Tag Archives: Fly Fishing

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!

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!

Quick Snowshoe

Jess and I took a quick snowshoe on a trail that followed the Yampa river. It was a great hike and I even got to fish a little.  We hiked over a mile before we hit public water.  I rigged up near a nice slow pool with a big ice ledge.  I pulled out a 14″ rainbow on a size 16 black soft hackle, which I purchased in Paris this past Thanksgiving.  After that hook up, I put the snowshoes back on and we continued to enjoy the rest of the hike.

Fish on!
Fish on!
This guy put up a good fight
This guy put up a good fight
Black Soft Hackle
Black Soft Hackle