morning fog

Hi Folks, Guided the last couple of mornings for trout in a northeast kingdom lake and on the lower Winooski this morning.  Nice cool nights again with air temperatures in the high 40's to low 50's.  Pretty good am fog that keeps the sun off the water until mid morning.  Yesterday morning was interesting with being on the water at 4:30am (too early for a sleep deprived new dad and fishing guide).  Surface temperature of this lake was 72 degrees.  The water temperature was was significantly cooler several feet below the surface.  We set up over several reefs and humps that came up out of 50' to 60' of water.  The humps rose to 25' which is a pretty decent contrast in bottom contour.  We cast 1/4oz. jig heads tipped with smelt imitation swim baits.  We did not land a lake trout but did have several fish eat our presentation.  The fishing pretty much shut down by 7am when the fog burned off and the big bright sun showed itself.  Jigging lakers with braided line is interesting and it is a real finesse technique.  Not easy as the takes are pretty subtle.  This morning the Winooski was 68 degrees at 6am.  Pretty streadt breeze right out of the east.  Good hatch of #16 olive bodied mayflies with 2 tails and a blue dun wing.  No rising fish, but lots of #8 golden stone fly shucks on the rocks.  We nymph fished all morning with #8 Montana Stone fly pattern, #16 hare and copper, and a #16 flash back hare's ear nymph.  Caught wild rainbows between 6" and 11" on 3 fly patterns.  Lots of fall fish in the mix which kept rods bent in between searching out the trout.  Most of the fish were holding in heavy riffles which makes sense considering the warm water temperatures.  The fishing slowed by 10am when the sun became real bright over head.  Off to fish smallmouth with fly this afternoon.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy