On The Hunt: Continued

Today I headed south once again to investigate some more of my suspicions on the "To Do List". I decided I would hit a stream that I once hit last Spring, only I would fish a new section of it. Upon arival, I strung up the boo, and decided due to the low water conditions, I should tie on some light tippet, so I ended up going with 7x. The water is painfully low for April. WV is in dire need for some rain. I started with a #14 Lime Trude, and after catching a couple, I switched to a #16 Elk Hair Caddis. I began picking up a few more strikes and landing a few. I hooked and landed a really nice Rainbow for this stream. It was without a doubt the most beautiful Rainbow Trout I have ever caught. On several occasions while fishing I noticed the wild flowers are in full swing. After catching a few more brookies and 1 more Rainbow, I continued on south to a new stream for me. When I arrived the Quill Gordons were coming off with gusto so I switched flies to a #14 Usual in Dun color and it was on. The brookies were hammering it. This stream has a small tributary that flows into it and I suspected it had fish in it as well and I was not dissapointed. So after 2 new streams fished today, over a dozen of fish caught, several more lost or seen, I can scratch 2 more streams off "The List".

Scratchin' em' Off

Today I continued with my quest to check out the streams on my "To Do List". I had done a drive by on this stream last summer and at that point the water was super low. I decided I would hit it in the spring. Today I finally got around to marking it off the list. I strung up the trusty bamboo brookie rod and tied on a #16 Natural Usual before heading upstream. The water situation here is pretty sparce for this time of year. I wound up spooking a couple of fish before I caught 1 tiny dink, then I lucked up and caught one a little bigger near the 8'' mark. Having other streams on the dockett to checkout out today, I headed back to the truck to head out for other destinations. So I found myself heading south and when I got there, more low water was to be found. I fished 2 tributaries of tributaries and I didn't move any Brook Trout. I still can cross those off my list, but I wont be making a return trip either.

The "To Do" List

During the winter I had made a list of streams around the State of WV that I wanted to fish. This will be known as the "TO DO". On that list are several Brook Trout streams that I have not fished, but feel pretty sure of how they might fish. Today with the sun still shining (It was supposed to be raining), I packed up all my stuff, and headed south for the Monongahela National Forest. I arrived to a perfect looking stream that I hoped would be loaded to the hilt with Brook Trout. I strung up my bamboo brookie rod and tied on a #14 Royal Stimulator. Plunge pools, riffles, runs, and plenty of clear water held numerous Brook Trout and shortly I had well over a bakers dozen to my credit. I decided I wanted to try and fish another stream on the "list", and headed a little farther south. Almost as soon as I got there, the rain started and began to hammer the valley I was in. At that point I decided I didn't feel like getting soaked and would have to try it some other day. Oh well, I crossed 1 off the list.

Finally

Today made my 7th straight day at work, working 10 hour shifts. It should go without saying that I really needed to get out and do some fishing. After getting home and grabbing my stuff, I headed out to an old favorite brookie stream here in Preston County. I decided I would fish a new section, new to me anyways. I dropped down into the steep canyon choked with Rhodadendren and Hemlock. As I reached the stream, it was in perfect condition, clear, and with excellent flows. I tied on a #14 Chartruese Humpy that was just freshly tied this week, and began picking apart the water. It wasn't long before I had picked up a few brookies, though none of them much bigger than 7'' or so. I worked my way back to the road crossing and headed for the truck.

Exploration

Today my Dad and I drove to a Pocahontas county Brook Trout stream only to find it high and off color from the rain the night before. At that point we decided we would continue driving north to find some more fishable water. After stopping at another Brook trout stream it too was high and unfishable. We did do some exploration and fish a stream that should've had fish in it, however our efforts turned up nothing. Back in the truck we drove a little farther north and found ourselves heading towards an old favorite. We started at the junction of a tributary stream and fished upstream on the main stem. Following a little trial and error, we hit money when we found out the fish were keying on bright colored nymphs not the dry flies I would've preferred. Dad and I fished for about a hour or so and having dinner plans with my mother, we had to high tail it all the way home from Pendleton Co. back to Summers Co. A day well spent with a few fish caught.

Pennsylvania's Finest

Today Beaver and I left Preston County headed north for Centre County, PA and some of the finest Limestone influenced trout water I ever stepped foot into. After a little fiasco of buying our liscence at the local Wal-Mart, we finally made it to the water. Beaver said he was going to nymph fish and I decided to streamer fish. Almost immediately, I had moved 3 or 4 fish at the first hole only to lose them or fail to get a good hook set. Beaver quickly had moved and caught a couple of nice fish including a really nice rainbow. I finally hooked and landed a nice brown on a size 2 double bunny, and wouldn't you know it, I forgot my camera. Thanks Beav for the picture. Around lunch time, I switched the streamer rod for the nymph rod and shortly after that we went to check out a new section. Around 2pm, we came upon a really nice BWO hatch and I played catch up catching 7 more Browns. Again no camera. Around 5pm, we called it a day.

March Cometh

Today I finally made a trip with the infamous Nate Rees. I picked him up after his last class on a brisk and overcast Monday morning. We headed south and arrived just shortly after 10:30am. We strung up our rods, and hit the first pool. At the first pool, I hooked and landed a nice Rainbow and Brown which proved to be my best two fish of the day. After fishing a short section upstream, we headed to another section of stream. Nate landed a really nice Rainbow and a few other fish. The total of fish caught today weren't really important catching enough to make the outing worthwhile. Much thanks to Nate for the amazing photography.

The First of 2010

Today Beaver and I left Bruceton Mills at 7 AM with no real destination other than a county in WV. We arrived at a popular tourist destination to fish a popular tributary of an even more popular river. We fished a few holes with no luck early in the morning and decided it would be best to head for the bigger highland river. We were met with sunshine, gin clear water, ample flow, and last but certainly not least, fantastic February temperatures of 45plus degrees. We both strung up the rods and rigged up with bead head nymphs, and wooly buggers. Well it wasn't too long before "the Beav" and I both were hooked up with some beautiful Rainbows. We spent the rest of the afternoon high sticking pocket water, nymphing long smooth glides and pools with indicators, and catching over 2 dozen Rainbows, 2 Fall Fish, and 1 big stocked Brookie. Wooly Buggers, Glo bugs, and Beadhead Nymphs seamed to be the ticket today. Depsite a late start, it was a fantastic day to start off the new year.

Winter Steelhead Alley

Just got back from 2 days of fishing in Pennsylvania's South Lake Erie shore. The target goal for the trip was to find and catch Steelhead in the tributaries of Lake Erie. The weather was a little on the frigid side and as a result water was slushy the first morning making for some tough fishing. The guides of our fly rods stayed constantly iced up, and my reel froze a couple of times. After going to 2 other tributaries the first day, Chris finally caught his first Steelhead on a white Suckerspawn. Grant landed about 5 fish, and I rounded out the trio with 1 fish. Indeed a tough day of fishing. Day 2 began with a temperature increase of a few degrees and we headed to a favorite stretch of the best Erie trib that PA has to offer. Few other anglers were out today and after some searching we found a few fish holding in a fast riffle and not another soul in sight. After we found what the meal ticket was, Grant, Chris, and myself all hooked and landed several fish. As the temperatures dropped, we decided it was time to call it day and head south to more snow and cold temperatures.

Opening Day 2009

November 23, 2009 saw a rather so so start to the rifle WV buck season. The weather was a little overcast, rainy at times, and a little on the chilly side; perfect deer hunting weather. Not much happened until about 8:00 am when Don Speiden killed a dark racked basket 6pt. Several does were seen up until about 9am but things slowed down considerably soon after. Dad and I were eating lunch in my stand around 1pm and we were watching the fields when he spotted a deer. I grabbed the gun ID'ed the deer as a buck, and nocked the safety off. The buck began to trot across the field and I led the buck in the scope and squeezed off. I noticed the buck flinch and worked the bolt for another shot, but that only lead to a clean miss on the second shot. After dad and I waited about 20 minutes, we got down out of the stand and went to look for blood or hair. No blood or hair found, we headed in the general direction of the buck's last heading. Upon entering the cedar thicket where he went into, I saw the buck's white belly and I slowly approched the deer. After confirming the kill, I found out the buck I shot was a chocolate high racked 8pt. After dressing the deer, dad headed to his stand, and I headed home to skin the buck. Dad managed to put a little meat on the table as well when he put a nice doe on the ground that evening.

Cloudy skies with a chance of spawning Brown Trout

Today, the Beav and I headed to a grade A #1 blue ribbon trout stream with the intent of finding some fall spawning Brown Trout showing their fall colors. We arrived at "The Spot" at about 7am and lined up the rods. We both started off with #16 Pheasant Tail nymphs and Olive Wooly Buggers. At the first hole, I hooked and landed one of the most beautiful Brown Trout Ive ever laid my eyes on. It didn't take Beaver long to hook up either, in fact his hook ups lasted all day. What can I say though, he's got 12 plus years experience fishing this stream. He knows it well and his experience and knowhow really showed that day. Now, I did hook and loose several more fish throught the day, but I was in picture mode so I snapped several pictures today. Beaver finished the day with over 10 fish and when you catch 10 or more on this river, you have recked house.