Sebec River Smallie Milo, Maine
Fly: Black Bunny Leech
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Wednesday, July 26, 2017–>>Back to Maine for more Smallmouth fishing.
Smallie->Sebec River Milo, Maine
Fly: Black Bunny Leech
Tuesday, July 18, 2017–>> Ii returned home from Maine over the weekend. Yesterday I teamed up with my two good friends Al’ “The Guide’ and Joe “The Catcher” for my first saltwater outing of the the year.
“Al the Guide”
My Smallmouth was far bigger”
The stripers were small but everyone caught fish. By the size of the bass perhaps I should go back to my Maine cabin and stick with smallie fishing.
Thursday–July 11. 2017–>>>How much does a 21.5″ Smallie weigh? ?Taken on the surface on the third cast today.
Al”The Guide” says fishing is great along the rocks of Narraganset RI
Ray
21.5″ Smallmouth , Sebec Lake , Sebec Maine
Fly: No.4 Yellow Splinter Mouse
Nine is Never Enough
Each year during the first week of March, I undergo a metamorphosis. Transforming from an argumentative, irritable cabin fevered maniac to the likes of a happy excited child who anxiously awaits Christmas Day. Opening Day of trout season is coming on the second Saturday in April and resembles Christmas in many ways. Both have a Santa, presents and sometimes even snow. My Santa will be dressed in green with a D.E.M. patch on his jacket. His sleigh will be oxygen generating tank truck overflowing with Brook, Brown and Rainbow Trout, presents fresh from the North Pole hatchery. To receive these presents being really good just won’t do, I must be prepared! Many preparations are in order if I’m to have my creel stuffed with these presents.
I begin by checking the calendar for when Easter Sunday occurs. Hopefully it occurs before Opening Day. This year it doesn’t, what a bummer. Just knowing that I cannot fish from sunrise until nightfall on the second day of trout season begins to stress me out. Now I’ll be on edge on the second day and be obligated to arrive home around noon or hopefully just as my family pulls out of the driveway en-route to Easter dinner at my mother’s house after they’ve given me up for lost. Next, I examine my rods for worn and frayed windings and grooved guides. Those in need of repair are meticulously rewound with super glue and matching Mylar tape. The reels are next, after dismantling them I lubricate their innards and polish the drags for silky smooth operation. Then I check the first five hundred yards of backing on each spool for rot, a hatchery breeder shouldn’t take me out beyond that. Each extra spool, all twenty of them are closely examined. They hold every type and color of fly line imaginable. They include a Ninja Turtle Green sinking line that sinks thirty feet in one millisecond, a Neon Smurf Blue floating line that suspends itself one micron above the water’s surface and a bottom dredging Brown Bullhead taper. There’s also a special forty-two and one half-foot Mercury filled shooting head. This head is more fluid than lead core, and if it should break the fish will be poisoned and die, but I can say the place needs to be reclaimed anyway. Next I remove the tangled mass of tippet spools from my Kevlar designer vest that I saw on the TV fly fishing program “Say Yes to the Vest.” At first I’m unsure of what I have as it resembles several miles of tangled Japanese monofilament drift net. After carefully rewinding each spool I once again take an oath that this will never happen again. From the mess, leaders from 0x-1ft. to 12x-24ft. are returned to their individual compartments in my leader wallet. I then remove each fly box from my vest and scrutinize their contents a closely as Scrooge counting his shillings. Each pattern is examined as I think of where and when it will be used and question if I have enough of them. The sixty year old Perrine wet fly boxes, whose contents are about the same age, are normally in order. Boxes with Case Caddis, some made with bird gravel and glue and others with bits of tree bark, leaves, and twigs cemented to the hook always seem to be in ample supply. If only Super Glue was around sixty years ago I could have made a million of these collectors’ items.
Case Caddis
Boxes containing classic Catskill dries, extended tail and standard dry flies, nymphs, streamers, and midges both wet and dry are all accounted for. One box intimidates me. It looks empty but close examination with fifty power reading glasses reveals one dozen #28 twenty-eight black gnats on gold-plated hooks. They’re surely enough to last the season. Hopefully I won’t have to tie one of them on, or worst tie one up. During the inventory any shortcomings are noted and written down so as not to forget. After all, the one fly I forget to tie will be the only fly the trout will want on Opening Day. A check is then made to ensure there’s sufficient quantities of the proper materials and hooks are on hand to tie these “Killers”. If materials must be ordered will they make it in time? Probably not, so I overnight express them. The added expense will be worth the peace of mind. The list of flies to be tied is then placed in the jaws of my fly tying vise for safe keeping, at least here it will not get covered over by the piles of tying materials on my desk or be discarded.
I notice the list is short and has only nine patterns on it, some of only one size. How can this be? I must have overlooked something. For a good many years the list has remained the same length and years of trout fishing has dictated what I really need. The remaining flies fill boxes that stuff my vest and make me look good. They also serve as a safety device. Should I fall in and need to be rescued, I can be easily plucked from the water and brought ashore with an electromagnet. My bulging vest, with the outline of each box clearly distinguishable, identifies me as a real trout fisherman. I sometimes think I should be the one to advertise vests and waders and in such magazines as Fly Fisherperson and Rod and Creel.
As I begin tying the flies on the list I must remember the “Bondorew Law of Fly Tying”. The law states, if you tie any fly, always tie three of them. The first one will probably be lost in a tree, the second lost to a trout leaving you with just one of the right fly. To me, having just one of the right fly will change the way you fish. The fear of losing it will make you more cautious, tighten your casting style, and cause you to fish in places that are easy to fish and probably don’t hold any. With this in mind, always remember to tie at least six of any pattern. This will leave you with three extras to fish with. If your lifelong fishing companion should want one of the right fly point him to the tree that has his in it. Should you stick your one and only killer in a tree, remember to never pull straight down on the leader and line to free it. Just loop some extra fly line around the culprit branch with your rod tip and pull on the looped line. This should break the branch and rescue your prize. If the fly line should break, you probably needed a new one anyway. I always carry a ten inch mini chain saw in the large pouch on the back of my fly vest to expedite such rescue attempts.
Most of the flies on the list are not new. They are variations of standard patterns tied with either different types of materials or slightly different colors. The sacred patterns included on the list are as follows:
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Black Ghost Marabou
Black Ghost Marabou—(as dressed by Joe Adamonis)
Hook: size 4-10, 3x-4xl streamer hook i.e. Eagle Claw Model L-058S, Mustad Model 38941
Tail: Soft Yellow hackle Fibers
Body: Black floss which is more in line with traditional streamer patterns or Black Chenille, Small or medium depending upon hook size and shank length
Ribbing: Silver Tinsel/Mylar Small or medium depending upon hook size& shank length
Wing: White Marabou
Throat(Beard): Soft Yellow hackle fibers
Origin: First tied in 1927 by Herbert L.Welch of Mooselookmeguntic, Maine for Rangely Lake area salmon and squaretail trout.
This fly is a personal favorite. Not only does it catch fish for me but also appeals to my eye. Flies that have a certain eye appeal have always worked well for me over the years. This is one of a few fly patterns that can claim universal acceptance.
Black Marabou
Black Marabou
Hook: size 4-10, 3x-4xl streamer hook
Tail: Soft Yellow hackle Fibers or marabou
Body: Black Chenille, Small or medium depending upon hook size and shank length or
Black floss which is more in line with traditional streamer patterns
Ribbing: Gold Tinsel/Mylar Small or medium depending upon hook size and shank length
Wing: Black Marabou
Topping: None
Throat(Beard): Soft Yellow hackle fibers or marabou
Origin: Unknown – I began tying this pattern in the late 1960s, but can’t recall what inspired me to tie it this way
Cardinelle –As dressed by Alec Stansell (Favorite Flies.com)
The Cardinelle
Hook: size 4-10, 3x-4xl streamer hook—Thread: Fluorescent red or Orange
Body: Fluorescent Cerise or Hot Pink wool /yarn (floss can also be used)
Underwing: Fluorescent Orange or Red Hair
Wing: Cerise or Hot Pink Marabou tied full
Throat(Beard or Collar): Soft Yellow hackle fibers
Origin: Late 1960s Worcester, MA designed by Bill Chiba and popularized by Paul Kukonen
Black Wooly Bugger—I’ve omitted the photo for this pattern because if you don’t know what one looks like then you probably shouldn’t be reading this.
Hook: size 6-10, 3xl streamer hook
Body: Black Chenille or Black Sparkle Chenille
Tail: Black Marabou
Rib/Hackle: Palmered Black Hackle
*** Black is the most popular color however brown and olive are equally effective
Gray Nymph
Gray Nymph
Hook: size 8-12 Std or 1XL Wet Fly hook such as Mustad Model 3906 or 3906B
Tail: Soft, Gray or Bronze blue dun Hackle Fibers
Rib: Optional ->Fine silver wire
Body: Dubbed Muskrat Fur
Hackle: Soft, Gray or Bronze Blue Dun Hackle Collar
Origin: Click Here to see how this pattern came about.
Hare’s Ear Nymph
Hare’s Ear Nymph
Hook: Size 10-14 2XL Rib: Optional ->Fine Gold wire
Tail: Stubby Hare’s Ear Guard
Rib: Optional ->Fine Gold wire
Body: Hare’s ear dubbing– guard hairs and all
Hackle: Gray grouse hackle fiber beard
Origin: 1960s Jim Quick-From his book Fishing the Nymph
Zug Bug (As dressed by Joe Adamonis)
Zug Bug
Hook: Size 10-14 2XL Rib: Optional ->Fine Gold wire
Tail: Peacock sword
Rib: Flat silver tinsel
Body: Peacock Herl
Wing Case: Mallard flank
Hackle: Brown hackle fiber beard
Nearenuf
Nearenuf
Hook: size 12-16 Std or 1XL Dry Fly Hook
Tail: Two or Three stripped Grizzly hackle stems
Body: Stripped Peacock quill
Hackle: Brown and Grizzly Dry Fly hackles mixed
Wing: Lemon Barred Wood Duck
Origin: Late 1960s H.G. Tapply and his Tap’s Tip column in Field & Stream magazine
Black Gnat Midge
Black Gnat Midge
Hook: Size 20/22 Dry Fly Hook-(Turned-up eye best)
Tail: Black hackle fibers
Body: Black Floss–Alternate Black poly
Wing: Gray Mallard
Hackle: Black Neck hackle
While tying each pattern I pause to release the trout it has just caught. I’ve never tied a fly that did not catch at least one lunker while it was in my vise. I’m confident with this selection as they have done well by me over the years, and will continue to ensure that I’ll catch more trout than the average bear in the woods. These nine patterns are my cure all’s, but I must remember that the trout I seek can become very selective, and sometimes will only dine on such gourmet items as; Corn, Velveeta cheese , party marshmallows and cigarette butts. At such times even my Killers won’t work. If you tie these flies , fish them with confidence and leave them on for a while. A fly fished without confidence e is unlikely to catch many fish for one simple reason. It will not be in the water long enough before a different pattern is tied on. Always remember ‘ It’s not the fly but the driver. “
The last item I check is my waders, but this I save for Opening Day. Thirty degree water temperatures have a way of telling you things no other leak test can. . You probably won’t delay repairing them if they need it, and what wife would say “No” to buying a new pair while visiting you in the pneumonia ward. Finally I check that Lava soap and toothpaste are in my vest. Lava soap can be used to remove the sheen from your leader and help it to sink. It will also remove the fishy odor on your hands from the all the trout you have released. Toothpaste can also be used for a leader sink, and to brighten your smile when you return home at the end of a hard day of fishing. You will need a bright smile when you tell your wife, “Let’s not go out tonight, I have a lot of flies to tie for tomorrow”‘ Never let your wife or girlfriend see the list presented here, for she too will know, you really only need nine.
Copyright Ray Bondorew 2016
**** I first drafted this article in the early 1990s. The early version was published without pics in the Rhoddy Fly Rodders newsletter. Each year I’d re-read it and tell myself I should do some proper editing and make it more presentable. This went on for years until just recently when I finally decided to either do something with it or just shelf it for good. To stop procrastinating was a major hurdle for me and if nothing else clearing that hurdle gave me a sense of accomplishment. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it.
Recently my two lifelong friends Joe Adamonis and Al “The Guide” Tobojka and I have gotten together once a week to tie flies at Al’s “Fish cave.” Tying flies is only one aspect of these get-togethers. It’s the camaraderie, recollections and stories that make these times special. I guess you could call these outings “Tie and Lie.” We began fishing and tying together in our early teens and continue to do so today in our mid-70s. Just think, that’s nearly two hundred years of experience between us. Few good fishing buddies can say that. While we continue do our share of striper fly tying and fishing our focus has shifted somewhat. We now spend more time at our roots, freshwater fishing. Our recent tying sessions reflect this shift. We’ve been tying everything from soft hackle wets to foam hoppers. Joe likes to tie “Softies’ using Pearsall Silk for many and an occasional Midge as shown below. (Click on pic to enlarge)
Joe’s Soft Hackles(Softies)
Partridge and Copper
Zebra Midge
Partridge and Green
Partridge and Purple
Iron Blue Dun
Of course saltwater patterns continued to be tied. Al ” The Guide” likes his Saltwater patterns and gets away from freshwater flies frequently as his “Clouser Tree ” shows.
Al’s Clouser Tree
I’ve been tying classic patterns for Maine Brookies and Landlocks. Many that I’ve never tied before but thought were interesting enough in both design and history to try. Several are pictured below. They are (L -R) the Tomah Joe, Grizzly King and Magalloway. The tying recipes and histories of these patterns are at Puckerbrush Flies.
Magalloway
Tomah-Joe
My Classic Maine Wets
Grizzly King
Many of patterns we’ve been tying are new to us and whether they’ll actually be fished remains to be seen. We all have our favored reliable patterns which often makes trying new unproven patterns a hard choice. Regardless of the patterns we tie I can only hope that in a few more years I’ll be able to say we have over two hundred years experience. One thing’s for sure, that although it seems like yesterday, over the years we’ve tied countless flies and most have caught fish.—–Ray
*****Click here for the one pattern we do agree on.
****Make every day Earth Day–Pick up one piece of trash daily ****
**** March Playmate of the Month is here!
**** March Moon — Crow Moon-> when the crows caw their goodbye to winter. Also called the Spring Moon and Sap Moon
<°)))>< Today-Wednesday…March 22, 2017 ><(((°> Yesterday Al “The Guide” and I headed to nearby eastern Connecticut to try a little trout fishing. Overcasts skies and temps in the the low 40s greeted us upon arrival. It remained that way say the least and even our most recent ties didn’t work. Today the ‘Three Amigos” are getting together for our weekly ‘Tie & Lie” session. Maybe we’ll tie up a few that will work on our next outing. Hope to post a few pics of today’s ties tomorrow. <°)))><
Sunday…March 19, 2017 ><(((°> It’s been unseasonably cold for over a week now. Throw a foot of snow in for good measure to really suppress the urge to go fishing again. On this past Wednesday I got together with Al “ The Guide” and for another fly tying session and once again freshwater patterns were the order of the day.I tied up several partridge soft hackle wets and a few Caddis larvae.
Soft Hackle Partridge Wets
Green Caddis Larvae
The caddis I tied are worth noting as they are the most abundant and widely distributed of the caddis clan. Such an important food is surely worthwhile imitating and fishing. In Sid Gordon’s book How to Fish from Top to Bottom he gives a pattern for the free living Caddis. <°)))><
Hook: Mustad 3123b size 10 4X stout
Body; Brownish-Green fur
Beard: A few very short grouse hackle barbs
Tail: Small fan tailed shaped hacke tip
Monday…March 13, 2017 ><(((°> The weekend was cold and a blizzard is forecast for tomorrow. Just last week I was trout fishing and this week I’ll be shoveling 12-18” of snow. Maybe my fly rod wasn’t really that heavy as compared to a metal snow shovel. Looks like it’ll be a while before I’m back on the river. However that’s okay as it’s a good time to sit and tie a few patterns for the regular season. Speaking of patterns, later today I’ll be posting a new article entitled Nine is Never Enough. I hope it’s enjoyed by all and I’d be interested to hear any comments you might have on iti. Right now however I’m off to bring a week’s worth of firewood onto ny covered rear porch. <°)))><
Thursday…March 09, 2017 ><(((°> Yesterday, despite morning showers Al “The Guide” and I headed to nearby eastern Connecticut to do a little trout fishing. The skies began to break just before our arrival and it remained cloudy and windy until the sun arrived at noon. I began fishing with a new (to me) pattern I had tied the night before. Being set in my ways I seldom try new patterns and rely on my faithful ones. However, I had confidence that this new pattern would work. Now that I had convinced myself all I had to do was convince the trout. The pattern did just that as I managed six trout and one small salmon with it. 
While I enjoyed catching fish the highlight of my day was getting to use a new small chest pack and a collapsible wading staff for the first time . I was very pleased with their functionality and won’t be without either from now on.<°)))><
Friday…March 03, 2017 ><(((°> On this past Wednesday the ‘Three Amigos” got together for another fly tying session. Freshwater patterns were once again the order of the day. We all have more fly patterns than we’ll ever use and seem to return to tying patterns that are surely productive. and are fortifying our reserves of them. Not many new patterns were tied at our “Tie and Lie”
Joe tied up a bunch of Black Ghosts and Ballou Specials
Ballou Special
Ballous & Ghosts
Black Ghost Marabou
Al also tied up a few long Black Ghosts and a bunch of Hoppers. Al loves Hoppers and the explosive surface strikes they draw.
Al “The Guide” Hoppers
Al’s Black Ghosts
I tied up several LLamas and a few soft hackle wet flies. I’ve never fished the LLama pattern but it looked so good when I first saw it and I instantly had confidence in it. Now all I have to do is fish it. The soft hackle wets I’ll surely fish and do well by them. <°(((><
The Llamas
Soft Hackle Wet Flies
Wednesday…March 01, 2017. ><(((°> Late last week I went with Al & Joe to scout out several new (to us) streams in Eastern Connecticut. We made several casts in likely looking water at each one without so much as a bump or follow. Snow covered the ground at each spot . I attributed the lack of action to cold water temps due to snow melt runoff. The day after I tried one local brook for native brookies with the same results. This sparked my interest as to what exactly was the stream temperatures. This past Saturday I ventured to three local streams and a small pond to check their temps. I expected to see readings in the upper thirties to low forties and was totally surprised to them close to 50° F . The pond was 47°F the stream with the most volume was 48.5° and things happen while fishing the smallest stream was 51.° F. The recent record warmth had warmed the earth and water more than I thought. Knowing this surely didn’t solve my lack of fish. Despite always wanting to know why things happen while out fishing, sometimes you’re best to just accept things for what they are.
Today I’m off to another ‘Lie and Tie” session with Joe and Al. Maybe something we tie there will work next time out. I’m planning on tying several “Rounder Flies” and also several “Llamas” and hope take some pics and post them here or append them to Seems Like Yesterday post
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Today, Tomorrow & Yesterday––February 2017
****Make every day Earth Day–Pick up one piece of trash daily ****
*** February Playmate of the Month is here!
***February Moon(Lakota) Cannapopa wi — Moon when the trees crack due to the cold
Wednesday..February 1, 2017 ><(((°> The holiday season has come and gone and we’re well into 2017. February is here and many moons have passed since my last post and it’s time to start-up again.
February marks the mid-way point of the winter season It also marks the time when throngs of people gather for a super spectacle that occurs but once a year. This event gets the attention of men, women and children of all ages. They will travel from near and far to cheer for their favorite. From those fortunate enough to attend in person to those who will watch on TV at home, it is not to be missed. That’s right after a year of waiting, Ground Hog Day will soon be here.There’s also another super event happening next Sunday. It’s been a relatively mild winter thus far in R.I. Yesterday I was shocked to see about a dozen Boat-Tailed Grackles on the ground scavenging beneath my bird feeders. This doesn’t typically occur until mid/late February and makes me wonder can spring’s arrival be far behind or will winter remain entrenched??
” Is it going to be an Early Spring ?”
Fortunately tomorrow is Groundhog Day and we’ll get a reliable forecast on the remaining winter weather from two of nature’s best prognosticators; Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil and Georgia’s General Beauregard Lee. Lore has it that if they see their shadow when they emerge from their borrow they’ll scurry back in as there’s six more weeks of winter to come but if they don’t see their shadow they may remain out for a while as an early spring is forecast. These two woodchucks have been forecasting the weather for years with at least 50% accuracy. Gen. Beauregard Lee claims to have an amazing 94 % accuracy record. They’re at least as/more accurate as TV and radio meteorologists. I’ve always trusted Ole’ Beauregard Lee’s forecast over that of Punxsutawney Phil for one simple reason; No self-respecting northern Groundhog would be ever be caught out of his borrow in early February as they’re still hibernating.
Given a choice to attend in person either Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA or the NFL Super Bowl, I’d have to ask why did they even offer the Super Bowl? Myself, I’d rather see an over-fed Woodchuck without an ego than a bunch of over-paid men with over-inflated ones.
Regardless of the Ground Hog Day forecast or the Super Bowl’s outcome, the recent above average weather has infected me with early symptoms of ‘cabin fever.” Thoughts of spring fishing and tying flies are becoming more frequent. These pleasant side effects have freed my spirit even though my body is still in seasonal imprisonment. However, we’ll be fishing before we know so it’s time for me to tie some flies and ready my equipment. Perhaps I’ll even write a bit.
Checkout this link for some useful woodchuck info and fly patterns that are worth tying. The link came to me via a comment made on one of my February posts.
Speaking of fly patterns, I recently received the 2016 activity stats for this site. Once again my April 2014 post on Ted Trueblood’s Otter Nymph/ Shrimp had the most views of all posts on this site ever since it was posted . The Ray’s Fly post and photos views are a very distant second. In fact it’s not even close. There’s good reasons for it. Trout fishermen far out number than saltwater fly rodders and Trueblood’s Otter Nymph is well-known everywhere for its fish catching ability. The pattern is definitely worth trying by both novice and veteran fly rodders.
Thursday..February 2, 2017—>Happy Groundhog Day
Friday..February 3, 2017->The verdict is in. The Groundhog has spoken!
—>
“A clear shadow I do see so six more weeks of winter it shall be”
Tomorrow my two lifelong friends Joe Adamonis and Al”The Guide” Tobojka and I are planning to head up to the Connecticut Fly Fisherman’s Assoc. Annual Fly Fishing Expo in So.Windsor CT. This may help to scratch the Cabin Fever itch a little.
Monday..February 20, 2017 (Presidents Day)-> Today is forecast as the coldest day of the week with low 40s for a high. The remainder of week the temps will be in the upper 50s providing a welcome relief to the cold and snowy weather as of late. I hope to get out mid-week and enjoy the pleasant weather by exploring several brooks and streams in nearby eastern Connecticut, This scouting trip is an attempt to discover new places to fish, find their access points and assess their potential.
Recently while searching the web for New England fly shops I came upon a very interesting one , Theriault Flies in Stacyville. Maine. Theriault Flies is owned and operated by retired Maine game warden Alvin Theriault. On the family farm he and his wife and daughter raise ggenetic dry fly hackle, jungle cock, pearl guinea fowl, heritage turkey, Hungarians, cashmere goats, kid goats, Icelandic sheep, rabbits, and llama for fly tying. Few fly shops can say that. These materials and much more is contained in their 70 page catalog. They have a very large material inventory and I’d say the different types of hair and fur available is perhaps the largest I’ve seen anywhere. They are also home to well-known and favored Maine fly patterns: The Maple Syrup and Big Trout Only patterns. Last weekend I ordered a catalog and carefully searched through it. Despite already having more materials than I’ll ever use I found about $50 worth of materials I just had to have. This year when I’m up in Maine I plan to take a trip to Theriault Flies. It’s about 2 hours from my camp and to make the trip worthwhile I won’t leave the shop empty-handed. For right now though I’ll anxiously await my orders arrival this week.
Tuesday..February 21, 2017–> If you live in R.I. or nearby Connecticut the following the following may interest you. I just learned that the State of Rhode Island is planning to build new 13,000 sq ft office building at Browning Mill Pond in the Arcadia Management Area. If you are at all familiar with the pond and surrounding area you must ask yourself why. Browning Mill Pond is a quiet, scenic and peaceful sanctuary. It is a family place where both young and old can enjoy hiking, boating ,fishing and picnicking in harmony with nature, Few places like this remain in our small state. It would be a shame to alter this most precious resource for the sake of building a new DEM office especially so when so many other areas could be used. I began visiting Browning Mill Pd in my early teens and have continued to do so over the past 60 years. In recent years I’ve taken my grandchildren there to fish, picnic and hike. We all want to leave our children and grandchildren a better place to work and play in. Destroying the beauty of Browning Mill Pond’s natural setting with a large office building goes against this most sacred tenant.
If you or anyone you know have been fortunate enough to enjoy Browning Mill Pond over the years there’s something you can do preserve this area for future generations. There’s a Petition to Gov. Gina Raimondo you can sign to Save Browning Mill Pond by opposing this construction. Your signature is urgently needed and appreciated. Thanks
Tuesday..February 28, 2017–>Late last week I went with Al & Joe to scout out several new (to us) streams in Eastern Connecticut. We made several casts in likely looking water at each one without so much as a bump or follow. Snow covered the ground at each spot . I attributed the lack of action to cold water temps due to snow melt runoff. The day after I tried one local brook for native brookies with the same results. This sparked my interest as to what exactly was the stream temperatures. This past Saturday I ventured to three local streams and a small pond to check their temps. I expected to see readings in the upper thirties to low forties and was totally surprised to find them close to 50°F. The pond was 47°F, the stream with the most volume was 48.5°F and the smallest stream was 51°F. The recent record warmth had warmed the earth and water more than I thought. Knowing this surely didn’t solve my lack of fish. Sometimes you’re best to just accept things for what they are.
Tomorrow I’m off to another tying session with Joe and Al. Maybe something we tie then will work next time out. I’m planning on tying a few “Rounder Flies” and also several “Llamas.” Hope to take some pics and post them here or append them onto my Seems Like Yesterday post.
Nice way to start the day at RaysFly Camp
*** Make every day earth day–pick up one piece of trash daily.
****May Full Moon Name(s)–> Flower Moon for the flowering of a multitude of flowers, plants and trees. Also called he Corn Planting Moon for obvious reasons.
Today–Wednesday…May 18, 2016-> I spent the first week in May up working at the Raysfly Camp in Maine and soon I” No big landlocks and only several 10″ brook trout.that trip But soon I’ll be heading back up North for another week or so. maybe some nice salmon will test me. While at home I’ve been spending my time trout fishing here and there. Fishing has been good with plenty of trout and few fishermen especially if you venture beyond where the foot prints stop. From reliable sources down on the salt there’s many schoolies and some shad in Narrow River in Narragansertt . RI as well as Great Salt Pond. Clam worms are plentiful in Ninegret Pond in Charlestown ,RI but few stripers after them . So go and catch’em up! Later today I’ll pass on the saltwater stuff and try for some native trout for a few hours.
**** Make every day earth day–pick up one piece of trash daily.
****April Moon Names-Pink Moon for the blooming of wild phlox and Fish Moon for the runs of Shad into many coastal rivers
“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!” Chief Sitting Bull – Lakota Sioux
Today–Sunday…April 24, 2016-> On Friday(Earth Day) I did go fishing for native Brook Trout . It was a warm , pleasant day and I managed well over a dozen wild, native trout. They ranged 5-8″. No big 9-10″ ones this trip. I was pleased to see the condition and number of the trout I caught. It seems the recent mild winter helped them survive and flourish. They were all taken on my RKS nymph which seemed only fitting for Earth Day. Yesterday after taking part in a local Earth Day cleanup I tried a local stream for native trout. Once again I was surprised with the number and quality of the trout. Hopefully there’s no drought conditions here this summer to ensure their future survival.
Today- Thursday….April 21, 2016->I just returned home after spending a week opening up and working on my Maine RaysFly Camp. Upon my arrival home I received a reliable report from Al “The Guide” that schoolies were in along the Matunuck/Pt.Judith area. While he’s been spending his time trout fishing Al took break for some stripers. I also learned that the Wood River here in R.I. would be inundated with fresh hatchery trout today. That’s good news if all you care about is catching fish but bad news for the native trout population who will have to compete with this over population of over-sized sized fish. Tomorrow is Earth Day, a day set aside to demonstrate awareness and support for environmental protection. I plan to spend Earth Day as I have for the past several years, fishing for native Brook Trout in an un-stocked stream using only my Earth Day flies. The squirrel nymph is a good one!
Several inches of snow fell yesterday afternoon & made the csmp sort of pictureque.
