orange with a light orange body. I picked up 2 bows and 2 brookies and then moved down to Caddy Lane. This place fishes well with the higher flows, allowing trout to get up next to the banks which were almost high and dry just a few days before. I got some brookies, missed a bow and then took a foot long brookie who was right up against the bank. It couldn't be better!!!

Time to fish!!