Time:                Saturday, February 4^th  -  9 am to 4 pm

Location:         Brighton Twelve Corners Middle School.  2643 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618.

                                  USE THE MONROE AVENUE ENTRANCE AND PARKING LOT

Tickets:            Purchase at the Door - Adult = $15  & Youth under 16 = $5

(Gate proceeds benefit Upstate Fly Fishers, Canandaigua Lake Chapter of Trout Unlimited & Seth Green Chapter of Trout Unlimited)

Contact Info:  craigdennison1@yahoo.com or flyfishingchronicles.com

Angler’s Workshop presents experienced fly fishers teaching and sharing their angling knowledge!  This is a great learning opportunity for both beginner and experienced fly fishers.  Improve your fly fishing skills, learn about unique fisheries, obtain new patterns, enhance casting, network with fellow anglers, purchase fly tying and fly fishing gear, bring vintage tackle for an appraisal, introduce a kid to fly fishing or win a quality fly fishing raffle.  JP Ross and his lineup of fish catching rods is a primary sponsor of this event.  Come chat wtih JP, cast a JP Ross or meet regional bloggers at this semi-annual event.

    This years Angler’s Workshop topics include: 

* Casting instruction                                                           

*Beginner’s fly fishing, equipment & locations

* Women’s fly fishing seminar                                               

*Fishing Upstate NY through the seasons

*Leader construction and knots                                                

*Tactics for fishing lake run fish           

*Fly rod set up and knot tying                                               

*Do it yourself, Montana trip on a budget

*Two-handed fly fishing/swinging flies                                   

*Midges and spring creek strategies

*Fly Fishing Photography                                                           

*1,000 Islands bass and pike on the fly

*Pond and blue gill fishing                                                           

*Basic and custom rod building

*Fishing the Delaware Branches from a drift boat           

*Spring Brook flies and how to fish them

*Fly fishing the Androscoggin River                                   

*Tying realistic, extended body flies

*Hydrofracking and healthy water                                   

*Factory farms and healthy water

Angler’s Workshop Schedule:

Every hour participants choose from diverse workshops.  Watch visually stunning media in the Angling Theater, try fly tying in the Fly Tying Cafeteria, practice casting with JP Ross Fly Rods, challenge your casting ability in the Casting Competition, or visit commercial sponsors in the Angler’s Atrium. 

Angler’s Workshop Sessions 2012

David Agness                        The Tug is the Drug                                    10am & 11 in # 204 (Moving to Small Gym)

Veteran steelhead angler Dave Agness covers two handed rods, switch rods, casting techniques, understanding size and weight of sink tips and flies you intend to swing for fish.  Later, catch Dave tying exquisite fly patterns.           

Lindsay Agness            Women’s Fly-Fishing Seminar            1pm & 2pm  in # 204 (Moving to Small Gym)

Talented Lindsay Agness presents a workshop geared exclusively for women looking to get started or hoping to improve their fly fishing skills.  She will provide an overview of everything you need to get started, feel confident and begin your fly fishing adventure.  This seminar will take place in a relaxed atmosphere where any questions may be asked.

Matt Belanger            Tying Realistic Flies                                    10am to Noon  in # 208B

Creative tyer Matt Belanger leads this 2 hour fly tying workshop.  Participants will tie/watch Matt do extended body nymphs, tape wing caddis and other realistic patterns.  Materials provided, bring your vise/tools if you want to tie.

Matt Belanger            Fly Fishing the Androscoggin River                        2pm in # 209

The zebra caddis and hexagenia hatches are just a few of the fabled hatches on the Androscoggin.  Join Matt Belanger as he shares maps, photos, hatch charts and other tips for exploring this promising destination fishery in the Northeast.           

Rick Bush                        Fly Fishing Photography and Bluegill Fishing            9am & 11 am in # 206

Rick Bush highlights general photography tips, do’s and don’ts, camera recommendations, underwater cameras and the joy of integrating underwater cameras with bluegill fishing.  He will also share local fishing maps and places to fish.

Michael Chochul            Fly Rod Setup and Knot Tying                                    10 am & Noon am in # 206

Seth Green TU President Michael Chochul helps beginners with basics of setting up a fly rod outfit and useful knot tying.

Rich Davis                        Basic Rodbuilding                                                            11 am & 1pm in # 204B

Experienced rod builder Rich Davis outlines the basics or rodbuilding, blank choice, guides, reel seats, thread, wrapping, epoxy and costs related to building versus buying will be discussed.

Craig Dennison            1,000 Islands Bass and Pike on the Fly                        1pm in # 208

Intrepid angler Craig Dennison will showcase the exceptional fly fishing opportunities for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, pike and panfish in the 1,000 Island Region.  Seasons, fishing techniques, flies, gear and more will be covered.

Craig Dennison            Fishing Through the Seasons in Upstate New York            2pm in # 208

Upstate NY boasts a rich diversity of seasonal angling opportunities.  Come learn about how weather, temperature, spawn and other environmental factors help the fly fisher capitalize upon great fishing in the Empire State.

Willem Faber                        Fly Fishing Montana on a Budget                        Noon in # 204 & 1pm in # 209

Veteran traveler Will Faber has led several successful, affordable trips to fish Montana.  It doesn’t have to be out of reach financially.  Learn about this fun, do-it- your self trip to chase fish in Big Sky Country.

Jason Franz                                    Spring Brook flies and How to Fish Them                        Noon & 1pm in # 202

Local guide Jason Franz is a master at midge fishing from top to bottom.  Special emphasis will be placed on effective patterns, techniques and specialized materials.  If you like sight fishing or Spring Brook, don’t miss this workshop!

Brett Jackson                                    Fly Fishing the Delaware System                                    9am & 11am in # 208

Local guide Brett Jackson enjoys drift boat fishing the quality East, West Branch and Main Stem of the Delaware.  Come learn about this trophy fishery, strategies for fishing different water levels and hatches on this system.

Jake Jakubowski                        Beginners Fly Fishing                        9am & Noon in # 209

Join our UFF President for a practical session covering what the beginning fly fisher will need to get started, necessities, nice to haves, equipment details (rod, waders, boots, etc), as well as some information on where to fish locally.

Nancy Kasper                        Risky Business 1:  Hydrofracking and Healthy Waters            9am & 1pm # 214 (Band Rm)

Dedicated environmental advocate Nancy Kaspar takes an in-depth look at hydrofracking (controversial natural gas mining process) and its immediate and potential long-term impacts on water and aquatic ecosystems health.

Nancy Kasper                        Risky Business 2:  Factory Farms & Healthy Waters            10am  # 214 (Band)

Nancy Kaspar takes an in-depth look at the impacts on water and aquatic ecosystems health from industrial agriculture practices and factory farm waste.  Come learn about ways to ensure water quality and our fisheries!

Kevin Kram                        Casting Tips                                                            11am in Large Gym

Fly Casting Instructor Kevin Kram shares tips on how to set the hook, sighting a fish, ways for a better roll cast, casting into the wind, how to eliminate wind knots in your leader and developing more speed with the double haul.

Kevin Kram                        Fly Fishing Knots                                                9am to 4:00 in Angler’s Atrium

Join Kevin Kram in the Angling Atrium as he shares the most common used knots and constructing a leader.

Al Kraus                                    Rigging for Fly Fishing                                    9am in # 204 & 1pm in # 206

Impeccable angler Al Kraus discusses the components needed to get your fly rod and reel ready (backing, fly line, leader, tippet, and flies).  He will also discuss how to rig for “dry fly” fishing and adding a dropper.  How to rig a standard nymphing system with an indicator and a “right angle” nymphing system will also be covered.

Kyle Kuba                                    Antique Fishing Tackle                                    All Day-Anglers Atrium

Bring in your collectible or antique fishing tackle to Kyle Kuba for a free appraisal or discussion.

Bill Nesbitt                        Rod Building and Handle Design                                    10am & 11am in # 209

Rod Builder Bill Nesbitt showcases the possibilities for custom rod building, as well as variations of handle design.

Jay Peck                        Fishing Lake Run Fish                                                11am in # 202 & 2pm in # 206

Local guide Jay Peck has logged thousands of hours guiding anglers to tributary fish around Lake Ontario.  Join Jay as he talks about the seasons, species, diverse fisheries, tactics and strategies that he employs for this dynamic fishery..

Ted & Landry Retzlaff            Getting Started in Fly Fishing                        9am & 10am # 202

This dynamic father and son duo will share a general introduction to fly fishing for kids and adults.  Equipment, where to fish, flies demystified, where the fish are and other sources of information will be shared.

JP Ross and Mike Simmons                        Fun Fly Casting Competition            2 pm to 3:30 pm in Large Gym

Join JP and Mike for this fun fly casting competition.  This will be a challenging position course using a JP Ross and Co. rod.  Participants will use an identical 5 weight outfit and plaques will be awarded for the top three casters.

Harold Stock                        Beginner Fly Tying                        9, 10, 11 am in Cafeteria

Harold Stock wants to help beginners experience success with fly tying.  All tools and materials will be supplied.  Create a realistic fly or two that you get to keep and take fishing.  Limit of 12 students per session.

Gerry Tubbs                        Tips for Fishing and Photography in WNY                        Noon in # 208 and 2pm # 202

Experienced angler Gerry Tubbs covers fly fishing and photography on local streams in Greater Rochester and Buffalo.

John White                        Basic Fly Casting                        9am & Noon in Large Gym

L. L. Bean Instructor John White teaches three basic casts (1-the four part cast, 2-the false cast and 3-the roll cast).  This is a great session for beginners and intermediate fly fishers who want to learn or refresh their casting skills.

We've experienced some decent rain this week and I was itching to fish.  A half an inch or more of rainfall has the capacity to bring in fresh steelhead.  Recently, I managed to free up two hours of fishing time and drove to a small tributary.  To my surprise, the water was clear and the flow low.  It looked like the creek hadn't experienced any rain run off.  It never ceases to amaze me how localized our rainfall can be in Upstate New York.  Creeks near my house were brimming with water, while twenty miles away, this Lake Ontario Tributary looked like it didn't receive rainfall.

Since I had geared up and was hankering to fish, I walked to a popular bridge hole.  With the help of my polarized glasses, I soon spotted a 2' steelhead in the tail out.  Just the sight of that fish fining in the center slot made me glad I was fishing.  It's funny how one fish can validate all the effort put into taking time off to fish.

I checked my fly (hot bead white soft hackle streamer) and visualized my approach, presentation and hook up of that promising steelhead.  I'd like to tell you that's how things transpired.  But, my plans went quickly awry.  Have you ever had one of those days when your angling errors seem to compound?  Well, fishing that bridge hole was my comedy of errors.  It's good to get your fishing ego humbled now and then.  After fishing that well known spot,  I sure felt like a rookie an hour later.  It all started when my careful approach proved not too careful.  I attempted to creep down the bank and stealthily move into position to cast to that fish.  Instead, I bumbled, slipped and noisily crashed down the bank to the water's edge.  My studded boots weren't much help in the fresh mud.  Once I slid to a stop, I recovered and attempted to hide behind a bush.  The water was low, clear and I was still trying to preserve a stealthy presentation to the fish.  At least the fish hadn't moved, yet.

I estimated the length of line needed and roll cast my fly upstream of the target.  Except, my cast landed to the side and slightly below the fish.  My next cast was also off.  Around the fourth or fifth cast, I nearly hit the fish on the head and it uneasily swam towards some brush.  Being the stubborn angler that I am, I proceeded to roll cast again and lobbed my streamer directly into a tree branch on the far side of the hole.  Darn it!  I tied that fly, liked that fly and didn't want to leave it dangling in a tree!  Why not wade across and retrieve it?  Besides, I'd already spooked the fish.  A quick scope of the trough and tail out didn't reveal any other fish.  What did I have to loose by safely wading out and retrieving it?

I was able to safely wade across and grabbed my fly.  To my horror, I spooked another 3-4 steelhead that I hadn't previously spotted.  They were tucked against a downed log or hidden against the ledge.  My carelessness just blew out several nice fish.  I cringed as I watched them speedily dart upstream, seeking cover in the deep hole near the bridge.  It certainly wasn't worth retrieving that fly!  So, I waded back, sat on the bank and regrouped.  Perhaps those fish would settle down.  For the next hour, I cast half a dozen tiny nymphs and egg patterns (sizes # 12 to #16) with no success.  I dropped down to 6lb flourcarbon, discarded the indicator and focused my efforts on high sticking the hole with a dead drift, no additional weight.  Now and then I continued to see the fish.  They had no interest in my offerings, even moving out of the path of my drifting fly.  I'd blown the fish in that hole.  We all have off angling days and I'd certainly muffed my chances with those fish.  Next time, I'll certainly think twice next time about retrieving my fly.

I am pleased to introduce to you Raw Water Productions.

Adam Kryder, Lucas Carroll and Matt Smythe have turned a passion and a dream into a reality like no other. They’ve taken their love for film, photography, writing, and fly fishing and rolled all into one - Raw Water Productions!

And the best part about this new venture is that it’s local. So please stop by their web site, take a look around and make sure to leave a comment and help support this new venture.

Here is a video for you to chew on while you add this site to your list of favorites!

Now that the weather has finally decided to follow its regularly scheduled broadcast, I can go to a variety of my local streams and find myself alone! And up until this past week, the on-stream traffic was more like what you would find during the height of the lake run brown trout run. Every hole had a pair of waders in it, or walking to it. It’s as if a dinner bell was going off somewhere and everyone and their brother was hungry. I guess the fact that the fishing has been fair hasn’t helped either, and I really can’t blame them I was there too!

But as angling pressure mounted on our WNY tributaries and fewer fish were being caught I began to feel the draw of our amazing inland trout fisheries. It is an option that is always there, and can save the day when needed, or test out an anglers mettle when they desire the challenge of tying on really small flies to really light tippet in below freezing conditions. Or perhaps stripping streamers to winter trout without gloves is your game. Either way, they offer what our WNY tributaries can’t – A place to go where the fish are rested and wild.

My search for inland gold had another aspect to it that I also missed – fishing light rods and light line. I broke out my Beaver Meadow seven foot two weight, and my Blue Line nine foot four weight. Both rods handle the job really well and I have certainly missed putting a good bend in them. And bend them I did!

Small pink scuds, midge larvae in purple, red and brown, and nymphs have accounted for almost all my fish taken while dead drifting. And a big lead eyed four inch rabbit strip streamer in white and olive has again proven to be a big fish producer.

Our WNY inland trout don’t obtain the massive size that their lake run brethren do, but what they lack in size they make up for in beauty, tenacity, and at times, can be way more challenging.

In december, I tied some streamers to fish for perch and zander, by "scratching" rocky bottoms.

I could test them last weekend in the river "l'Oust". This wide river was almost completely transformed into canal in the early nineteenth century to connect the arsenals of Nantes, Brest and St. Malo, and so avoid the coast where British navy was dominating at that time. It is part of a vast network of canals (220 miles) linking the cities of Nantes to Brest, and called "canal from Nantes to Brest."

So channeled, Oust river offers a series of locks and bays where you can find many perch. Here, weighted streamers allowed me to catch about twenty perches, not very big (largest ones were just over 10 inches long). Nevertheless, enjoying two periods of "binge eating" of these perch gave me a fun day of fishing.

The castle was built in the 1370 by Olivier V de Clisson, on the ruins of a castle dating from the first beginning of the eleventh century. Olivier V de Clisson married his daughter, Beatrix, to Alain VIII de Rohan, heir of the Viscounts of Rohan. In 1488, the Duke of Brittany Francis II conquered the castle and partially demolished it. His daughter, Anne de Bretagne, future Queen of France (Twice ! From 1491 to 1498 by marrying Charles VIII, and from 1499 to 1514 by marrying Louis XII), gave it back to Jean II de Rohan, which was Olivier de Clisson's great-grand-son. Jean II de Rohan turned the castle into a leisure residence and had built within the walls a beautiful carved granite facade, which is an early example of the Renaissance in France. In the following centuries, this castle was partially destroyed, turned into a prison, abandoned... and restored.

Every year that we fish is a good year.  It's tough to be cynical about any year that offers quality angling.  Still, there's always that missed fish, missed hatch, or squandered angling opportunity.  Any fly fisher who spends  a minute on piscatorial reflection will uncover missed angling opportunities from the past year.

In my fishy mind, the best way to reconcile  past with present is to make an angling wish list for the New Year.  Looking forward, my simplest wish for the upcoming New Year is that I get to fish.  That said, I'll venture forth a dozen, chronological specific fly fishing wishes for 2012.

1. A chance to catch a fish on January 1, 2012.  There's always something special, symbolic and uplifting about catching that first fish of the year, on the first day of the year.
2. Winter Blizzards that shut things down and heighten my fly tying determination.  It always seems that I'm most productive and creative at the tying vice in the bleak mid-winter.
3. Mild weather and a great turnout for Angler's Workshop on Saturday, February 5th.  As the primary organizer of this event, I spend lot of time and energy on this one day event.  Between the new sponsors, speakers, raffle prizes, demos, etc, it will be an improved Angler's Workshop!
4. Another chance in late March to swing streamers into a particular imposing logjam of the Irondequoit Creek system.  I missed a hefty steelhead there last March and the ferocious assault on my streamer still leaves me wondering about that fish.
5. Wadable water levels on the West Branch of the Delaware in late April.  The early season hendrickson hatch can be stellar there, has fewer crowds in April and those selective trophy browns, not as discerning.
6. My last steelhead hook up of the season in early May.  It's very possible to fish for steelhead in our tributaries from September through May.  An aggressive, acrobatic, May steelhead  is icing on the cake and a great way to cap the steelhead season.
7. Two non-weekend days in early June to fish the start of the sulpher hatch on the West Branch of the Delaware.  The first seven to nine days of the hatch, those gorgeous trout are what I call "sulpher silly" and less discriminating towards your fly pattern.
8. Top water feeding, surface crashing small mouth bass in the Thousand Islands.  I've caught dozens of bass in a day up there, nary a single bass on a top water fly.  Perhaps this Fourth of July Weekend is the year that I crack the code on how to catch these guys on top.
9. A better Summer crab pattern to deceive those 40" cruising striped bass that manage to either ignore, or spiritedly move away from my fly.  I've landed some nice fish in the 30" plus range, but have witnessed multiple rejections from the biggest bass of the bunch.  Maybe they want a baby lobster pattern...
10. A stronger tippet for carp fishing in the canal.  It's a bit humbling when you finally convince a carp to inhale your fly and with one sweep of the tail, it pops your flourocarbon and laughs at the pressure you feebly applied.
11. Any drizzly, overcast day on the Salmon River when fish are flooding upstream from Lake Ontario.  It's Fall, the scenery is superb, the fish fresh and the bite is on.  When you are amidst so many fresh fish that are willing to move for a fly, it's part of an awesome fishing scene and a page from from nature's journal.
12. Acceptance that I'll never fish as much as I want to.   Regardless of where you are, may you enjoy angling blessing for 2012 and remember to take a kid fishing!

After a rewarding year of fly fishing for carp, the activity of my play mates is slowing down, and it's time for me to make some assessments. If I have fished only in ponds, the variety of situations is big enough to see that fly fishing for carp is a vast exploration field. However, I can now draw a few conclusions about the natural environment and its conditions, the behavior of carp, as well about flies and their presentation.

Angler’s Workshop

Time:  Saturday, February 4^th  -  9 am to 4 pm

Location: Twelve Corners Middle School – Monroe Ave Entrance (Rochester, NY)

Tickets: Purchase at the Door - Adult = $15  & Youth under 16 = $5 

Angler’s Workshop is a fun, one-day fly fishing event that provides informative content to promote fly fishing and broaden the angler skill set. Angler’s Workshop offers six, 50 minute workshop sessions on various workshops for the beginner to the experienced fly fisher.  

Fly Fishing Instructors Wanted:  Building upon our success of Angler’s Workshop in 2010, we will bring together a talented group of experienced fly fishers as instructors. Good content and unique programming will attract anglers from Upstate NY. Our facility is Twelve Corners Middle School and digital projectors/screens, dry erase boards, classrooms, cafeteria and gym are available.  We are looking for knowledgable  instructors to lead Workshops based on a fly fishing skill/topic/destination of your choice.  If you would like to learn more about being an instructor, click this link:  docs.google.com/viewer

 Sponsors Welcome:  Would you like to promote your business or organization? Donate $50 and you will be an Angler’s Workshop Sponsor.  This will allow you to set up a commercial table in the Fly Fishing Atrium.  As an Angler’s Workshop Sponsor, you may distribute material, sell products, offer demonstrations and promote your cause.  Up to two (2) 3’ x 6’ will be available per sponsor.  In addition, you will be recognized as a sponsor in the program/handouts.  If you would like to learn more about being an Instructor, click this link:  docs.google.com/viewer

I got back from Alaska almost 2 months ago, and have been meaning to do this post for some time. I had a great season working at a fly out lodge on the Kvichak River. Flying out ever day meant fishing a lot of different water. I was fortunate enough to notice a lot of new behaviors and patterns of fish this season and thought I would share a few.

In Alaska the largest rainbows are found in systems supported by large oligotrophic lakes. Despite there being little nutrients in the lake the number of quality, salmon spawning tributaries gives these rainbows countless outlets for food. The Bristol Bay drainage is home to many of these larger lakes, and thus some of the biggest rainbow trout in the world. When the salmon are done spawning in these systems there is till countless resources of food that will continually flow down into the lakes. Even in the spring rainbows are still feeding off the salmon because the carcasses become frozen in the ice and then are released during the thaw...dirty flesh. These fish have flesh and eggs to feed on essentially all year. So, if your ever up there remember you always have a great shot at a big rainbow with some traditional flesh flies, and an egg.

The well known fact these fish are almost completely reliant upon salmon ties into the fact that sometimes these fish can become absolutely elusive. They move around in these systems to such a degree that sometimes its seems absolutely absurd. I’ve walked upon many spawning beds on these rivers to find big numbers of rainbows feeding heavily on eggs, and then come back days later to find the same bed full of spawning salmon, but barren of rainbows. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has tagged the same fish in both the Naknek and Kvichak rivers. Meaning the fish had to travel into Kvichak bay...much like a steelhead. Thus being said, finding the fish is the main battle, landing them is a whole other war.

Ok, Alaska is a crazy place with crazy people and crazy fish. But that is all said and done. I’m glad to be done with the season and back on track again. I will be fishing for steelhead all winter in the Northwest Pacific and will try my best to keep more recent. Best wishes to all, and mostly to those who fish.

With moderate rain over the past two weeks, several smaller tributaries enjoyed a fresh push of rainbows.  There were rainbows actively spawning, on gravel, digging redds and chasing each other around.  Around Thanksgiving and for days after, there were some epic quantity catches of rainbows.  The number of fish that my egg sack fishing acquaintances caught were substantial.  When you catch over several dozen lake run fish in a single outing, that's extreme catching.  It's always nice to hear them get bored of catching fish and finally look to use a fly rod, preferring a greater challenge.

When conditions are this favorable, that's when I try to introduce novice anglers to tributary fishing.  I like to take young anglers, novice adults or  casual angling friends fishing anytime after Thanksgiving.  The crowds are fewer, the weather still tends to be mild and there are plenty of fresh fish to target.  This year, the bonus factor has been our unseasonably warm temperature.  When you're catching fish in December and the air temp is in the fifties or sixties, life is good.  This is the time of year when I make good on my promise to host budding fly fishers on our local tributaries.  Conditions are near perfect and it may be there best shot at a salmonid species over 8lbs.

Over the past few weeks, I've taken a student at my school fly fishing, my brother-in-law and a fellow colleague fly fishing for tributary fish.  We've caught a few browns, but our primary catch has been either rainbows or steelhead.  I tend to take them to small streams, outfit a 10' eight weight rod with an egg pattern or egg sucking leech style streamer, and place a bright Thingamabobber 3' to 4' above the weight and fly.  It's tough to miss that Thingamabobber move when it slashes to the side, or  abruptly moves upstream!  We've focused our casts on the seams, deep runs, bend pools, below natural waterfalls and against deep cut banks.  The fish have been generous, spirited and acrobatic. Some of the fresh steelhead have torn across the pool and then ripped off line as they bolted downstream.  The higher water has made the fight all the more enjoyable.

It's been a real treat to share fly fishing for quality fish with appreciative novices.  If you've been thinking about taking out a budding fly fisher, now is the time to get on the water.  There are browns still spawning, drop back browns looking for an easy meal, territorial rainbows looking to intercept eggs and fresh steelhead eager to consume an egg pattern or a well-presented streamer.  The fishing has been good and should continue to be decent, barring any major cold spell.  Get on the water and take a novice fishing.  Better yet, convince a kid to leave behind their video game and introduce him or her to fly fishing!

After a recent blow out of our local Western New York small tributaries, I decided it was time to get back out there and get into full swing mode and do some fly fishing…at least in the beginning.

It was also time to make good on a promise to get out with a new friend of mine Matt Smythe, the creator of fishingpoet.com. He is a writer and a darn good one at that. And his blog fishingpoet.com gives you a taste of his wonderful writing style that brings you into his world of fishing and hunting. Please make sure to check his site out, and leave a message.

Matt and I met on a local small WNY tributary at around 9:15am, got our gear together, and made the long walk down to the water via a very muddy path that had already seen its share of wading shoes that morning. But we were undeterred and made our way to an uncrowned section far below the bridge.

The water had lowered considerably from the recent blow out, but still maintained a good flow with a hint of color still in it - Perfect if you ask me! We worked a riffle section above a nice pool for a while, moving down step by step until we were well around the bend. Nothing moved for a fly. So I walked back up to the top to start all over again when I noticed a few fish holding, and realized then that they were not interested in chasing down a fly. Not enough time had passed from the recent high water to trigger the fish to go back into streamer mode. We made the switch over to egg patterns, and that made all the difference. We each hooked several fish over the next couple of hours and were able to bring most to the net. All were lake run brown trout, save the few small chubs that wouldn’t let well enough alone. It was a great way to start off the day!

As Matt was nearing the end of his time on the stream, another friend of mine showed up to keep me company for the afternoon. Bob Burrows is a friend that I have known since our days working at the newspaper together, when I first moved out to the Rochester area. We spent all our off days fishing together, and he spent a good amount of time showing me all the local spots.  I owe a lot of my WNY fishing success to him.

Over those last few afternoon hours, Bob, his friend Allen and I worked hard for the few fish we hooked, and landed. But it was Bob’s steelhead that was the most memorable. This fished lived up to every stereotype that is associated with Its kind - Blistering runs, leaping twisting turns, headshakes, more runs, and finally the old ‘trying to wrap around a submerged tree limb trick.’ But Bob played the fish with an expert hand, a hand that is reserved only for those that have seen every trick in the book. And not until the fish was in the net and in hand did I realize how great a feat it was. Bob was fishing a 5 weight fly rod, with a standard arbor click and pawl fly reel, that had suffered a severe backlash from one of the blistering runs. Amazing!

It was a great day to say the least, one that was made even better with friends both new and old, and I look forward to our next time out on the water….thanks guys!!!!

We have certainly enjoyed some great warm weather recently. And before this recent batch of cold weather rolled in, I was able to get out on the water a few times over the past few weeks.

The brown trout spawn has been done for a little while now and the fish are starting to acclimate themselves to post spawn life. This means that the female brown trout will be the first to chase down a streamer, as the males still haven’t figured out that the spawn is done. And in another week or so the males will follow suite and really start to go on the feed before the cold of winter sets in for the long haul. The only thing that will change this behavior is a high water period brought on by heavy rain. This will break loose some of the spawning reds and put eggs back in the system causing the fish to change their diet. In fact, it is not a bad idea to search out the little dishes that form on the downstream side of reds. There you can often find a waiting steelhead or post spawn female brown waiting patiently for an egg to drift by. And because these spots are often found in gravel sections, it is a good idea to approach them with caution, and if at all possible, without wading. Once the water comes down, and enough time passes without another high water period, the fish will again go back to chasing down streamers.

Over the past few weeks I have witnessed this change first hand. As the spawn was winding down, and the water was still on the low to medium side, I made my way to some less pressured water on a favorite WNY tributary. The game plan was simple. Tie on a large weighted rabbit strip streamer, cast slightly down and across, let the current catch the line and allow it to pull the fly across the stream. I did not have to wait long, as a flash and a quick tug came from my third or fourth cast. But, the fish didn’t fully commit and therefore left me in a 0 for 1 hole.  My batting average took a turn for the better 15 minutes later when the second fish of the day stopped the streamer in mid swing. With a sweep of the rod to the downstream side, I was fast into a good fish. A flash of red led me to believe I had hooked into a steelhead, but as the fish tired and eventually slid into the shallows minutes later, I could clearly see it was a Coho salmon. Everything from that point on would be a bonus.

I ended my short but sweet hour and a half of fishing time with one last fish. I had been swinging a faster riffle section that worked its way around a slow bend, hoping that a fish would show its self in the fast broken water, but it wasn’t until I was near the end of the run, when I put a fly on the far bank right next to a fall down of trees, did the water explode. The fly was intercepted in mid swing by a rather feisty post spawn female brown trout.

When the conditions are right, swinging for lake run trout and salmon is one of my favorite ways to entice them to take a fly. But you need to cover a great deal of water.

On the stream that day, I was fishing to different fish than those that would take an egg or nymph. These fish were aggressive and ready to chase down a large meal. You can often go back with an egg or nymph to some of those same areas and pick up even more fish that didn’t want to move for the big stuff.

But that’s a different story!