In the early spring, little bugs are king in the diet of trout in Utah. When you fish a river as heavily fished as the Provo it pays to be different from the crowds. Not only do you catch more fish than the masses, you also catch more fish. I’ve mainly been nymphing small midge patterns, beatis patterns, and other bugs in the 18 through 24 range even while fish are rising all around, but sometimes it’s fun to join the masses and be a dry fly enthusiast. However, I still like catching and not aimlessly waiving a stick in the air, untying knots, and looking through my fly box pretending to “match the hatch”, looking for a mother shucker even though I have no idea what that fly is supposed to represent.
The Bob
This fly is super easy to tie, you might already have the materials to make it, and fish will take this fly down when they are eating off the surface or when they are tailing and eating in the film. What you will need to mimic this fly is;
I’ve been using this thread lately, because I think it is stronger, but you can use any gray 8/0 threadSuper Hair in black and white. This is a lot easier to work with then making an actual biot bodyFoam to make the fly sit perpendicular to the waterFor the thorax. Any dubbing you have will work, I am just a fan of extra flashI just bought a uv lamp so I’m stoked on it, but you don’t have to add this to the fly. It will work just fine without this addition
Now comes the actual tying.
Wrap in a strand of black and white super hair Wrap the white strand around first, then trim Next wrap in the black You can skip these steps if you don’t have a UV lamp If you do, coat the fly with a little bit of the goo Cure it for 5 to 10 seconds Cut out a small piece of the foam Twist it onto the fly Take your dubbing Twist a little bit onto your thread Wrap it up Pull foam over thorax, whip finish, and enjoy catching those picky eaters.
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!!
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
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!
Now that the primary elections are complete, I have once again focused attention on generating some quality reading material for our audience. The MKFF Team East assembled in full force at the Dale’s Market parking lot on Sunday morning. Eating Dale’s Famous Breakfast Sandwich on the tailgate of Mark’s Toyota Truck has become a regular ritual for the team. In a future video blog we will evaluate the Taylor Ham or Pork Roll sandwiches available from the shores of the Paulinskill. For today, we decided to provide you (our readers), with a short synopsis on Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass with info on the species, techniques, flies, and river conditions.
When Nature Calls The Bio Wipes Are Ready
Conditions
Early in the season we reported on the low water levels and high temperature. Fortunately, conditions have changed. On June 11, in Blairstown, the river is flowing at 160 CFS. I neglected to take the temperature, however, what I can report is that the temperature is in the higher range of optimal for Trout. Evening thunderstorms are ideal for controlling the river temperature.
Mark And Kuhn Fishing A Slow Run
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass occupy a habitat similar to that of Trout; they are more amenable to a wider variety of water temperatures. Thus, you will locate Smallies in watercourses with sand or gravel bottoms and cool, clean, and clear water. In the Paulinskill, when the balmy summer heat forces the Trout into the cooling springs, Smallies occupy the territory vacated by the Trout.
Smallmouth Bass
Juvenile Smallmouth Bass feed on Zooplankton and Midge Larva. The adults feed on Crayfish and other aquatic invertebrates. The adults typically reach sizes of 12 to 15 inches, possibly reaching a maximum of 24 inches. One to two pounds is the typical weight of an adult Smallmouth.
Baby Turtle Hanging Out Riverside
Tactics
Smallies that make the Paulinskill their home tend to hold in a few key areas:
The shade of overhanging branches and logjams.
Behind large rocks and other obstructions in the stream.
Areas of visible current or runs.
I have found that Smallmouth Bass will feed on almost all of the same flies that the Trout will consume in similar sizes. In addition, the Bead Head Woolly Bugger, preferably green with some flash, size 10 or 12, pulls fish out of the Paulinskill.
Bragging Rights
As I indicated above the water temperatures and conditions were optimal for the full range of Paulinskill River species. Special shout out for Mike’s Bass Grand Slam!
Mike Busteed – Smallmouth, Largemouth and Rock Bass
Mark Beardmore – Smallmouth, Sunfish, Brook Trout, Shiner
Christopher Kuhn – Smallmouth, Rainbow Trout, Sunfish
Deborah Walters – Smallmouth, Sunfish
Dave Boynton – Smallmouth
Green Woolly Bugger With Tan Marabou
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