Traditionally Battenkill

I grew up along the banks of the Battenkill River and still fish there often.  Yesterday Alec & I drifted the trophy section.  It was a day ment for streamer fishing: high off colored water put the nymphing and dry action at almost a standstill; streamers were the ticket.  I like to use traditional Lew Oatman streamer patterns on the Battenkill.  That is where he lived and developed so many patterns that work well today.  I also like to incorporate some of the new- specifically fishing full sinking lines ala' Kelly Galloup style.  Streamers of choice yesterday were the Oatman Battenkill Shiner and the Bunny Sculpin of unknown origin.

A Nice Battenkill Brownie

More big water

Well, I guess that the Schroon isn't going to behave this season.  Fish are spread out nicely but finding good wading is a challenge.  Temps are in the high 60's and low 70's.  Not much stellar to report about hatches.  Fish really aren't rising with the water levels.  I have resorted to finding some other waters to fish.  Nymphing & swinging streamers is producing very well.  I'm quickly getting adicted to that brown trout "smack" as they inhale the baitfish immitation.

Epic Brook Trout Trip

Maybe I should call it the trip of One Hundred Thousand BLACK FLIES.
My face looks as though I have been in a fist fight.  But, it was worth it

Boy Scouts on the creek

I took a couple of scouts out to work on the fly fishing merit badge this afternoon.  after some bug hunting and casting instrution, they both managed a nice brown trout each.  Excellent work for a couple of boys who have just started casting a fly rod.  Water was sixty(ish) not much hatching or rising but the prince nymph did the trick.

Quick Observation

I stopped by the river to check out the hatch before a meeting tonight.  The location was at the Route 8 bridge between Chestertown and Horicon.  A solid hatch of Golden Drakes.  No fish rising to them so that tells me that a wet fly will be the ticket.  Water is still a foot-plus above "normal; what ever that is considening the season".

Rain yet Productive

I fished Tumblehead this morning in hopes hitting the Light Cahill and Caddis hatch.  Rain foiled my plans, a ten minute break gave way to a few cahills hatching but not long enough to have the trout key in on them.  I resorted to stipping a whiz kid and white wet fly rig.  I hooked up 26 times and landed 15.  Best fish was this fiesty 11" rainbow that went airborne 5 times before coming to hand for a quick snap shot then, back to the depths.

Check the side bar under "Fly of the Month" for a recipe and picture of the White Wet fly.

The river is warming up (73 degrees) so the time is now. 

Play the fish quickly and keep them in the water if you can.

Chris

NOW!

Pull the trigger on the Prime Time. The next two or maybe three weeks are prime time for the lower Schroon. As river levels drop to a nice wadable level water temps will slowly rise. The gage is at 4.6' now. Once it spends a week at 3' or less, GAME OVER. Water temps of 78 and above will be here sooner than you think. That means belly up trout. Get 'em while there cool!