big smallmouth

first smallmouth of the year

Hi Folks, Guided from my boat yesterday on a local body of water.  We were fly fishing for northern pike.  Good breeze from the south and the surface temperature of the water was 61 degrees.  The water color is tanin at this lake and generally not gin clear.  Bright colored flies were in order.  We cast a 8wt. outfit with a floating line and a leader with a wire shock tippet.  The fly of the day was red and yellow 1/0 deceiver.  Right off the get go we hooked a large northern in the 30" class.  Saw the pike take the fly.  Really impressive seeing the big head and mouth open up and inhale the deceiver.  Unfortunately the fish was lost at the boat after a pretty good battle.  Landed a smaller northern with the same fly pattern.  The fish of the day was 20" (measured) smallmouth bass.  Big ripe female who looked like she had been around the block.  Pretty funny that the first smallmouth of the season I see caught is a trophy.  Setting the bar high.  We fished in fairly shallow water working shoreline cover with downed wood and new growth weed beds.  Anyway, lots of casting and lots of fun.  Off to guide with the boat again today.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

using the net

fish with shoulders

Hi Folks, Guided with the boat today for northern pike.  Still lots of crazy weather with morning showers and thunderstorms.  Cleared a bit where we were fishing in the kingdom and the wind was calm early and then blew steady form the north for most of the day.  Even saw the sun for awhile this afternoon. Water temperature was 60 to 61 degrees.  The fishing was slow in the morning with no action or even a follow by pike.  Not that unusual for the spring time.  After lunch the fish cranked up a bit and began to show themselves.  We landed a 32" and 28" female pike that had some piss and vinegar.  You could see that they were post spawn from their stretched out bellies and the battle wounds from the spawn on their flanks.  Had several other large northern chase to the boat only to say "no thanks" at that last minute.  Certainly helpful to have a net on larger pike as they tend to have broad shoulders some nasty teeth.  The color of the day was red and white.  Classic color combo in the world of pike angling. We saw every northern in less than 5' of water over dark bottoms with new weed growth and fallen timber.   Our rivers took another beating today as everyone I crossed or drove along was filthy dirty and high.  Piking again tomorrow.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

lots of bugs

Hi Folks.  With all of the crazy weather I have been driving around and checking out rivers and streams.  The Lamoille was 56 degrees today at 11:00am above Morrisville.  The river is still above its seasonal average, but is clearing up fairly well.  I could see river bottom throughout the river.  There was an incredible number of egg laden #14 Hendrickson spinners this am dancing up and down the river.  Too bad the water was high.  Trout do not tend to expend unnecessary energy and are not generally going to rise in heavier flows.  I checked several back eddies where I have seen fish rise in the past and saw no takers.  Did see some #14 grannoms hatching as well as #14 little brown stoneflies.  Lots of thunderstorms about so watch out for lightening.  Off to fish for pike out of the boat.  Should be fun.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

record wet spring

Hi Folks, start building your arc because has the rain has not let up.  Received almost 2.5" of rain at my house in Stowe since last Saturday.  Not a lot of options for river fishing right now.  I know a few small streams that are clear that have wild rainbows that can be fished and the water temperature has been around 50 degrees.  The Lamoille and Winooski are still very high and dirty.  Lake fishing is an option and I am guiding for pike over the next few days.  Getting tired of canceling and postponing trips due to the weather.  Good time to have a motorboat.  Weather looks to improve over the weekend and air temperatures are certainly warming up which in turn will warm up the water.  On the bright side, all of the water should make for a good June.  Hard to imagine that we will have a problem with low water this season.  Patience with the weather like patience in fishing.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Replace your felt boots.  Have Fun, Willy

Hendrickson hatch and rising fish

Hi Folks, Been guiding the last couple of days on the Lamoille and one of its tributaries.  Found water temperatures from the mid fifties to sixty degrees.  Been awful sunny and air temperatures have been in the seventies.  River levels are at a seasonal flow on the Lamoille watershed.   The main stem on the Winooski is still significantly above the average flow for this time of the year.  Water clarity was excellent.  So, saw a decent hatch of #14 Hendrickson mayflies today and few trout responding to the surface.  First rising fish I have seen this year.  Also, found a few #14 brown stoneflies hatching and yes, damn black flies.  Been fishing midday starting out with #14 Hendrickson nymphs and #12 and #14 hare and coppers.  The trout were rising sporadically from 2pm to 5pm.  Not a bad idea to stay on the water until dark to see a spinner drop.  Anywho, we had 3 wild trout eat nymphs today and 3 wild trout take a #14 compara dun and #14 parachute.  Might want to get on our rivers tomorrow as the weather for the next few days looks wet.  We could receive significant rain.  Walleye fishing is going on in our lower rivers and pike fishing is hot right now.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

improving conditions and pike on the fly

Hi Folks, Spent the afternoon on my boat chasing northern pike on the fly.  Fished a small lake south of Stowe.  Slight breeze from the north and overcast skies for most of the day.  Surface temperatures were between 50 and 52 degrees.  We worked the shallow parts of the lake with a soft bottom and new growth weeds.  Water depth ranged from 2' to 8'.  The fly of the day was 1/0 yellow and red deceiver.  Letting the fly sink and then slow long strips produced strikes.  We landed 4 pike between 18" and 26".  A floating line is fine but a sinking line can be good for keeping the fly in the strike zone longer.  The upcoming weather week is looking good and water temperatures should improve and warm slowly.  Trout rivers are looking better and things have settled a bit with clarity improving daily.  Just need more warmer weather to heat up the water and really turn on the fish.  Pike fishinng will remain good for the next few weeks and wallleye season is now open.  Lake Champlain is at a record level with many boat ramps being under water.  Look for #16 Blue Quills, #14 Hendricksons,and still a few #14 brown stoneflies as well as #12/#14 craneflies.  Nymphing will be the way to go our rivers until things heat up.  Will be chasing pike this week and exploring some trout water.  Remember that felt is banned and clean your equipment in order to keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

rain

Hi Folks, You would think it was still winter here in Stowe Vermont.  Snow in the higher elevation yesterday and today.  Lots of rain over the last week as I have recorded almost 2" at my house.  Our rivers are up and the larger streams like the Winooski and Lamoille are unfishable.  Dirty, cold, and high.  I took temperatures on several rivers the other day and did not find any water temperatures above 47 degrees.  Really like to see the water temperature eclispe 50 degrees if not 55 degrees coming out of winter.  Seems like the resident river trout do not really turn on until the water temperatures maintain in the 50's for a few days.  Lake fishing is an option though water levels are high and temperatures have not warmed very quickly.  Things will only get better and the weather for the next week looks more spring like and warming.  Remember to take off the felt, clean your gear, and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

first vermont trout of the season

Hi folks, Fished up in the kingdom today on the Willoughby River for lake run Rainbow Trout.  Nice day with air temps. warming into the 60's and perfect water conditions on the Willoughby.  The water temperature was 36 degrees at 8:00am and warmed to 42 degrees by 2:00pm.  Clarity was okay with off colored water that was slightly high.  My preferred clarity and level for steelheading on the Willoughby.  Landed two rainbows with the largest fish weighing in at 2lbs.  I caught 1 trout on a orange glow bug and second on a salmon colored spring wiggler.  Each fish was caught in a fast riffle indicating to me that they were moving up stream.  Both silver fish that were fresh from the lake.  There were several fish jumping the falls in Orleans and the suckers had also arrived in the river.  Great hatch of #14 brown stone flies and I suspect the wiggler is a pretty good imitator of the stone fly.  The Willoughby should be decent for few weeks.  However, lots of rain forecast for this week and it could create unfishable water.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Take the felt off!.  have Fun, Willy

still April fishing elsewhere

Hi Folks, Still seems like winter out there with the snow coming down.  Just returned from PA where I fished trout on limestone springs creeks.  Lot of water down there and the fishing was limited as many creeks where unfishable due to high water.  Still managed to catch a handful of wild brown trout everyday with the largest fish being 15.5".  Saw a great hatch of grannoms #14 to #16 and some #18 Blue Quills.  Not much for rising fish due to water levels.  Temperatures were in the mid 40's.  Our streams are still in the high 30's at best and are not going to warm up too quickly at this rate.  My take on my trip to PA is that it will be a cold slow spring in Vermont might take awhile for our trout to turn on.  We have freestone rivers and not spring influenced limestone creeks.  I did check some pike lakes yesterday afternoon and the ice is off.  I canceled a boat trip today due to wind and snow, but will be chasing northern this week.  The cold spring will only benefit the season as hopefully our rivers and brooks will maintain their levels and temperature.  Well, hope for better weather.  Remember to clean your gear and leave the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

trout season open???

Hi folks, Trout season is here on the calender,  but in reality, it might be awhile before the river fishing picks up.  The snow is finally melting and we have had over an 1" of rain in Stowe.  Our rivers are very high, dirty, and cold.  I took an opening day temperature on a local stream and it was 34 degrees (ouch).  A couple of lakes I like to fish early season for pike are still covered in ice.  Should break soon.  The best bet for April will be chasing lake run rainbows and fishing for northern pike.  My motorboat is ready to go if the snow would melt in front of my barn and I could hook it to the truck.  Our early season hatches consist of #14 little brown stone flies.  A heavy stonefly nymph can work really well on the lake run rainbows besides various egg patterns.  I have done very well over the years with any egg pattern in yellow.  It represent sucker spawn.  Loads of suckers move up our rivers to reproduce in conjunction with the rainbows.  Edges of lakes where the ice is out can attract landlocked salmon in search of smelt and emerald shiners.  Fun to cast streamers to these fish.  Well, I hope to fish in the next couple of days in the weather permits.  Felt wading boots are now banned in Vermont.  Remember to still clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

still winter

Hi Folks, Guided local today for northern pike.  Still cold and blowing outside.  We found 24" of ice and walking required care as the ice was slippery.  Ice conditions do vary this time of year and caution is advised, but the last week's cold weather has extended the ice fishing season.  We had two flags with pike today.  Fish in the 5lb to 6lb range.  Females with eggs who were released.  We set goldens under tip ups from 2' to 8' of water.  Lots of weeds.  The perch fishing was decent as we landed 30 yellow perch, but no real big yellow bellies.  Will be chasing pike again Thursday.  It is not looking very favorable for opening day currently.  Still pretty darn cold.  Remember to obey the bait laws and keep VHS at home.  Have Fun, Willy

hard water pike

Hi folks, Been up north guiding northern pike the last few days.  Still 14" of ice where we fished, but the shore line is getting thin.  It is the time of the year where a ladder or a board are helpful getting off the ice.  The shoreline ice is the first to recede and caution is advised when getting on or off.  Been unseasonably cool this week so the integrity of the ice is still good.  We fished a shallow bay that dumps into deep water two days in a row.  There is a small stream that enters into the bay and it is a dark bottomed mucky area that supports new weed growth early in the season.  Perfect spawning water for pike.  We landed 5 male northern in the mid 20" range and lost a fish.  We hooked pike in 2' to 18' of water.  Not sure the northerns have blasted into the spawning areas in full force yet.  We fished with small golden shiners as that was the only bait we could purchase. We had a lot of tip ups spread out well and the whole area covered thoroughly. Not a lot of luck fishing perch and we managed to jig one pike.  The pike fishing will only get better, it is a matter of whether the ice holds up.  Remember to obey the bait laws and keep VHS at home.  have fun, Willy

coming to an end

Hi folks, Guided on the hard water all this last week with 3 trips.  Been a good guiding winter for me as more and more folks seem interested in ice fishing.  Lots of snow pack on the ice currently.  Still 2' of ice under my shanty with another 2' of snow and slush on top of that.  Needed snow shoes to get to the shanty.  Trout season concludes on Tuesday March 15 and then I will be guiding and fishing northern pike after that.  Trout fishing this last week was pretty slow.  Still catching tons of smelt and some nice 10" plus perch.  The perch have been holding to the bottom in 30' and the smelt have been suspended.  Most of the smelt we located with electronics and caught them at 12' to 15' off the bottom.  Hali jigs and bibbits in copper, silver, and gold have worked well.  Tipping the jigs with maggots certainly help on the smelt.  Pike fishing should begin to heat up and the next month and a half is the best time of the year to hang a big northern.  Just remember any pike over 30" is definitly a female laden with eggs and they should be handled with care.  Remember to obey the bait laws and keep VHS at home.  have Fun, Willy

exchanging lures and techniques

Hi Folks, Guided yesteray morning from my shanty.  Had a angler from Poland who had ice fished for most of life.  It was interesting to learn about his home waters and the species of fish he pursued.  We exchanged some lures that I use ice fishing in Vermont for ones he has used in Poland.  There was 20" of black ice and getting around is really easy with the now being compactedonto the ice now.  We caugth smelt with a reckless abandon and they were hoding tight to the bottom in 30' of water.  Small bibits in silver and glow in the dark tipped with a maggot worked really well and double rig of two was deadly.  Still no trout even though we set out 10 tip-ups.  We be on the hard water later this week and might return to Champlain.  Remember to obey the bait laws and keep VHS at home.  Have Fun, Willy

fishing the big water

Hi Folks, Guided the hard water this week and moved around a bit.  Went to Lake Champlain on Wednesday and fished an inland lake on Thursday.  Fished the narrows of lake Champlain and found 4" to 7" of black ice.  Easy walking as the snow has been compacted.  You really need to pay attention on Champlain due to its size, wind, and current the ice conditions can change in short distance.  We brought all of the safety gear with us including a ladder, rope, and safety lanyards.  Caught a lot of smelt and fallfish, but nor salmon or lakers.  We set-up in 35' of water and had tip-ups in 10' to 100' of water.  Put a couple on the bottom looking for a ling cod.  Pretty awesome being on the big lake looking at the mountains in New York.  Same deal on Thursday we caught smelt and some yellow perch, but no brown trout.  There was 20" of ice where we fished Thursday and all of the slush and snow had firmed up so walking was easy.  Beautiful weather with big sun and warm air temperatures.  Will be guiding tomorrow and looks like winter weather has returned.  Remember to obey the bait laws and keep VHS at home.  Have Fun, Willy

enjoying the shanty

Hi Folks, Plugging away at the hard water guiding.  Keeping me a busy and tugging on fish in the winter.  Still lots of snow on the ice and getting around is tough.  18" plus of ice that is covered by water, slush, and lots of snow.  You have to be a little determined to ice fish right now.  However, having a shanty is great and once inside you can forget what is going on with the weather.  Found smelt yesterday on the bottom in 25' of water.  Hali jigs tipped with maggots once again were the ticket.  Silver and copper colored Halis seemed to work the best.  Did encounter random schools of perch that would temporarily drive off the smelt.  Caught a few larger perch on tip-ups dressed with rosy red minnows yesterday.  We have been setting our tip-ups in deepre water but just under the ice.  The trout bite has been slow but the smelt fishing has been great.  Love eating smelt.  Remember to obey the bait laws and keep VHS at home.  Have Fun, Willy 

tough going

Hi Folks, Guided the hard water yesterday from my shanty.  Pretty tough going on the ice with allof the snow.  Lots of false ice and water on top of 18" of solid black ice.  Certainly slows down the traffic on the ice when it is difficult to get around.  The snow was knee deep and a lot of post hole walking.  Good boots that are warm and waterproof are essential right now.  We located smelt up in the water column and caught them jigging Hali jigs tipped with maggots.  The smelt schools seem to rise up in the water column as the day progresses.  We found yellow perch towards the bottom and it appeared that they were chasing the smelt.  We had one trout on a tip up run into our jigging lines under the shanty and create a giant mess.  Pretty interesting.  We set tip ups with live smelt from 2' to 10' below the ice.  Will be after trout again tomorrow with guests.  Remember to obey the bait laws and keep VHS at home.  Have fun, Willy

cooking on the ice

Hi Folks, Spent the day yesterday chasing trout through the ice.  18" of solid black ice was comforting after walking on thin ice my previous trip.  Still a bit of snow on the ice and more to come with the current blizzard going on outside.  We jacked up the shanty to get it off the ice so does not freeze in.  Still pretty slow on the trout end of things, but the jig fishing has been consistent.  We found smelt suspended in the water column about 12 turns off the bottom.  The perch seemed to come and go.  Hali Jigs in silver and copper seemed to be the most consistent and tipping them with a maggot or two makes a world of difference. We caught enough smelt and had some venison that we decided to have cook out in the shanty.  My dog certainly liked it and the smelt were tasty too.  After the storm I will be back on the ice and will be guiding trips for trout and pike.  Remember to obey the bait laws and keep VHS and home.  Have Fun