Tag Archives: spring

Colorado

Happy St. Patrick’s Day: Pike & Trout

I invited a MKFF friend, Erik, down from Wyoming for the weekend to check out the Stagecoach Tailwaters.  He arrived around 1 on Friday, so I suggested we hit up a newly thawed out part of the river close to my condo.  I heard about pike in this area of the river; however, I had no I idea that the pike fishing was going to be as good as it was.  We caught over 30 pike in total.  Destroyed or lost over 10 streamers in the process.  I eventually just tied on straight 20lb test to deal with the teeth on these fish.  Any big streamer with movement attracted these pre-spawn predators.

Erik drove down from Jackson, WY for some trout fishing, he had no idea we would be throwing streamers for the river wolf
Erik drove down from Jackson, WY for some trout fishing, he had no idea we would be throwing streamers for aggressive pike

On Saturday, we biked into the tailwaters in search of trout.  The fishing was great, only 3 other anglers, but the fish have become extremely wary over the past month.  When I first fished this section back in February, size 18 comapraduns were doing the trick.  Now, I need size 20 and 22 RS2’s and CDC Emergers.  We managed over 20 rainbows between the two of us.  The best part came around 1 o’clock when it seemed every trout was methodically rising to small baetis.  After 2:30, everything shutdown and the trout were completely inactive.  My camera battery died early into the day, so I only have one picture from the trout fishing.  It was an amazing day and we came home to a great corned beef, cabbage, and irish soda bread meal prepared by my wife Jess.

This guy destroyed my Bunny Muddler
This guy destroyed my Bunny Muddler
Here's looking at you
Here’s looking at you
Great colors
Great colors
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This tail gives the pike the ability to be the top predator in any watershed
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Clamped down on my version of a Meal Ticket
This guy tried to break him self off on a ice shelf we were standing on
This guy tried to break him self off on a ice shelf we were standing on
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The cast
This was the largest pike of the day
This was the largest pike of the day
My first of the day before the camera died
My first of the day before the camera died
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Midge right on the nose
Great sight after a day of fishing! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Great sight after a day of fishing! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Bass

Panfish Fun

The Sunfish dove for the weeds.
The Sunfish dove for the weeds.

On Sunday, I had a few minutes to try my Green Mohair Leech pattern, I like to tie up this one for early spring pond fishing. The temperature was around fifty degrees and the Sunfish could be seen in the shallow water on the edges. We had to be careful not to cast a shadow on the edges of the pond, you could see the lively guys swim away.

A little Sunfish, first Panfish of the season.
A little Sunfish, first Panfish of the season.

It appears the Sunfish are already starting to clear out areas for their nests. After over coming the initial impacts of spooking the fish with my shadow, I was able to zero into a little hole where the fish were hanging out.

The Mohair Leech pattern was hooked deep, took a second to unhook.
The Mohair Leech pattern was hooked deep, took a second to unhook.

Overall, bent the rod a few times and had a good time. Looking forward to getting after some Pickerel before the start of Trout Season on April 6.

Wild Trout Streams

Spring is Here

Ice Fishing is coming to a close once again in Northern New Jersey. A fun season with a few memorable catches and of course many fun times that we won’t forget. What can we say, we can be lazy fishermen too! Setup your lines, grab a seat, wait for a flag! Heck, that sounds pretty nice to this angler. However, the season is ending and the trout are waiting for our arrival. So ladies and gentlemen, let’s follow this bloggers lead and get out there and catch some fish please! Opening day in New Jersey isn’t for a few more weeks yet, but that doesn’t deny us the opportunity to get out there and test our lines, flies, and attempt to remember how to shoot a fly. Needless to say, the MKFF crew took to the river and has begun testing the waters for you all. A short bit about my first adventure into the rivers of Northern New Jersey for you all to enjoy and to help get pumped up for the upcoming trout season!!

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Still some snow left on the Earth when i went out, but that just makes me push on harder, wanting, determined to catch a beautiful trout to kick off the Spring (well, upcoming) season. As I walk through the wilderness, I come upon the perfect little nitch of Van Campens Glen. Desolate. Hidden. One of those spots you dream about finding and can only hope to one day see in real life. I set up my 6 wt. fly rod, grab a 22 Bead Head Serendipity, slowly make my way into the water and cast out just above a downed tree upstream. Cast after cast I can see 3 fish checking out my fly, but they just don’t seem to be buying the ‘tasty’ treat I present to them.This in mind, I decide to to change up my fly. On goes a 24 Black Stonefly. First cast with the changed fly really seemed to have piqued their curiosity. Hit after hit the fish can’t seem to choose whether or not this is the meal they want or not! Finally, after much hesitation and false hits, I finally have a taker on the line!! After about a minute or so of a small fight, I have the first fish to the beginning of the Spring season.  A beautiful 15 inch trout on the end of my line and I can do nothing but smile. This is going to be a great season.

Number One
Number One

So begins the new season of fly fishing. Ending Ice fishing with a bang and beginning trout season with a thud? Sounds like the ending and beginning of a kick ass season. Stay tuned for some more fun adventures and awesome fish from the MKFF crew!