Time to Tie

This is one of those awkward times of year when deer season is about to close, many of the trout fisheries are off limits and the ice on the ponds is only teasing each morning of things yet to come. Thankfully, the vice is only an arms length away.
Fly swaps and tying clubs are a great way to connect with other anglers and stay engaged with the sport during these "down" times.

Here's a Woven Stonefly pattern I'm tying this week for an on-line swap. It's one of my "go-to" pattens for boulder type pocket water where big black stones are abundant.

Start of a new season

Building local support for Catch & Release

Ms. Zollweg,
I read the Post Star article about the proposed catch & release area on the Mettawee River.
http://www.poststar.com/sports/article_a1f4bdea-c2af-11de-a50a-001cc4c03286.html

I FULLY SUPPORT THE IDEA FOR THE METTAWEE RIVER FISHERY.

I ALSO SUPPORT THE IDEA FOR A SECTION OF THE LOWER SCHROON RIVER.

In my opinion, both the Mettawee & Lower Schroon have not yet realized their potential for harboring a hold-over trophy trout population. Both rivers have the potential do so. The Battenkill and West Branch of the Ausable are fine examples of an Idea (regulation) That Works. If angler initiative starts the process, I would gladly devote a good share of time and attention to such a project.

Chris Stiles
Chestertown, NY

(Emily Zollweg is a Senior Aquatic Biologist at NYS DEC- Warrensburg, NY)

worth a 1000 words

Anybody got a good caption for the attitude on this guy's face?

The Initial Construct

Welcome. I intend to use this blog as a means to provide you with updated river conditions, give you my perspective as to how well the fishery is being managed, answer questions and toss in some Adirondack curmudgeon thoughts along the way.

I live near the lower river and fish it several times weekly (even in the winter). I estimate I spend 150 hours annually fly fishing the stretch from the Starbuckville Dam to the confluence with the Hudson River. I am a guide and do much of my business on the river but I will make every effort to avoid using this forum as an advertisement. If that is what you are looking for, please check out the link to the right to get to my business website. I do venture off to other other fisheries often and will sprinkle in some stuff on those as well from time to time.

If you are here just to read and get intel for your trip, good. If you are here to pick my brain, better. If you are here to take me to task and discuss the fishery, great! I would like to think this blog will help draw quality conservation minded anglers to the river to fish and enjoy. If I see anglers abusing the resource I will also be sure to "poo-poo" them as well.

So here we go. Look for updated river conditions in the right side bar this afternoon and a creel report Sunday evening.

Chris