Hi Folks, My 2016 guiding season began yesterday with my first trip of the season. We visited a Champlain Valley hot spot for northern pike on the fly. Nice overcast morning with in coming rain. The day started out calm but the wind did pick up from the south west throughout the morning. Water temperature was 54 degrees. I think water temps. between 50 degrees and 55 degrees is ideal for northern fishing. Big pike are truly cold water fish. We located all of our fish in 7' to 12' of water in around downed wood, rock and newly forming weed beds. The first hour of fishing was slow as we cast a 3/0 black and white bunny bugger. We had no response on the fly pattern and changed to a 1/0 red and white bunny bugger cast on a 9wt. RIO pike fly line. It did not take long before we started to see toothy critters. We had one follow, missed one fish, and landed 5 healthy pike. It was my clients first pike on fly. Always fun turning people onto new species on the fly rods. The techniques that was most productive was allowing the fly to sink and then working in slowly with long strips back to the boat. The takes seemed to get more pronounced as the morning progressed. Tomorrow I am off to guide my first trout trip of the season. Looks like wet for the next couple of days. Perfect, we need it. Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy
