A Streamer Question

 "There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse.  Either is a gain over just staying home" - Roderick Haig Brown

I really don't care for streamer fishing when I'm out after trout.  I like flies that imitate insects when I'm on the stream.  Insects dictate when I'm going to be on the river whether it's on a freestone like the Millers or an environmentally controlled river like the Swift or the Farmy.  I do fish streamers when I fish for critters that get their calories from baitfish and that would be stripers, bluefish and all of those southern saltwater species I love to fish for.  Do I ever fish a streamer when going after trout?  Yes, and here's how.

I was fishing the Ware River a few Aprils ago during a high water event with a downpour to boot.  I'm swinging a marabou streamer in the classic way but  felt something was amiss. "Minnows don't move that fast in the current" I thought. They're not going to act like they are going to be swept away in the current. My mind began to wander to times spent on the Swift where little brookies just seemed to hang in pods around me regardless of the current. They didn't swim away. I once saw a 4lb brown grab a stationary brook trout that was holding in the current a few feet from me. In short, baitfish don't get swept away too often so why swing them?

I attached a split shot 8 inches above the streamer and High Sticked my way upstream working every likely spot slowly on a short line.  In short, I fished that streamer like a nymph, caught trout, and have been doing it ever since when I get the urge for a streamer.

I like marabou as the main material in a streamer. Most fixed wing classics are junk except for Carrie Steven's original Grey Ghost which was built right!!!  I don't like articulated steamers. I like to imitate insects and fool trout with them.  That's why we call it Fly Fishing!!

The Storm 

The Swift River valley ended up with 10-12 inches of snow and it's safe to say that the paths along the river are all packed down by now.  Including today you have 13 days left on that 2020 license.  Don't forget the new one!!!

Book me 

Ken

Seasonal Thoughts And A Good Fly

 

"Even on the best day of fishing I ever had, I still did more casting than catching and there  have been plenty of days when I did nothing but  casting". John Gierach

The great Nick Lyons, who probably had his publishing hand in more American fly fishing literature than anyone, said this about winter fly fishing (and I paraphrase): "they say there is good midge fishing when the fields are frozen and the trees are barren but I'm not really a part of it.  I need an offseason".

I can understand that point of view although I can't say that I adhere to it.  My fishing log has me out on the Swift at least 2 days a week from January through March and most of that time is spent guiding, field testing new patterns (most suck), or working out new theories (ditto for them). 

I'm out there because I love the look and feel of moving water at any time of year. I don't really like chipping ice out of my guides and would rather be working out a 25 foot cast to a rising brown on a balmy June morning instead. Winter fly fishing is a diversion because we are lucky enough to be living near a tailwater and that's all we have.  I think it's safe to say that my fly fishing season is a season of following aquatic insects that are in-season and not throwing glittery attractors that represent nothing in the river. (When I fish a streamer it's usually high sticking like a nymph and not swung in the traditional way.)  

So, tonight we are expecting 12 to 18 inches of snow in the Swift watershed tonight. If you like winter flyfishing then you will get your wish.  Me, I'm starting to dream of Hendricksons!!

My Favorite Caddis

The photo above shows a handful of the DMS Caddis.  It proved its worth on freestones last season like the Millers, the Ware and the EB, especially the EB. Buggy hares mask, a turn or two of partridge, a bit of peacock and a size 14 hook just can't be beat. What I like about this pattern is that you really represent most caddis just by changing the size.  I guess it's my quest to carry one fly pattern!!

Ken

Crazy Bows And Winter Midges

 I do have some 71/2 foot 4 and 5 weight rods - plus a couple of 7 foot 9 inchers. I use them a lot on small mountain streams and medium sized creeks and love them dearly, but I think anything shorter and lighter than that is too specialized to be very useful. If you're spooking fish with an 8 foot, 5 weight rod, the answer probably isn't a 7 foot 3 weight. The answer is a longer leader and a better cast. - John Gierach 

There is a spot at the Swift River's Bubbler Arm that has taken my attention over the last two weeks. This spot,  from sunup to about 9am, is devoid of fish but then becomes crowded with rainbows.  Where did they come from?  My guess is that they are hanging out at the Y Pool and then when the air/water temperatures reach a certain level they go upstream to eat small nymphs such as black fly larvae.

I've had some good mornings working an olive Serendipity #22 and Pinheads of the same size range and have taken a bow or two in the 20 inch range and a bunch in the 14 inch range. 

I get there and wait for the fish to show up and in a way it's like a tiny version of steelhead fishing.  The Y Pool is the ocean or lake and the Bubbler is my steelie river. I have actually seen them charging out of the Y Pool and heading "upstream". This show doesn't last long and is usually over by noon with the bows dropping back to the lake (Y Pool).

Winter Midges

After the bows have backed down you might see some tiny airborne critters flying around. We lump the whole group into "Midges" although they are not just midges but tiny mayflies and caddis (the Winter Caddis of the Swift and Farmie come to mind.)  There seem to be more of these insects on days where the air temperature jumps past 40 degrees although I've seen them on the coldest of days.

What to use

Pinheads, thread flies, peacock bodied gnats, DHE dries (real small without the deerhair) and winter caddis of course.

Dealing With Winter

I'm not going to tell you how to dress.  You are all adults and I will assume that you've been in New England, or a similar place, for some time.  I've been fishing through the winter for decades now and I don't find it that cold and maybe it's because I call off the pursuit when the air temperature sinks below 10 F. I will tell the newbies to winter flyfishing this: you don't know cold until you pull the flaps back on your tent and find 4 inches of fresh snow. That's COLD!  You also don't know cold until you find yourself on a tree stand in the pre-dawn hours during the November deer season.  That's COLD! Ditto for coastal duck hunting too!!

I don't use hand warmers or toe warmers or any other kind of chemical assistance. A good stocking hat, a long sleeve tee shirt, a good turtleneck shirt, a good fleece zippered jacket, fingerless wool gloves and a lightweight waterproof shell does it for me.

Now, let's talk about something better like grilling on a warm summer day.  It beats grillin' and chillin'.  Yes, I'm still firing the grill but that will diie down shortly.

Ken

 

Brookie Wrap Up

My own fly boxes always were, and still are, a perpetual mess, with pigtails of leader attached to the eyes of hooks; mashed and unraveled flies that should be thrown away but may still be good enough to fish in a pinch; odds and ends that I picked up on trips and didn't fish but that still looked promising; dry flies with droppers still attached; flies put away in the wrong boxes where I'll never find them again; experiments that didn't pan out or at least haven't panned out yet; flies that were given to me by friends and helpful strangers that I'll never fish but somehow can't discard, and so on.  As lean and efficient as I aspire to be as a fisherman I'm often short on the flies that I use and well stocked on the ones I don't (come to think of it why am I carrying flies that I don't use?) - John Gierach  

It was a good brook trout season on the Swift.  It's not to mean that you can't find the BT's roaming around the spawning beds right now but it is safe to say that the dance is over for the season.  Here is my assessment for this Fall: the brook trout count seemed to be the same as last year but the fish seemed bigger.  Another surprise was the number of big, BIG browns that charged upstream this late October. We are very lucky to have this accidental resource at our disposal.  

Y Pool

Now, just because the number of adult brook trout have dwindled post spawn doesn't mean you can wade where you want.  Yes, it's a broken record but walk on the moss and leaf litter or you will crush the eggs.

Disappearing Rainbows

I've heard a lot of talk over the last two seasons on how the Swift rainbows like to pull a disappearing act after stocking.  I really can't say that I believe it because the river appears to be bursting with them.  Now, I don't fish the super popular spots much (last week was only my 2nd trip above RT 9 since mid May) and that may be the reason I'm seeing and catching more bows.  They may not be so easily spooked by me if I'm the only fly fisher there. 

Pinheads and Swift Serendipities in sizes 20 and 24 have been doing well in the skinny water sections above and below Rt 9. I would suggest a tiny micro shot about 10 inches above the fly and just bounce it up and across the stream.  So far I haven't needed anything smaller( but I probably will!).

I tweaked my Swift Serendipity from a red body/thorax to an olive body/thorax.  A big difference!!!

Guiding in December

I always find it funny when some guide or fly fisher feels compelled tell you how to dress for Winter fishing.  You should know how by now.  Dress warm!!!! It also pays to take a break and get out of the water to walk around a bit.  It warms you up.  If you are interested in working some small winter flies then book a trip!

Ken

My Winter Bag

 With regard to small flies on larger tippet, I've fished size 22 zebra midges on 3X tippet on the Canyon section of the Henry's Fork and have caught many large and well educated trout. So yes, I agree and can attest to this working. I've found that when I see a fish refuse a fly its more than likely fly choice or micro-drag and not tippet size...Yellowstone Bound September 22, 2016

 

I have three tackle bags that I use during the year.  One is my Freestone Bag for the Millers, the EB, the WB and the Ware.  It hauls the usual assortment of  dry flies in the size 14 to 20 range and a few in the 22 to 24 range just in case.  It is heavy on the soft hackles (of course) but light on streamers (I get bored by streamers) and yes, it has some wooley buggers.  A few 5x leaders and the same tippet and I'm all set.

My second bag is my tailwater bag (as in the Swift or the Farmie).  There is very little heavy artillery in this pack. My soft hackles include some 14's but are heavy on the 16's and 18's. It seems that the dries are either versions of sulphurs and BWO and all are small. (down to 26 or so) There is a tiny box of ants and that's it for terrestrials. Hoppers and such are found in my freestone bag. And I have enough small larvae patterns and scuds to keep me busy.  They take up so little space. Leaders are 5x and 6x. I carry spools of 7x and 8x which I hardly ever use. Both bags have a tiny container of micro shot.

Here's the truth - by mid season both bags are a total mess. I tend to load up on too much leader material, carry too many leaders and assorted fly fishing toys and way too many flies.

That brings me to my third bag and I'll call it my pocket. This winter I'll carry no bag, carry only one fly box, one spool of tippet, one extra leader and that little container of shot. With just that I should be able to handle anything that the Swift throws at me and It will be a good test of my organizational skills for the upcoming season.  Maybe Tenkara taught me a lesson.  Keep it simple!!!

This Winter So Far

The brookie run is starting to wind down but the rainbow fake spawning seems to have picked up. I had a fair day on Tuesday in the bubbler arm mainly because I really had no idea what flies I had with me.  I straightened that out on Wednesday evening (read above) and took a half dozen big bows on a Swift Serendipity size 20 and lost some more.  There are a lot of fish in the Swift.  Book me!!

Leader Size

Check out the quote at the top of the Post.  Then check out the posted comment on this blog from July of 2015:

I barely ever use 7x...maybe on a few super tiny flies but I only buy a spool every year to keep it fresh not because its gone. I fished the highly technical South Platte in Co for the last 7 years...presentation is king. The really good fishermen never really use anything below 5x except on occasion for the tiny bugs. I used to use 6x and 7x on the Swift exclusively but realize after many years that I was probably casting from the wrong spot more often than not. You hit the nail on the head Ken..
to all readers here there is a lot of great information randomly dispersed throughout Kens blog...well worth the time to go through it-you will be a better angler. Thank Ken for his great blog.  BobT

If you think you need 7x, 8x or smaller to catch trout on the Swift you are mistaken unless you are fishing on the surface. 5x and 6x will get it done down through size 28. Tie your flies on wide eye hooks if you have problems "threading the needle". If the fly is sunken and not being dragged through the water you are doing it right.  The lesson to be learned from the two comments by guys who know what they're doing is that presentation is KING. Tippet size?  Not so much!

Ken

Emerging Caddis and Some Good Ideas

" If you think that this is all too much to deal with then forget about the essence of this pastime (fooling trout with imitation insects) and just keep tossing your rainbow warriors, chartreuse mops and the rest of the junk flies.  But remember, it's not how many fish that you catch but how you catch them."  

The great fly fishing writer, Bob Wyatt, is a hero of mine. The author of What Trout Want- The Educated Trout And Other Myths-  basically ties all of his dries as an emerging insect and that is tying a dry fly that has half of its body above the surface and half below and that is because that is how most aquatic insects present themselves to a trout. He has no use for the high riding traditional dry, riding daintily on its hackle tips.  He has even taken on the venerable Elk Hair Caddis and so will I.

Hook - size 14 to 16 scud hook

body - olive colored Coats & Clark thread for the rear Start half way through the hook bend and advance forward. 

Thorax - brown or olive hares mask

Wing - Fine deer hair.  I don't use elk on this pattern.

The heaviest part of this fly is at the hook bend which will make the hook bend drop below the surface. The wing will keep the front above the surface just like a natural insect. In fact, I may abandon the time honored Comparadun for Wyatts DHE  Emerger!

A Good Idea

 

I mentioned this product a few years ago as a remedy for a wader leak.  I used it and it worked. Others used it and it worked for them.  Back then you could only buy it online but now everyone from CVS to Wal Mart carries it.  Most wader leaks occur in the neoprene booty and this stuff works on that material better than anything else.  

I also mentioned that I got nothing for this endorsement.  I still don't!

Another Good Idea - Dry Fly Floatant

There are many dry fly floatants out there and the best of them all include Silica Gel and/or Fumed Silica. Silica Gel is not a gel per say, but a rock like substance that is used to absorb moisture. (buy a pair of shoes or a piece of luggage and you'll find the free little pack of it)  Fumed Silica is a powder that has the density of a light fog!  Most floatants are either ALL gel or a combination of gel and fumed powder. Gel rocks are added to the fumed silica to actually move this substance around when you shake the container to cover the fly and remove moisture.

One product doesn't add Silica Gel and is just the fumed silica and it is, in my opinion, a mess.  I won't mention the products name but just say that it could be called Amphibians Ass.  

Without the gel the fumed stuff doesn't cover the fly. That's why it comes with an applicator brush to dab it all over the fly, yourself and the water.  One online comment said that you don't want to use this stuff in a Montana wind!!

The product to the left is a 5 lb. jar of Silica gel purchased at Michael's Crafts. It cost me $15 and it is a 100 year supply. I offload it to a small jar that formally held a similar product. The gel by itself works very well but if you want to add some fumed silica to the mix that's all the better. (Note: please don't try to make a case for liquids or gooey  gel.  I really hate that stuff!!) And don't think you are making a difference by dabbing fumed silica on CERTAIN AREAS OF THE FLY and not other parts to aid in presentation.  Get Real!

The rivers have been blown out for the season EXCEPT for the Swift and it has been fishing well.  Winter on the Swift is REALLY the time for small flies and I've got to fill some holes in my fly boxes.

Yes, I'm still guiding!!!!  Contact Me!!!

Ken

Some Winter Flies And Fishing Through The " Dark Season"

 "It was big for a mayfly-almost an inch from nose to tail-with a smokey olive body, tall grey wings, head and tail elevated in an oddly regal posture as if the bug was proud of itself for being so handsome. Trout love mayflies because they're loaded with protein and easy to catch.  Fishermen love them because they're pretty in an overbuilt, Victorian way, and we like the big ones because they're so easy to see on the water." -John Gierach

The "Dark Season" starts when we turn the clocks back which brings the curtain down on Evening Fishing (my favorite) with a thud!! Now, some of you actually like winter flyfishing and may actually prefer it over a Hendrickson hatch on a balmy April afternoon or a dense caddis hatch on a June evening or those beautiful BWO on a damp, cool September morning. If any of the above describes you then read no further. Just tie up some rainbow warriors and try to piss off some trout and know full well that fly fishing centers on BUGS and not what attractor fly we toss.

Do I give up winter flyfishing?  No, but my choices about where to go (the freestones can have a foot of ice on them) and what to use are limited. I fish flies that imitate insects and not costume jewelry and insects are less concentrated in the winter.  Those are the reasons I'm found on the Swift, usually above Route 9 with its moderate tailwater environment.  Yes, the flies are small so you need small offerings. and my offerings (mostly) are soft hackles in the 18 to 20 range and my favorite materials are olive or black thread or floss and starling hackles.  This fly represents a lot of what's hatching in the winter.

                                                                                PINHEADS

I've used this fly for about the better part of 20 years and it was developed for the Fall and Winter. Along with the Hot Spot it finds itself on the end of my tippet more often than not. The Pinhead LOOKS like a midge style insect and 20 to 24 works just fine.

Hot Spots

It was almost 15 seasons ago when I found myself on Christmas Eve morning (7am) at the Y Pool.  All the Holiday obligations were done so why not. I threw on a Hot Spot that always did well below the gauge and  had an early Christmas present.  It seems all the fish wanted it.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and are avoiding crowds.  We want you around for Christmas.

Ken