low water and sun tan lotion needed

Hi folks, Guided yesterday morning with the fly for smallmouth bass on the lower Lamoille.  Man, we really need some rain.  Our rivers are really low and the fishing in them is becoming tougher by the day. It appears as if some small brooks are literally drying up and going under ground. The water temperature was 74 degrees at 7am and I am sure it warmed to 80 degrees by late day.  The sun has been scorching and you really need to find shade.  Morning is time to fish.  We could not get a smallmouth to take a surface fly yesterday morning.  We tight line drifted large #8 stone fly and hellgrammite patterns in heavy riffles.  Also, a #10 tungsten olive wooly bugger worked pretty well.  We caught 3 little smallmouth and a handful of fall fish.  Pretty slow and I am sure the heat and sun contributed to the slow fishing.  After my trout trip this morning I will be focusing on lake fishing for smallmouth.  With the current weather pattern of more heat and sun I think the river fishing will be tough for a while.  Leave the trout alone when the water temperature reaches 70 degrees.  Keep your thermometer handy.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have fun, Willy

top water smb

glass

Hi Folks, Guided with the fly yesterday morning for smallmouth and then did another trip in the afternoon for trout on a small stream.  The smallouth fishing was pretty good and the trout fishing not so good.  We really need some rain.  Tired of being cooked by the sun and watching out streams dry up.  Surface temperature on the lake we fished was 74 degrees.  The main stem of the Lamoille was 72 degrees at 5pm and the brook we fished was 63 degrees at 6pm.  There was not a breath if wind yesterday morning and lake we fished was like galls.  In the morning we cast a #6 black and a #8 black and yellow popper.  Worked hard bottom areas with weed beds.  Sharp drop offs from the shore line with downed trees seemed to be some of the more productive water.  We landed 12 smallmouth on the fly and had one fish break us of and a large pickerel slice the tippet on the take.  Once again all about covering water and making lots of casts.  The afternoon was awful bright and sunny.  Saw a few large #6/#8 stone fly shucks on rocks and some egg laying winged adults dipping their abdomens at dusk.  Saw lots of #18/#20 micro caddis with tan bodies.  Nor rising fish nor were they very interested in our flies.  We fished some heavy pocket water up stream but the trout were asleep.  We rolled 4 fish who lazily looked at our flies and said "I do not think so."  Trout fishing will stay tough until we get some rain or the big bright sun goes away.  Off to chase smallmouth this morning.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

cool nights and big bright sun

Hi Folks, Guided the lower Winooski this morning with the fly rods.  The weather front that passed though Sunday brought some cooler air temperatures (low 50's at night) and bright sunny days.  big high pressure.  The river temperature was 65 degrees at 7:00am.  Not awful for July.  We moved around a bit before we found some fish that wanted to play.  A few large #8 golden stone fly shucks on rocks and lots of #18/#20 micro caddis in tan all over the stream side brush.  No rising fish but I am not surprised considering the sun.  We landed a wild rainbow and a stocked  brown trout in heavy riffles nymphing with a #12 prince nymph and #18 tan caddis pupa dropper.  The fall fish were ever present as usual on the lower Winooski.  Early morning and late in the day is the time to fish right now.  Chasing smallmouth in the morning and trout in the afternoon.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

back to reality

Hi Folks, Guided up in the kingdom on a river that runs north yesterday with the fly rods.  Water level was pretty darn low, but the temperature was decent holding steady at 62 degrees.  This stream has excellent cover and lots tress along its banks for shade.  Holds all 3 species of trout.  It appeared to me that it had been pretty blown up by a storm. Some pools had filled in and lots of debris throughout the river.  We worked hard for fish and covered lots of ground.  We cast 1wts. and 3 wts. between 6' and 7' in length,  had to due to all of the tree canopy.  We ended up landing all 3 species of fish including brook trout, wild rainbow trout, and juvenile wild brown trout.  All of our fishing was working up stream and we still managed to spook a few decent fish.  Incredible how the fishing was so good the previous day and more difficult and challenging today on a better trout stream in my opinion.  Never think that you have trout fishing figured out or else you will get humbled.  Small #14 green stimulators were the fly and we did have several fish eat a little #18 copper john nymph as a dropper.  Taking a day off to be with family and will have a full slate of guiding this week.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at  home.  have fun, Willy

Small streaming it

Hi Folks, Guide the last 2 days on a Winooski tributary and today all  day on a Lamoille tributary.  Water levels and temperatures have been okay.  Recent isolated thunderstorms seem to have helped levels and we had a few cool nights on to of it.  The main stem of the Lamoille looked like chocolate milk this morning when we drove over it at 6:30am.  Water temperatures have been 60 to 61 degrees in the early morning and reaching 64 degrees by midday.  Still I have been fishing pocket water and on streams that have a good tree canopy.  Makes a difference in the summer.  All tight line fishing with very little slack and up steam approaches.  Saw a few #8/#10 stone fly shucks on rocks the last few days and midday there was a hatch of a small #20 may fly.  Maybe some type  of olive, quill, or paraleps. would be my guess.  We have been fishing #10 orange stimulators with droppers and a yellow foam rubber legged thing I tie.  Small #18 copper johns in black and copper have worked well. Most of the brown trout we landed today ate the dropper nymph.  We had 26 trout come to the fly today and landed 10 wild brown trout and native brookies.  A few of the browns just looked stuffed like they had been eating well.  Yesterday we caught all brook trout including a really nice 12" male brute.  Pretty good trout fishing for July.  Hot night so I am not so sure things will cool off much.  Trout fishing in the am.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have fun, Willy

Top water Alex

Fireworks

Hi Folks, Guided from the boat yesterday morning with spin anglers and the fishing was pretty darn good.  Nice calm morning with little or no wind and some early morning showers.  Good cloud cover and a surface temperature of 75 degrees made for excellent top water fishing.  The color of the day was any top water in fore tiger color.  That orange belly on the popper really draws some interest.  Also, crawfish colored soft plastics were very effective.  We landed 20 smallmouth bass and missed a few.  Lots of fish in the 2 to 3 year old class.  No real big girls caught yesterday, but lots of steady action.  We moved a bit and found fish in 15' of water and less.  Seemed as if the bass were really holding off the first significant drop off from the shore.  Nice way to spend the fourth of July.  Off to small stream fish this morning.  Evening thunderstorm dumped a 1/10th" of rain in Stowe.  We need some cool nights for the trout fishing.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy

river bass

Hi Folks, Guided last night on the lower Lamoille for smallmouth bass.  Nice evening with perfect air temperatures and cloud cover.  The river temperature was 75 degrees.  There were craw fish all over the shallows and you could watch them dart everywhere as you waded around the stream.  Crawfish might be one the number one forage items for a smallmouth bass.  Still, we fished poppers with the fly and did not have to use any sub surface patterns to trick he smallmouth.  You always like as a fishing guide when your guest catches a fish on their first cast.  First cast of the afternoon produced a nice 1.5lb smallmouth.  We landed a dozen smallies last night with a couple fish pressing 2.5lbs to 3lbs.  Really strong fish that jumped and did not give up easily.  Really put a bend in a 6wt. outfit.  We focused on big eddies that adjoined large pools and any spot that appeared to be dead water off the main current.  River fish are energy efficient and smallmouths will hold in the slower water of the main current.  Lots of big rocks where we fished which provides excellent cover.  We had some really explosive strikes on the popper.  The fly of the night was a #8  chartreuse popper with rubber legs.  Never changed flies.  Off to run the boat with guests to chase smallmouth in a lake.  Happy 4th of July.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

top water river smallmouth bass

Not bad for July

Hi folks, Took out the boat last night with guests to chase smallmouth bass and this morning I guided for trout on a Lamoille watershed tributary.  The wind was a pain in the ass last night blowing hard from the north/northwest.  I had to find the lee and flat water in order to fish the top water bite with the fly.  The wind did let up for the last hour of sun light.  Surface temperature was 74 degrees.  Saw a few #6/#8 Hexagenias hatching with trout eating them over 30' of water and bass and panfish were starting to gobble them up in the shallows.  We cast yellow bodied poppers and had young smallmouth eating the fly.  We landed 2 smallies and a pickerel and really the best fishing was at dark and was when the action really picked up.  This morning on the trout stream I visited the the water temperature was 64 degrees at 6am.  Water was pretty low and clear but perfectly defined.  We did really well.  landed 9 wild rainbows and missed or lost another 5 trout.  Lots of good jumps from the larger fish.  We worked up all morning casting a #14 prince with a #18 green soft hackle dropper.  There were a few small #18 caddis hatching.  No rising fish.  Due to low water levels I have noticed over the last few days that the fish are really only holding in the deeper runs and pools.  I have not been seeing any fish in the secondary water, no problem.  Seeing more and more #6 to #10 stone fly shucks on the rocks.  Small yellow/tan bodied caddis in the morning.  Might as well be casting ants, beetles, hoppers and the sort   in smaller wooded brooks and streams.  Stimulators seem to always work in orange, yellow, and green. Chasing smallmouth tomorrow.  Keep your thermometers handy on the trout streams and pay attention to your approach.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

sight fishing spooky trout

Hi Folks, Been guiding small trout streams in the morning and chasing lake smallmouth bass in the afternoon.  Our rivers and brooks are pretty low presently and the water is certainly clear.  The two streams I have guided the last tow mornings have been fairly cool.  Water temperatures have been between 60 degrees and 63 degrees.  We have particularly careful to work up stream and we are still spooking fish.  You can watch the dark shapes dart away while approaching the water or after the first false cast.  We have been working small #14 green bodied stimulators with a #18 copper john dropper nymph.  Also, a #14 royal wulff has been working well.  Catching some nice wild rainbows and large native brook trout.  I have seen two legitimate 10" plus brookies the last two days.  We could see several trout today on the wilderness stream we fished including several large brown trout we could not catch.  Still fun to see the fish in their environment.  Several large plunge pools required a up stream cast with a #14 tungsten prince fished under a indicator.  Very effective technique into depper pools where the larger trout will not rise.  good fun.  the smallmouth fishing has been consistent and the wind has been the biggest hindrance.  finding clam water and casting a #8 chartruse popper or frog popper to rocky shoreline with weed and wood has been good.  Love top water bass fishing.  Off to chase bass from the boat  this afternoon.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  have fun, Willy

Hex fishing

Hi Folks, Had the boat out last night for an evening trip to the kingdom to fish the #6 Hexagenia Limbata hatch.  The Hex is the largest may fly in the world and the hatch is very impressive to witness. Fishing the hatch can be difficult.  We had a beautiful night on the water with no wind and surface temperatures of 67 degrees.  We set the boat up off a brook that enters the lake that deposits sediment onto the lake bottom.  The Hex is a burrowing nymph and hatches from soft bottoms.   We were positioned on the first drop off from shore adjacent to the brook mouth.  Saw a pretty good hatch of bugs and the numbers of insects accelerated after dark.  Unfortunately, not too many trout rising.  We did witness a few explosive rises where trout literally launched way out of the water.  However, rising was somewhat subdued and we really never got a crack at a visibly feeding trout.  The Hex hatch is one of things that you want to fish daily for several weeks.  Neve easy but really cool to witness.  I will be guiding straight for the next two weeks and will be fishing small streams for trout and chasing smallmouth bass.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

fishing in the rain

Hi Folks, Guided out of my boat yesterday and we had the entire lake to ourselves.  Flat calm in the morning with intermittent showers.  Surface temperature was 74 degrees a drop in water temperature from 3 days prior of 5 degrees.  Excellent top water bite yesterday for smallmouth bass.  A #6 fire tiger popper was the ticket.  We had fish of all size classes come to the surface.  The smaller 2year old and 3 year old bass were extremely greedy while the large 2 lb to 3 lb smallmouth were a bit more tentative.  Lots of takes from the bass with a reckless abandon.The fish were there for the taking and we had the place to ourselves, awesome!   We covered a lot water.  We found a majority of the active fish holding off a long rock points and rock faces that plunged into deep water.  You could see the smallmouth rocket up out of the water to take the surface presentation.  Lots of focus as many takes came the moment the popper landed on the water.  Been raining for a few days now and we really needed it.  I have already received an 11/4" of rain at my house in Stowe and looks like we will get some more today.  Exactly what our streams need.  The cooler weather has also allowed our streams to cool off a bit.  Will be trout fishing some smaller water this week and looking for the #6/#8 Hex hatch.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

river smallmouth

Hi Folks, Still been pretty warm out there with a big bright sun.  We desperately need rain as our rivers are getting really skinny.  Trout fishing is non-existent right now in our brooks and streams.  I have been laying off the trout and chasing river and lake smallmouth bass.  Guided the last couple of days for river smallmouth.  Water temperatures have been from 72 degrees in the morning to 80 degrees in the late afternoon.  Even a bit warm for smallmouth.  The fish are pooled up and I have been finding large numbers of fish stacked into deep pools.  The fish do not too interested in rising in the water column to eat so we have been getting down to them.  Been casting small natural colored tubes and twister tails on lightly weighted jigs with spin gear.  Had a family out this morning and we were swinging garden hook on small hooks and we did some damage.  Landed smallmouth from 10" to 17" on light spinning rods.  Good fun.  Hex fishing is going on and not a bad option for dusk into dark.  Watch for afternoon thunderstorms and the wind seems to have been blowing pretty steady from the west.  Give the river trout a break until it cools down and hopefully we get some rain.  Off to chase bass from the boat tomorrow morning.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

working hard for fish

Hi Folks, Guided with boat yesterday with spin gear.  We were fishing for bass and pike.  Another hot day with a good stiff wind from the west.  Unfortunately the wind prevented us from fishing certain parts of the lake effectively.  The surface temperature was 77 degrees.  Pretty darn warm.  We had a pretty good top water bite off the get go casting a fire tiger popper and frog pattern Heddon tiny torpedo.  We had smallmouth bass and largemouth bass eat the surface presentations.  The fish appeared to be moving back and forth from a deep drop off to a shallow boulder strewn shoreline.  Nice weed beds on the drop off.  After messing and landing a few largemouth and smallmouth bass we moved to a deep drop off looking for northern pike.  We cast a 1oz. weed less dardevile spoon and a #3 red and white Mepps spinner.  Landed 1 pike on the spinner and had another fish follow right up to the boat.  We switched to a large clown nose Husky Jerk and landed another pike and prompted a few more follows to the boat but not a take.  We covered a lot of water yesterday and made lots of cast to tug on the fish we caught.  We cast some soft plastics with mixed results.  A large white Zenko and Sluggo drew the interest of some largemouth bass.  We watched one largemouth make a bow wake from some lilly pads to eat the Sluggo.  Pretty cool.  Still lots of casting and the fish did not seem overly aggressive.  I can only figure the heat and a small weather front had the fish in a state of flux.  Small stream fishing this afternoon.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

hot, slow it down

Hi Folks, Been running the boat with clients the last few days chasing smallmouth bass with spin gear.  Surface temperature of the water has been 77 degrees in the early morning.  Been getting the boat dropped in between 5:15am and 5:30am.  Sun has been intense and the air temperatures a little uncomfortable.  Pretty calm in the morning and the wind has picked up at midday.  We have been catching some decent smallmouth jig fishing.  The top water bite has been fairly slow with only juvenile smallmouth eating our surface presentations.  Does not seem like many large fish were holding in shallow water.  So we have been pitching 1/8 jig heads with a crawfish colored 3 1/2" tube jig to drop offs and deeper water.  The smallies have been eating it up!  The best fish the last couple of days have in the 15" to 17" class.  Moving the boat out away from shore a bit into deeper water has been the ticket.  I think the bright sun and heat has slowed down the top water bite.  Jig fishing is an excellent method for working neutral to non-agressive fish.  It is a finesse technique and is best accomplished with rods from 6 1/2' to 7 1/2'.  A slow hop of the jig with good line control is important.   What a difference in results with the jigging versus fishing floating rapalas and poppers.  Looks like thunder stoms this afternoon and a much needed cool down.  We need rain!  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

getting too hot

Hi folks, Been out and about fishing over the last few days chasing smallmouth bass to river trout.  It has become pretty warm this week and air temperatures are looking to tip the 90 degree mark.  Our rivers and brooks are in tough shape currently.  No water!!  Looks like August out there and it is only the middle of June.  Water temperatures are now an issue and small streams will hold temperature the best.  The Winooski and Lamoille are too warm to trout fish currently. All is not lost because the smallmouth fishing only picks up now.  The lower Winooski and lower Lamoille offer some excellent river bass fishing, just kind of rugged wading.  Guided smallmouth from my canoe the other night and the surface temperature of the lake we fished was 72 degrees.  Good top water bite despite the stiff southerly wind.  We fished bright colored poppers tight to shorelines that dropped off quickly.  When conditions are not perfectly come for top water fishing, move the popper more aggressively.  Anywhere there was downed wood or trees that hung out over the water was a fish that was willing to eat.  Most of our takes were after the popper had been twitched and then resettled.  Bass fishing is loads of fun and the fish really do pull back.  If you want to trout fish currently small streams are where it is at.  The water is low and clear but the temperatures are okay.  The spook factor is in play so move cautiously and slowly up stream.  Mornings and evenings are where it is at for fishing right now.  Hope for some prolonged rain.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  have Fun, Willy

happy fathers day

Hi folks, Been guiding trout on the Winooski in the early am the last couple of days.  Been pretty tough fishing in my opinion.  The sun has been up and high in the sky early in the morning and the water temperatures are getting too warm.  The temperature of the Winooski has been high 60's in the early morning and over 70 degrees by late afternoon.  We could still use some rain as our rivers are low and clear presently.  We have seen some random #16 tan bodied caddis hatching in the early am, but not much for rising trout.  We have been swinging a #16 orange the Usual and #16 tan bodied CDC caddis in riffles.  Every trout we have hooked has been early on in the morning and then the fall fish get involved.  Not a big fan of fall fish though they do bend a fly rod for a beginner.  It is pretty clear that trout simply do not like these big bright sunny days on the big water.  Small stream fishing is where it is at under these conditions or chasing smallmouth bass in lakes and ponds.  Have seen some #14/#16 cahills at dusk, #18 sulphurs, #16/#18 olive and tan bodied caddis in the morning hatching and egg laying at dusk, plus the giant #6 Hex on our lakes and ponds.  Fishing will remain best in the early morning or late afternoon to dark.  I prefer mornings for river fishing in the summer.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

big bright sun

Hi Folks, Guided the Lamoille yesteday morning and the Winooski yesterday afternoon.  Nice morning fog on the Lamoille early on.  Once it burned off the sun was high bright in the sky.  Water temperature was 63 degrees on the Lamoille at 5:30am and 69 degrees on the Winooski at 7:00pm.  The Winooski would have been warmer but there was a water release up stream while we were fishing and it helped to keep the water temperature down a bit.  I like morning fishing when it is bright and hot. Saw a variety of hatching insect yesterday morning and evening, but not a single rising fish.  Random #16 tan bodied caddis hatching in the morning and a decent number of #14 light cahills in the evening.  Starting to see more #8/#10 stone fly shucks on rocks and winged adults buzzing around.  The Lamoille fished pretty well in the morning.  We moved around a bit and finally got into a lot of fish on a heavy riffle.  I think the first spot we fished hand been hammered the night before.  We dead drifted under an indicator a #14 bead head olive wire caddis with a #16 flashback hare's ear nymph.  We had one stretch were on 3 successive drift we hooked wild rainbows.  Ended up landing 6 rainbows and losing or missing as many.  Pretty good morning.  My afternoon trip was a ton of fun as I took four great ladies who were child hood friends fly fishing.  The big sun, rising water, and warm water made the trout fishing pretty slow.  We did get into the good old fall fish who love to eat flies on the Winooski.  Hey, they put a end on a rod even if they are not the target species.  Pay attention on the Winooski as the water can come up quickly and you could caught in a tight spot.  It is big water down low.  Looks like summer is here for good and air temperatures will be warming up along with water temperatures.  Still could use some rain  and the fishing on the Lamoille and Winooksi are about to really slow down if the warming trend continues.  My guiding operation will begin to switch directions and we will be fishing more for smallmouth bass and walking up and down cold mountain streams for native brookies, wild rainbows, and the brown trout.  Off to chase trout.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy