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Northeast Fly Angler Journal – March 2017

 

March 9th and we are looking at winter returning with a vengeance. Three storms within 5 days are on the radar for the Northeast. After several near 60 degrees days, we are heading back into the depths of winter.

The winter doldrums have me chomping at the bit to get out on the river.  In order to try and moderate the malady know as cabin fever, I’ve tied flies, read books, magazines, watched the array of TV fly fishing shows, and peered through a host of catalogues that began to show up in the mail just after the first of the year.  Unfortunately, most of these activities have only increased the yearn to cast a fly especially after attending the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, New Jersey last month.   I might have taken advantage of those warm days to fish the Trout Management area on the Farmington River, but the few times the weather aligned with a weekend, life got in the way.

The Connecticut Trout Season Opener is just about 4 weeks away on April 8th.  Last year the DEEP changed the long time traditional day from the 3rd Saturday in April to the 2nd Saturday. Opening Day anglers were greeted with subfreezing temperatures at the 6AM start. My son-law and I braved the bone chilling cold and ice in our guide for less than two hours before heading for the warmth of coffee and breakfast at a local eatery. After thawing out for a while, we were back on the stream.  The thermometer’s trajectory moved up and the fish cooperated.

In sync with apple blossoms the first serious mayfly hatch; Hendrickson’s Ephemerella subvaria began the second phase of their lifecycle right on time. I was fortunate to get on the water a few times when the hatch was at its apex. The Mother’s Day Caddis hatch was especially prolific, providing excellent surface and sub-surface action for several weeks.  The Farmington as well as most of the rivers in Connecticut were plagued with low water conditions throughout the 2016 season. Stealth, observation, and attentiveness to the changing moods of the river were the keys for success.

On the salt scene, fly fishing for stripers in Eastern Long Island Sound was uncharacteristically slow most of the season. Bluefish were plentiful and averaged a little larger than usual. In September some bruisers in the 12 to 18 lb. range assaulted baitfish close to shore.

As for False Albacore the season was the best in recent memory.  From mid-September into November large schools of “Albies” invaded the shallow coastal waters.  Fish were not only plentiful, but seemed to be were always in the feeding mood.  Flies that matched the bait, almost guaranteed fly fishermen multi –fish days.  In some areas shore anglers were lucky to have schools of the speedsters crash bait well within casting range.

Have a great 2017 Season, please be safe on the water.

An old phase evokes the fly-fisher’s spring; the sweet of the year.                                               Palmer Baker “The sweet of the Year” (1965)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Season Opener 2016

April 1, 2016

As I write this first overdue piece for 2016, it’s a warm, blustery day in Central Connecticut. The weather forecasters are broadcasting the potential for measurable snow Sunday into Monday while stating it’s not an April Fool’s Joke.

To the West, New York State opened its fishing season this morning.  Every year, I give serious consideration to joining the crowd at the Opening day celebration in the Catskills borough of Roscoe New York.  Something always seems to come up that deters me from making the 3 hour trip to Trout Town USA. My interest is primarily to watch the hundreds of anglers that assemble for the time tested tradition of the first casts into the famous convergence of the Beaverkill and Willowemoc Rivers know as Junction pool. The tradition’s roots go back to the early 1900’s where the legend of the two-headed trout was born. Junction Pool is the home of the mythical two-headed trout that will swim through eternity around the pool trying to decide which branch to take. Every year local and state dignitaries, and living legends of the fly fishing community gather before the 7:30 AM start to take their first casts of the season. The ceremony which rivals Puxatawny’s Groundhog celebration begins with a proclamation of good fishing.  Connected to the region are numerous past and present fly-fishing legends that include Theodore Gordon, Rube Cross, AE Hendrickson, Joan and Lee Wulff, Harry and Elsie Darbee, Walt and Winnie Dette, and others.  Following the traditional first casts, the crowd heads for the customary breakfast and storytelling.

Although I have yet to attend the Trout Town USA Fishing Season Opener, I am a dedicated long time participant in the Connecticut Opening Day ritual. According to worn black & white photos, my dad I introduced me to opening day at the ripe age of 4 years old. Over the past 58 years, I missed being on the river for the third Saturday in April 6:00AM start, only twice. Those misses occurred in the spring of 1972 when I was a freshman at Florida Tech University. The other time was ten years ago when I took my son for a college visit. I’ve started the first day of fishing season in just about every weather condition from blowing snow, rain, and wind, to exceptionally cold or warm temperatures. One year against my wife’s and doctors recommendations, I fished with my left hand in a cast.  Up until the advent of online registration, a trip to the town clerk’s office to purchase a license is one of my memories that seemed to heighten the anticipation. The license was a small rectangular card that was folded to fit into the clear, weatherproof, plastic, holder. The license was pinned to a hat or fishing vest and worn as a badge of honor.  Some fifteen or more years ago the plastic sleeve was eliminated and the license printed on paper. Now a days, Connecticut like most states require anglers to purchase the license on line and print it themselves.

For me and my dad, the pre-season routine started with checking out our equipment usually in mid-March.  Everything was checked and rechecked for any flaw that would warrant a new rod, reel or waders. Trips to a fishing emporium, for terminal tackle, and gadgets, increased my excitement.

On eve of the first day of fishing, all our equipment including a complete change of clothes was gathered and stored by our kitchen door. My mother packed us lunch which was placed in the refrigerator. A reminder note to not forget the bag of sandwiches was left in a conspicuous place near our pile of gear.  The alarm was set for three-thirty AM, and we were out the door by 4. Although we tried to be quiet, something was usually dropped, or there was some other noisy commotion that kept my mother from falling back to sleep.

The opening day rite included a full sit-down breakfast at a favorite restaurant that was opened early to cater to the small hoard of opening day fishermen.  For many years we began the season at a bridge pool on Sandy Brook in Colebrook Connecticut. We usually arrived at our favorite spot by below the bridge about 45 minutes before the legal start of 6AM. After rigging our rods and pulling on hip boots, we sought out a spot away from other early bird fishermen.  Anticipation and shivering went hand to hand as I waited for the fire horn to sound marking the start of a new fishing season. First casts often resulted in a tangle with another angler across the stream, sometimes the cast was well placed resulting in the first trout of the season.

Usually by 8:30 or so we drove to a spot on the Farmington River, but not before stopping at the Hitchcock Chair Company Derby in Riverton, to check out the circus of anglers standing shoulder to shoulder trying to catch one of the large trout released stocked the day before, in the large deep pools above and below the Riverton Bridge. The heaviest trout checked into derby headquarters won the lucky angler a handcrafted wooden rocking chair donated by the Hitchcock Chair Co.  I recall seeing Governor John Dempsey fishing at a spot reserved for him, his family and his State Police driver.  Governor Dempsey was an avid angler who during his tenure supported the state fisheries budget and helped to find funds to build a second hatchery in the eastern part of the state.

We generally fished until about noon, had lunch a streamside if we didn’t leave the bag of sandwiches behind at home. The last segment of the opening day ritual was to stop for ice cream at the Guida’s Dairy store on Farmington Ave in New Britain on the way home.

The last time my dad was able to fish opening day was in the mid 90’s with his grandson; together we introduced my six year old son to the traditions of opening day.  These days, I still get up at an early hour, trying not to disturb my wife too much, and head out to the Farmington. Even though I try and get out a few times to the TMA  on those warm winter days that falsely signal an early spring, the anticipation is still high. Preparation begins in January tying flies, and gazing through the stack of catalogues which begin appearing in the mail during the Christmas shopping season. I have my own locations where I make the first casts of the new season, but always drop a fly in the bridge pool on Sandy Brook where years ago, my dad and I would start the season year after year. I still have a big breakfast, except I eat at mid-morning when I need to thaw my feet.

Last year, the Connecticut DEEP ended the tradition of the 3rd Saturday April Opening Day by moving it up a week to the second Saturday.  Their reasoning was the keep state fishermen from crossing the border in to Rhode Island for their traditional opener a week earlier.  Over time I will come to accept the new date. This year the Opening Day of Fishing fall on April 9th. I can be found at my special spot on the Farmington River about 5:30AM eager to make the official firsts casts of the season.

I wish all anglers, light winds and tight lines.

Captain Bob Salerno

 

 

 

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Snow, Cold, More Snow, More Cold, Ditto, Ditto, et cetera, et cetera!!!

March 18, 2015

The calendar says spring begins in 2 days, however winter 2015 does not want to let go.  At least 10 inches of frozen snow covers most of the ground.  The temperature is on the cold side of winter and an icy mix is forecast for the vernal equinox. Some snow piles will be with us long into May.

In most past years, I have already made a trip or 2 to the to the Farmington River Trout Management area by this time.  Spring like temperatures would lure me out for a couple of hours of casting to holdover trout. Catches were usually rare, but the   exhilaration of getting outdoors, on the river, and casting a fly is the best remedy for cabin fever. As of this writing, sections of the Farmington River still have some dangerous edge ice and I have not wet a line since early December.

Breaking with a ninety-plus year tradition, the Connecticut Department of Environment and Energy Protection-DEEP, has set this year’s Opening Day a week early.  The traditional Trout opener normally on the third Saturday in April is a rite of spring.  For me and hundreds of other anglers, the third Saturday in April is as anticipated as Christmas morning for a child.

Hopefully you’re keeping busy tying flies, checking rods, reels line, waders or maybe planning a fishing trip to another state, or an exotic location.

I have been planning a trip to fish a couple of Virginia’s private streams since November.  More on that later.

Raise a drink to warmer weather, a June evening when the sulphur’s are hatching, and a calm morning with stripers crashing bait somewhere in Eastern Long Island.

 

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Getting to Spring

Getting to spring

I sit to write this note, a major blizzard is hours away from blasting Southern New England.  Snow accumulations of between 20 and 30 inches, temperatures in the teens coupled with high winds are forecast for Connecticut. Those cold weather sports aficionados, or snow lovers in general, should be delighted with Mother Nature’s latest onslaught.

For the rest of us, the winter doldrums already has its icy fingers trying to choke our spirit. It isn’t just the snow and cold, but happenings such as trying to stop your car on an unseen patch of black ice, or having to dress in layers in order to pick up the newspaper inconveniently tossed on top of the snow pile at the end of the driveway, that has us yearning for spring.

So how does an avid fly angler survive the three to four months of icy hell?  First and foremost day dreaming of past days of casting flies to rising trout under idyllic conditions is a requisite to combating the malady known as cabin fever.  Take time to close your eyes and reflect back on those special days of last season, or of more distant times. A log book of fishing adventures is a great way to catalyze thoughts and visions. If you don’t keep a log, from memory try jotting down notes of memorable trips. This will help keep your mind off whatever winter is currently exhibiting outside your window.

Fishing shows are another way to push cabin fever aside.  At this time the major expositions have moved out of the northeast, but there are several smaller shows sponsored by local fly shops which provide a more intimate experience. Usually the shops host various fly tiers and specialty seminars on a variety of fly fishing subjects.

In recent years TV programing has positioned fly fishing up with the bass tournament spectacles. Several excellent shows premiered in January which can DVR’d to watch in place of the depressing news and weather forecasts. Two favorites are “Fifty place to fish before you die” and “Shorelines” with April Vokey.

Hosted by Conrad Bowman, recognized for his pioneering efforts to catch Mako sharks on a fly rod off the Southern California Coast, Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die will visit the locations and often will fish with the anglers featured in the book, providing both insider knowledge and a strong sense of the intangible appeal of each setting.

April Vokey’s show focuses on her efforts to author a book about the evolution of Steelhead and Atlantic salmon fishing from the West Coast, Great Lakes and the East Maritimes. April’s passion and love of fly angling for the fish is very apparent in her unedited narration of each episode in world class locations.

I also enjoy the Fly Rod Chronicle’s and In the Loop.

Of course, the “dark” months are an excellent time to tie favorite patterns and to restock for the upcoming season. My tying stints are usually scheduled when I won’t be disturbed and last between one and two hours. First, I focus on tying my go to patterns such as bead-head flashback pheasant tail nymph, bead-head crackleback, Hares Ear, Prince and a couple of my own classified specialties.  Once I tied sufficient numbers to get me through the spring, I change over to saltwater patterns.  I concentrate tying patterns that worked last season, and a couple of the old standbys.

Another remedy for the indoor fever is to plan a trip. This year I am taking my son-in-law and my other daughter’s boyfriend to Virginia in early April to fish private water.  I spend time looking at maps, planning the route, and reading whatever literature there is on the waters we plan to fish.  I am also starting to consider a fall steelhead trip.

Of course, when we get a lull in the frigid conditions – a couple day stretch of 40 degree days, one can always venture up to the Farmington to check on the winter caddis hatch.

There are also a number of excellent books on fly fishing and fly tying that are worth checking out.  Reading helps to sooth the pain of winter.

Let’s hope Mr. Ground Hog proclaims an early spring!

Tight Lines!

Captain Bob

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2014 Fly Angling in Review

In both fresh and saltwater, 2014 was an above average year.  I started trout fishing about midway through March on the Farmington River.    Water temperatures ranged from 36 to 40 degrees which required deep, slow presentations. Effective nymphs were bead-head, little black stoneflys, hares ear and cracklebacks,  Although only a few fish were hooked,  the trout were robust holdovers.

Opening Day on the traditional 3rd Saturday in April, found me fishing with my son-in-law.  It was Bryce’s fist time fly fishing after a few sessions dry casting and listening to me explain the basics of fly angling.  Heeding my daughters warning, “don’t be late” , Bryce arrived at my house at the agreed upon dark-thirty hour,  and we headed up to a favorite opening day spot on the Farmington River. Bryce spent first couple of hours slinging a wooly bugger through the deep run from a chosen boulder.  His success was one, 10 second hookup, but the fish was a little smarter and threw the hook due to a beginners slack line error.  About 8:30 we headed top the Log Cabin Restaurant for the traditional breakfast before resuming opening day on the river.  For me, Opening Day traditions go back over 55 years when my dad first took me to Sandy Brook.  I have kept the tradition alive with my own son and acquaintances over the years.  In the last 50 years, I have missed the Connecticut opener only twice.

After breakfast, we headed to a bridge pool on for Sandy Brook where Bryce hooked and landed his first trout on a fly.  I’m not sure which of us was more excited.  The twelve-inch Rainbow gave a good account of itself on the 5 WT.

Over the next three months or so, Bryce would be my fishing partner on Saturday’s.  Bryce improved his casting skills, and learned to dead drift nymphs which resulted in catches on almost every outing.

The trout season earned a high rating not only for the quality of fish caught, but the fun an excitement I gained from introducing Bryce to the art of  fly fishing.  He was always very patient, though I’m sure his mind drifted to the golf course when things when the catching was slow. This year, I only fished the Farmington.

On my own, I was able to get out 4 times during the peak of the Hendrickson Hatch.  The bugs were prolific and the trout cooperated by taking, nymphs, emergers and dry flies.  On one occasion during the peak of the hatch, I was fishing a dry fly with a size 16 pheasant tail nymph as a dropper and hooked a very nice 21 inch brown.  The brightly colored trout took the dropper, and provided a terrific fight before he was released.  I got out alone a few times in late October and early November following my dad’s passing.

 

Saltwater got off to a slow start in late May.  My first day on the water was the week before Memorial Day.  My log shows I tried several different spots for Stripers before calling it a day. Bait fishermen were reporting good bass fishing, but it was mid June before any fish  showed interest in my flies. Striper fishing got consistent with the arrival of Butterfish on the local reefs.  Match the hatch, fish a moving tide and success was pretty good throughout July and early August. Top spots were, Great Gull Island, the Western Race, Bartletts Reef, and both north and south shores of Fishers Island. Best fish of the year were caught on the south-side of Fishers. Several fish in the mid thirty-inch ranges with 2 just over forty inches.  Top flies were flat wing Deceivers and Pugalsi style baitfish patterns  This season the bluefish population seemed down in numbers,  but larger in size.  Lots of fish in the 10-12 lb range were weighed on the Boca.  Just after Labor Day, a school of blues in the 12 to 16 pound range took up residence off the “Gulls”. Large schools of Peanut Bunker kept the fish in the area.  Blitzing Blues hit just about any fly that matched the Peanuts  in size including Crease flies and poppers.  I took a couple of novice fly fishermen out and they had a blast hooking the hard fighting bluefish.     

About the same time the Bluefish were obliterating bait off the “Gulls”, Albies moved in the same area.  The first fish were difficult to entice, but once the bluefish moved on the “funny” fish were easier to hook if the right s fished.  As we moved into mid-September, the bait took turns auditioning for the bait of the day. On one tide, the False Albacore took Baby Bunker patterns, the next tide or day they only wanted Silversides or Bay Anchovies.

The South side of Fishers Island was the hot spot for Albies in October. This year the numbers of fish was off the charts. I keep a log of all my fishing trips, and going back to 1984, I could not find a year like 2014.  We had several days of double digit catches and releases.  The most productive fly for me was a sparsely tied Bay Anchovie pattern. Anglers that kept at it, reported catching Albies into mid November.

With very cold weather forecast, now is the time to sit down at the vise and create some new flies. or restock for 2015.

Good Health, Happiness and Tight Lines in 2015