Friday, July 1, 2011

working upstream

Hi Folks, Guided a Lamoille tributary yesterday afternoon under gray damp skies.  Some on and off light showers.  Saw a decent hatch of #20 BWO's and actually some smaller wild rainbows eating off the top.  Water temperature was 63 degrees and the level was still slightly above the seasonal average.  We walked up stream through a wide variety of water types from deep swift plunge pools to long riffles to pools.  The rig of the day was a #12 tungsten prince nymph with a #18 BWO dropper and a #12 Black Copper John with a #18 olive caddis pupa.  We hooked fish on all of the fly patterns.  Landed wild rainbows up to 11" and wild and stocked brown trout up to 10".  No giant fish but good steady action.  The key to catching this trout was a good dead drift and quick response time when the strike indicator danced.  You have to trust the indicator in swift water and set the hook.  A pretty cool sensation when the indicator goes down and you feel the electricity of a trout on the other end of the line.  All up stream presentations in order to sink the flies and not spook the fish.  I will be guiding this afternoon and all weekend.  Looking busy and the weather looks good so fish on!  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy