After almost 2 months off from trout fishing in New Jersey, the weather and water temps finally reached trout friendly alignment this past Sunday, so I spent some time wading, casting and catching trout. The weather cooled late last week, and by Sunday the water temperatures were around 66 degrees at 5:00PM, when I stepped into the clear, low water of the South Branch. The skies were overcast but fairly bright; the sun fighting to find its way through the thin clouds. I had the river all to myself.
The trout weren't looking up, so I went down to them. Not very far down, as the water levels are fairly low and very clear. Caught a bunch of holdover rainbows, the largest being about 14 inches, and they all fought well and seemed healthy even after a few hot weeks with little rain. The pumpkin head midge, size 18, took all but one; fished it without any weight on a long leader with a fine, 6X tippet. I also took one on a brown serendipity, size 16. I also drifted this on the same long leader without any weight. The takes were subtle, and the lack of split shot on the leader provided a direct connection to the fly, and little resistance to the trout. My leader would jump a mere inch or two, I'd lift my rod quickly but gently, and a short battle ensued.
There's nothing like spending an hour and a half on the water to work out the rust and invigorate the soul. With any luck, we'll get out a couple of more times before heading to Montana in a couple of weeks. Maybe next time, I'll tie on a beetle or ant pattern and fish that exclusively. The trout have to start looking up for their food, don't they? If not, we'll still have fun.
Sharpen those hooks!
The trout weren't looking up, so I went down to them. Not very far down, as the water levels are fairly low and very clear. Caught a bunch of holdover rainbows, the largest being about 14 inches, and they all fought well and seemed healthy even after a few hot weeks with little rain. The pumpkin head midge, size 18, took all but one; fished it without any weight on a long leader with a fine, 6X tippet. I also took one on a brown serendipity, size 16. I also drifted this on the same long leader without any weight. The takes were subtle, and the lack of split shot on the leader provided a direct connection to the fly, and little resistance to the trout. My leader would jump a mere inch or two, I'd lift my rod quickly but gently, and a short battle ensued.
There's nothing like spending an hour and a half on the water to work out the rust and invigorate the soul. With any luck, we'll get out a couple of more times before heading to Montana in a couple of weeks. Maybe next time, I'll tie on a beetle or ant pattern and fish that exclusively. The trout have to start looking up for their food, don't they? If not, we'll still have fun.
Sharpen those hooks!
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