If you don't like the weather, wait a minute

Hi Folks, Good weekend for the Catfish on the water.  Guided two trips yesterday in the hot bright sun.    Took guests out today in the rainy colder weather.  Started yesterday in my boat spin fishing for bass and pike.  Surface temperature ranged from 64 degrees to 68 degrees.  Good steady stiff wind from the south.  Pushed my boat around a bit.  We caught a wide variety of species from smallmouth bass to largemouth bass to pike to chain pickerel to perch and finally rock bass.  The water was bit off color to down right dirty.  Depended on where we fished as the wind affected areas were the dirty sections of the lake.  The clearest and coolest water was in the river that fed the lake.  The largest fish we located were in the main lake on rocky shore lines that abruptly dropped off into deeper water.  I held the boat in 15' to 20' of water and my clients cast into 5' of water.  The fish were holding on the drop offs.  We located a mess of smallmouth bass in the river section that were more than willing to eat a Big O crank bait that resembled a crawfish.  Yesterday afternoon I took a beginning fly angler to fish on the lower Winooski.  The water temperature was 68 degrees.  The river level was low.  Pretty darn hot and humid  yesterday afternoon prior the cold front that pushed through with a massive thunder and lightening show.  The trout fishing was slow but it was a fall fish bonanza.  Lots of #14/#16 suphur nymphs on the rocks in the riffles and quite a few #16/#18 olive and tan bodied caddis.  Not too many hatching bugs that we saw prior to being blown off the water.  Last night and today we finally received some much needed rain.  We could use some more.  Nice cool down as well.  Did a family outing today with a little bank fishing.  The Lamoille was not fishable today as the water came up pretty significantly.  We fished were a river dumps into a lake from the shore line.  The water temperature was 63 degrees and off color.  We cast beetle spins and a variety of perch colored and craw fish colored plugs.  Good day for chasing pan fish.  Lots of action with bullhead and perch.  We did manage to draw the interest of several large trout but they turned off each time they followed a lure.  Looks like wet weather for the next few days.  Should be good for the fishing.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

Warming up and late day risers

Hi Folks, Guided a young aspiring fly angler today on the Lamoille.  Water is awful low and warm for May 29.  Reminds me of July conditions except the fact that we have spring hatches!  Really warm weather for May.  Started the afternoon on a stretch of the Lamoille that was 72 degrees.  Ouch!!!!  So we did a casting clinic and went and found some cooler water.  Nice hatch of #14 Sulphurs and #16 olive bodied caddis, along with #12 March Brown spinners to boot.  Once the light got the low, the trout began to look up.  I love dry fly fishing.  Rather do that and guide it than ever swing streamers or drift nymphs.  My young angler today caught his first wild trout on a fly rod today with a dry fly, fantastic. The fly of the afternoon was a Catskill style tied #14 sulphur.  We landed 5 wild rainbows between 7" and 12" and missed 2 fish.  We did catch two of the trout with the fly drowned, though it was still drifting naturally in the current.  My suspicion is the trout were keyed in to the emerger.  All good jumping rainbows and fun on a 4wt.  Well, we need rain and some cooler weathe would be nice.  Off to chase pike and bass in the morning and trout in the afternoon.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

on the still water front

Hi Folks, Spent the last two days in my boat guiding anglers with both spin and fly gear for smallmouth bass and northern pike.  Water temperatures have ranged on the surface from 58 degrees to 63 degrees. Today the windy side of the lake was 3 degrees warmer than the leeward side.  Good steady northwest wind today with some whitecap action.  The fish in the lake I fished yesterday are up in the skinny water.  We got them to eat a floating perch colored rapala and a shallow running Big O crawfish colored crank bait.  Fished in a different lake today and the fish were are staging on the first drop off from the shallow areas where they will spawn.  We saw all of our bass today in 6' to 12' of water.  Both days the takes where pretty subtle,  Today we would set the hook when we saw our flies disappear.   You would not feel the strike.  You had to be patient on the hook in order to allow the fish to eat either the fly or lure.  Had a few encounters with toothy northern pike today and we landed and a couple a lost a couple.  The flies of the day were a Red/White 2/0 Bunny Bugger and a Creamsicle 2/0 Bunny bugger.  We found the northerns in deeper water and all of the strikes seemed like they come out of no where.  We really need some rain and it is awfully dry for May.  Fishing should continue to be good as long as it stays cool.  Warmer air temperatures slow things down and it appears that the fishing will now be best in the early morning and late afternoon.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

Perfect time of the year

Hi Folks, Kept busy yesterday on the water guiding in the morning and afternoon. Chased smallmouth with the fly rods in the morning and river trout with the fly in the afternoon.  Great time of the year to pursue a wide variety of species and lots of options.  Nice cool morning yesterday with a slight swirling breeze.  Nice over cast skies and the top water bite was on for the bass. We landed 21 smallmouth.  The bass are in full on pre spawn mode and pretty easy pickings right now.  The fish were located in less than 5' of water over gravel and broken up rocky shorelines.  The takes were pretty subtle as the fish just came up and down on the fly.  It took some patience on the hook set as we did prematurely remove the fly a few times before the bass were stuck.  Pretty easy to do when you are getting lots of action.  In the afternoon I took two beginner fly anglers to fish a tail water where they happen to have some property.  The flow was low and the water temperature was 51 degrees.  Not much for hatching bugs and the gravel in riffles was pretty devoid of life.  This is due in large part to the flow regimes of this particular river which is an all or nothing release.  We dead drifted #10 heavily weighted olive/black wooly bugger under indicators.  We landed 1 solid 14" brown trout and lost the fish of the day if not the spring.  A very large brown trout that I would have estimated to be in the 20" plus class.  The large trout tossed the fly when it came out of the water.  Sounded like a beaver tail slapping the water when the fish jumped.  So bugs to look for currently are #10/#12 Mach Browns, #16 olive bodied caddis and , #14/#16 Grey Fox Variants.  I am off to run the boat for bass.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

March Browns

Hi Folks, I guided the Lamoille yesterday afternoon with the fly rods.  The river looked like a summer level as the water is still very low.  We really could use some sustained rain.  The temperature was great with it holding at 57 degrees all afternoon.  Nice big bright sunny day.  Let me tell you when the sun became low in the ski the fishing really tuned on.  Pretty interesting how slow the trout fishing was while it was bright and sunny out.  They really do prefer low light.  Fantastic hatch of #10/#12 Stenonema vicarium or commonly know as the March Brown.  It is a a big bug that hatches mid morning to late afternoon with big spinner falls at dusk.  Not much happening in the way of rising fish until the light got low even though the bugs were coming off pretty steadily.  March Browns are clinger nymphs and like to hold in heavy riffles.  We nymph fished with a #12 pheasant tail and tried a #10 olive black wooly bugger with minimum success.  We drew 4 strikes nymphing.  Once we started seeing fish rise then the fun really began.  We landed a dozen wild and stocked rainbows on a #12 parachute brown dun.  The fish rose aggressively and we missed a few trout as well.  We had rising for for a good 2 hours as they transitioned to eating March Brown spinners and then there was a #16 olive bodied caddis hatching in late afternoon.  Good drifts did make a difference in getting the better fish to eat.  The smaller trout were willing to eat the dry fly swung after the dead drift.  We did have some success in the later afternoon with a #12 Rusty Spinner.  I am off to chase smallmouth this morning and then trout fishing in the afternoon.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

Recon MIssion

Hi Folks, Guided two of my long repeat guest yesterday afternoon on a Lamoille tributary.  It just so happens that they purchased a 74 acre parcel that is part of this particular watershed in prime trout water.  Nice to know the land will be in good hands and conserved and preserved for future anglers to enjoy.  Our streams are incredibly low.  We really need rain or it could be a long summer of trout fishing.  Water temperature was 56 degrees and extremely clear.  Big time cold front came through with a frost warning last night into early this morning.  The wind really blew hard and steady from the north/northwest.  We saw a really good hatch of #16 Blue Quills late in the afternoon with some #22 Olives.  Lots of duns in eddies and tail outs of pools.  Unfortunately, not a damn fish responding to the hatches.  During the afternoon we did see a fair amount of #10/#12 March Browns hatching.  We did not have a single fish eat our flies.  Now we did walk around my clients property for awhile and not necessarily fished the whole time, but still makes me wonder? I like pursuing wild trout and try to stay away from the stocked areas.  However, it seems to me the stocked trout fishing is a bit more productive currently than what I have been witnessing on my area trout streams.  It looks like a bit more warm weather for the weekend and I will chasing trout this afternoon.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

staging

Hi Folks, Ran the boat this afternoon with a client chasing pre-spawn smallmouth bass.  Interesting weather day with the arrival of a cold front.  Big steady northwest wind and the air temperatures dropped by 20 degrees from the previous day.  If you don't like the weather wait a minute!  Water temperature was between 61 degrees and 64 degrees.  We searched out the warmer water all afternoon and tried to fish in the sun.  Like the sun for early spring fishing for smallmouth as the bass are seeking out warmer water to crank up their metabolism in preparation for spawning.  With spin equipment we landed 7 male smallmouth bass.  We hooked fish on a perch rapala, a crawfish colored shallow running crankbait and a 5" watermelon red magic Senko.  The crank baits were the most productive lures in the stained and choppy water.  Tough fishing soft plastics in really windy conditions.  It appeared to me that the bass are staging to spawn and that the next full moon will really get reproduction going.  I did not spot one spawning bed in places I have seen them for 20 years.  We could still use some rain as our local rivers have dropped significantly since our last rain fall.  Trout fishing should really come into its own with the current weather pattern.  I will be on the water for the next week straight guiding and I am looking forward to chasing some trout.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

Getting there slowly but surely

Hi Folks, Guided trout trips with the fly rods this weekend.  It was a weekend of river fishing with aspiring fly anglers.  Our rivers are coming around slowly but surely.  Levels are just around the seasonal average flow and temperatures have ranged from low fifties in the morning to high fifties by late afternoon.  Starting to see #14/#16 Hendricksons hatch, but I have not found any fish responding to them on the surface.   Lots and lots of cased caddis on tops of rocks in riffles that are preparing to hatch.
I found the trout fishing to be fairly slow this weekend.  With the exception of the trophy zones, many of our trout rivers have not been stocked as of yet.  Interesting to me how few wild trout actually exist in the Lamoille and Winooski.  Not a high density and they do not always come to the fly very easily.  Rainbow trout should become more of the mix everyday as they finish up spawning.  We are coming into one of the better times of the year for fishing as the options will be limitless for pursuing both cold water and warm water species.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

where are the big ones???

Hi Folks, Ran my boat yesterday with clients and fly rods in search of northern pike.  Fished a lake that is fed by the Lamoille River.  The water was stained and the temperature was 56 degrees to 58 degrees.  Partly cloudy afternoon with a slight northwest breeze.  We caught all of our fish in less than of 5' of water.  The colors of the day were red and white.  We cast 2/0 red and white bunny buggers with fast action 7 weight and 9 weight outfits matched with both sinking and floating lines.  We landed 3 northern pike, a pickerel, 2 largemouth bass, and loads of large yellow perch and rock bass.  No big fish though we did lose a good sized bass that tangled up in some wood.  Not a bad day on the lake, just did not see any big pike.  On the trout stream front we finally received much needed rain which puffed up our streams.  Water levels are right around the seasonal average level presently and dropping fairly fast.  Clarity on the Lamoille yesterday was good.  For hatches, look for #14/#16 Hendricksons, #16 Blue Quills, #14 bright green bodied caddis, and #16 Grannoms.  Still some lake run rainbow around to chase, but they are spawning and preparing to start dropping back.  Off to chase trout today.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-natve species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

On a trout stream

Hi Folks, Spent my first day on a trout stream this season yesterday afternoon.  Visited a Lamoille tributary where the water temperature was 61 degrees.  Pretty warm for this time of the year.  Of course, the 85 degree air temperatures with bright sun contributes to the higher than normal water temperatures.  The river levels are really low.  We need rain big time.  Pretty scary how low the water is for this time of the year.  No sign above the water of #14/#16 Hendricksons.  Did not see any duns or spinners at dusk.  Lots of puffed up nymphs below the surface on rocks and they look ready to begin hatching.  The only sign of life was from a few #14 brown stone flies and did not see any trout respond to them.  We dead drifted and swung a number of different patterns from #12 double tungsten stone fly to a #10 muddler minnow, to a variety of #12/#14 nymph patterns like a pheasant tail, hare and copper, and a Dave's red fox squirrel nymph.  No strikes or follows from any fish.  Not shocked as I would have said that the trout fishing would be slow to start this year after the winter we just experienced.  I wonder what impact the sudden increase in water temperatures have on the fish.  The water jumped in a good 10 to 15 degrees in a few days time.  Well, looks warm for the next few days and then back to season average temperatures with some much needed rain in the forecast.  Will be running the boat for pike in the next few days.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

The Cat is Back

Hi Folks, Started the guiding season today with the boat and fly rods.  Visited the Champlain Valley looking for northern pike. Nice warm day with a slight wind from northwest.  Surface temperature ranged from 60 degrees to 64 degrees.  Incredible that the water had warmed almost 15 degrees in a weeks time.  We fished the shallow margins with 8wt. and 9 wt. outfits.  One Rio Pike sinking line and a weight forward pike line.  Heavy leaders with 30lb tippet and steel bite guards.  Lots of casting in pursuit of northerns with a fly.  We had one pike follow.  Did manage to land 3 largemouth bass on a 2/0 chartreuse/white Deceiver. We missed a couple other bass.  There were tons of pan fish and bull head in the shallows and you could spot them all day.  Occasionally there were some large boils of water that appeared as if a predator was having a bite on the easy pickings in the shallows.    On the river front, the water is already low.  We need rain big time!!!  Ground is dry and even though there still is some snow melt from the high elevations, that will not last long with the warm temperatures forecast for the near future.  Rivers are warming and it will not be long before it is #12/#14 Hendrickson season.  Plenty of #14 brown stones around right now.  In Orleans county there a few quality rainbows being landed.  It is time spent chasing those beautiful lake run steelhead.  Looks like the fishing is heating up, lots of options.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

Early season 2015

Hi Folks, Been awhile since I have blogged about fishing.  Been a long winter.  No ice fishing for the catfish this year as I was busy raising kids and skiing.  Still a lot of snow in the hills and cold temperatures at night.  Still sugaring here in Stowe though it is winding down.  My local lakes are still locked up in ice.  Rivers currently are ice laden and cold.  Though with the warming air temperatures snow melt is in full effect as can be seen in the Lamoille and Winooski with all of the run off.  Rivers are bit off colored, but more importantly their temeprature are not much above 34 degrees.  Tough catching trout in those water temperatures without literally bonking them in the head with your fly.  Up north not much happening with the spring rainbow run until things warm up a bit.  I am little concerned with the low water.  Water table was down going into winter and we never had a winter thaw.  Rivers will be low when the snow is done melting unless we get a bit spring rain.  I have cleaned many a fly line and reel as well as cleaning up the spin gear.  Boat is being worked on.  Will be chasing northern pike in the shallows with big flies once the ice breaks.  Slow start this year, but lots of good fishing heading our way.  Remember to clean your gear ad keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

Wrapping it up

Hi Folks, Been a busy last seven days guiding and I think my mind and body and know it.  Awesome season of fishing as I set records for numbers of trips and and revenue.  Can't do any of it without the support of my great guests!  Thanks to everyone.  So, as far as the fishing goes for the last couple of days, Sunday was a boat day and Monday we chased landlocked salmon.  Awful nice weather and foliage the last couple of days.  Not a formal boat launch for the Sunday trip so my truck gets a little bath while loading and unloading.  My clients love it.  Water temperature was 56 degrees on the surface.  Variable wind and plenty of sunshine.  We cast flies for bass and pike.  Focused our efforts on deep edge weed beds in 10' to 15' of water.  Large #1/0 yellow and red streamers drew the most interest.  I like how many salt water flies can be used in fresh water fly fishing.  We had 4 bass and 2 northerns eat the fly.  All of the fish came right out of deeper water to eat the flies.  The pike are incredibly fast when they strike.  Kind of startles you.  Lots of casting and being able to double haul is awful important in this style off fly fishing.  The lake fishing for warm water species should remain decent for the next few days as we are going to experience some summer like weather.  On the salmon front, finally some water in the river , but also lots of angling pressure.  Water temperature was 50 degrees early in the morning and the water clarity was decent.  The fishing was pretty slow as we caught 1 14" salmon and missed a few fish nymphing.  We swung streamers and dead drifted a double nymph rig in large primary pools.  A #6-#10 Mickey Finn would always be my first choice for streamer in the fall.  Our nymph rig consisted of various #12-#16 copper johns with #16 olive caddis pupa droppers.  The funniest part of the day was the 5lb to 6lb salmon we netted for an older gentlemen.  He was fishing in a slow section of the lower river from the bank dressed in tennis shoes.  We watched him with a fish on and asked him if he needed a hand.  I think he was more than happy to have a guys with waders on and a net land the fish for him.  Not sure how he would have landed it on his own.  Pretty interesting all of the guys on the river with fancy fly rods and waders not catching much and here is a guys in street clothes with an old Fenwick glass fly rod from the bank hang a real beauty of a fish.  Anywho, I am heading to Florida in a few days and will be chasing snook with the fly.  Looks like nice weather around here so get out and enjoy it.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

wood stoves, foliage,and fine fishing

Hi Folks, Been mixing up the guiding the last few days and really enjoy the fall weather.  The foliage still looks pretty decent with some pockets of peak leaves and other areas that are certainly gone by.  Been cold the last few nights with air temperatures in the 30's. Burned my first wood stoves off the year.  Trout fished with the fly rods yesterday on a Lamoille tributary. Water temperature was 51 degrees and the water level was slightly low.  Nothing for hatching insects and no rising fish.  We resorted to nymphing with a #14 tungsten red thread prince nymph and a #14  zug bug with a #18 olive dropper nymph.  We caught 3 wild rainbows that all got some air time.  We made lots of casts and drifts for those three trout.  All of the fish were holding in heavy pocket water and not in slow pools.  Surprised me a bit with the cooler water temperatures.  Today I ran the boat with spin anglers in pursuit of bass and pike.  Not much for wind and the surface temperature of the lake was 56 to 57 degrees.  We worked weed beds all day that abutted deeper water.  Casting into 5' to 8' with the boat set up in 15' to 20'.  Fire Tiger plugs worked very well on the bass as we predominately caught largemouth today.  One of the larger bass ate a red skirted spinner bait with double blades.  Did catch one northern on a spinner bait and had another fish chase to the boat.  We ended up landing 10 fish today.   Pretty nice way to spend a beautiful foliage day.  Will be in the boat again tomorrow.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

winding down

Hi folks, Guided with the fly rods yesterday afternoon on the Lamoille river.  A bit chilly out there as it really feels like fall now.  Air temperatures were in the low fifties and the water temperature was 51 degrees.  Water level is up as I suspect the town of Hardwick drained the lake above the dam in town as they do every fall. The wind was howling yesterday at a steady 15 to 20mph from the NW. The trout fishing was slow.  We got one fish to eat a #14 rubber legged Copper John nymph and had one other fish rise to a #20 BWO dry and deny us.  We found a few sporadic rising fish late in the afternoon, but not with any regularity.  As the water cools the fishing can become a bit more challenging.  Not a bad time of year to fish a sink tip line with streamers and hunt for a big fish.  Still afternoon fishing will provide some dry fly opportunities as trout will rise to eat BWO emergers and duns in slow pools.  To locate these fish you need to find stretches of river that have finger nail sized gravel on the bottom.  The habitat for the tiny may flies.  All of the rise forms are pretty subtle.  Guiding trout and pike for the next few days.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

Big water and small and things in between

Hi folks, Guided with the fly rods up north yesterday for landlocked salmon and fished a small brown trout stream the day before.  The foliage is still looking good with things just past peak in some areas and just peaking in other spots.  In between guiding I attended the meeting in Waterbury the other night hosted by the Agency of Natural Resources to discuss the future of the Waterbury Reservoir. The meeting was very informative.  It appears that when it is all said and done we will finally get a minimum flow agreement of run of the river for the tail water below the Dam.  This will have a profound impact upon the fisheries in the lower Winooski.  Unfortunately, it will still take some time and it could be several years before much happens.  Back to fishing, water temperatures have dropped over the last few days into the low to mid fifties.  Lots of junk in the water from downed leaves.  Small stream has become tough with colder water temperatures.  Caught one small brown trout the other day and we did see any other fish. My guess is the browns are now in spawning mode and it is time to leave them alone.  The salmon fishing was okay.  The river is getting pounded by angling pressure.  We caught two salmon and 1 brown trout. We missed another 4 fish. We located every fish in a primary pool holding in the tail out in front of behind large rocks.  Our tactics were to swing unweighted #10 Mickey Finn streamer.  The fish came right up and wacked the fly.  The one snafu of the day was a larger fish broke us off on a take.  We were fishing a 2x tippet and I can only assume the leader was degraded from being snagged on the bottom and in trees.  It was a clean break and I should have been more diligent in checking it as I am the guide. Always learning, even after 20 years in the game.  Looks like decent fishing weather for the next few days.  I will be guiding trout over the next few days and looking for tiny #20/#22 BWOs hatching and big noses coming  up to eat them.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

Shuffling the deck

Hi folks, Guided on the Lamoille yesterday morning for trout with the fly rods.  Water temperature was 57 degrees. The water level was rising the entire time we were on the river.  Not the ideal scenario as there was a ton of junk drifting in the river from downed leaves to sticks and trash.  Water clarity was not bad.  Now, I am okay with the fishing being slow yesterday morning as we really needed the rain. We still need more rain.  The high water is important as far as moving fish around and especially providing some flow to allow brown trout and landlocked salmon to move for spawning purposes.  Not to mention many of the trout holding in riffles to pools have been fished over and the water had become stale.  Look at the rain as a refreshing of the river.  So, fishing will be best midday currently as the air temperatures have now cooled off and the nights will be chilly.  Look for trout rising subtly in slower water eating small #20-#22 BWO's.  Tough trout fishing as you have to be able to cast, but some of my favorite catching bigger fish on small flies. Will be guiding trout for most of the week through the weekend.  Remember to clean you gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy

Fly fishing in the rain, fly fishing in the rain.....

Hi Folks, Spent a nice damp, wet day on the Lamoille with clients fly fishing for trout. Finally some rain.My rain gauge in Stowe measured not quite a a 1/2" of rain.  Really needed it and we could use some more. Water temperature was 57 degrees. We nymph fished and swung streamers in the morning.  #10 rubber legged green leech patterns and #12 olive/black tungsten bead bugger got the trout's attention.  Around 2pm we started to see a nice hatch of #20 BWO's and a few #16 caddis with rising fish.  The trout were rising in long slow pools.  Pretty subtle rise forms.  The fish demanded good presentations and it required a long cast.  They were extremely finicky.  It is a dynamic where you do not cast any more than you have too and even when you make a bad cast let the fly drift through.  Tough dynamic for folks who are learning to fly cast but a great learning experience. A lot of good noses poking up to eat and trust me I will re-visit these fish as they should look up for the next couple of weeks. Even if you see trout rising does not mean you will always catch them. I love fishing to fussy rising trout.   Off to chase trout again today. Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy

Oh baby,baby

Hi Folks, Ran the boat yesterday afternoon chasing largemouth and smallmouth bass with the fly and spin tackle.  Spectacular on the water with a warm sun, beautiful leaves, and no wind.  Surface temperature of the water was 64  to 65 degrees.  Midday is the time to fish right now.  We never changed flies or lures yesterday.  The day started out a little slow as we picked up a 1.5lb smallmouth and about 2lb. largemouth for the first hour and half of the trip.  The smallest fish of the day.  For the duration of the trip we slammed some big bass.  The bass fishing has been excellent over the last several weeks and I have seen no one on the water except bird hunters.  We landed 9 bass with everyone of them weighing weighin in between 2 3/4lbs to almost 5lbs.  Both big largemouth and smallmouth.  Once again fire tiger was the color.  A large Rapala husky jerk worked great and a #6 fire tiger crease fly was deadly for surface action. Really good top water action.  The smallmouth were schooled up and we found fish concentrated off rocky areas that abutted deep water.  The largemouth were a bit more spread out and located along heavy weed beds.  We did miss a number of fish and one really big smallmouth that will haunt me for a bit.  Looks like the weather is about to change and I think yesterday might have been it for epic surface fishing.  I will be trout fishing for the next few days.  We really need rain and it looks like we might get some for the weekend.  I have never seenthe Lamoille so low.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy

Big group, bright leaves

Hi Folks, Guided a large group yesterday afternoon on the Lamoille with the fly rods. The leaves are full on peak and looking spectacular.  Still really dry out there and we desperately need some rain.  The Lamoille is about as low as I can remember seeing it. Water temperatures are still warm. The water temp. was 61 degrees and I was able to wet wade comfortably.  So, big groups are not my thing as I have never looked at river fishing for trout as group activity.  However, on a rare occasion when I can rally the troops (guides to help me) and I can pull off the group trip.  14 people stretched out over 2 miles of the Lamoille was pretty interesting.   Incredibly enough we had the entire river to ourselves.  The fishing was okay yesterday with some #16 caddis activity and a few #20 BWO's hatching.  A few junk feeding fish off th surface.We got 7"-12" wild rainbows to eat #16 elk hair caddis and a #20 BWO parachute.  The fish of the day was a very large brown trout that was lost on a black leech pattern with lots of weight swung into a heavy riffle.  Swinging flies has been pretty productive with caddis patterns lately.  Lots of takes at the end of the swing.   Never give up on the drift.  Looks like some rain for the weekend hopefully.  Will be in the boat tomorrow.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy