Trip Report: Some Fish November:)

After tying hundreds and hundreds of flies over the last few weeks I found some time today to get out fishing. I hoped to test out some new dry fly midge patterns today but with cold and clouds there was very little surface activity. Instead I tied on a black size 18 zebra midge and prospected a promising run.

 I hooked into this rosy cheeked rainbow almost immediately. Shortly after this other little guy took the midge. I pulled in six trout out of the first long run that I fished. After 30 minutes or so I ran into a new friend that I'd met on this stream a few weeks ago. We fished upstream together.

This picture is of the rosy cheeked trout above! We continued upstream finding a few smaller trout here and there. I fished the pink squirrel of prey on some prime runs and dredged some deeper water with very little to show for my efforts. I decided to shorten up and see if a trout would chase the squirrel in a shallower run.

This decent brown took the fly in about two feet of water and put up a decent fight. After darting around submerged rocks he swam gently into my waiting net. After a few quick pics he was returned to the ice cold drink. Check out that sweet side pony tail flowing from under that hat...and those dumpy looking waders!!! After hauling in a few more little ones we called it a day.

Stay Tuned: I'll be getting out a lot more (hopefully) once the Winter Trout Season begins on January 1.

No Fish November:(

I have fished a few times this November, but not much. I've spend hours and hours behind the vise in preparation for the launch of a website dedicated to selling flies, fly rods, and some accessories. I hope to have it up and going by spring. While I'd love to spend all of my time tying flies I do have to get out in the field for product development!

This bow took a pink butted pink squirrel of prey. It's quicker to tie that the squirrel and works just as well, maybe better! The first part of November was unseasonably warm. BWO's continued hatching until last week when temps dipped below freezing.

This little brown fell for the size 24 parachute trico/midge. This fly gets tons of strikes but it's tough to get a good hook set with such a tiny hook. The trick is to let the fish take it for a split second before lifting the rod tip rather than to set the hook hard. This fly is my go-to dry fly for the winter season. I hope to develop a good Griffiths Gnat and another basic dry midge pattern to try.

I got out this past Friday and pulled in around a dozen average sized browns. The fishing was pretty slow and I got snowed on for the first time this winter. With the holidays coming up I'll likely continue to spend more time behind the vise than on stream but come January first I'll be strapping on the snow shoes and chasing 'em.

Also, I spoke with a buddy a few days ago and he told tale of a 20" brookie that he caught out of a stream with no brookie stocking. He spoke with some fellas at the local hatchery and learned that they never stock brooders either. He has a picture that I'm dying to see. I believe him 100% even without seeing the photo and if he said it's 20 inches it's probably more like 22!!!! I'm so jealous!!!Stay tuned: My 20" brookie is on it's way...