I love e-mail questions

I love e-mail questions.  What better way to expand the next level of fly fishing than to learn and share with other anglers?   I have had several questions from the inbox over the last few days asking about September fishing on the Schroon River.  

I believe that a picture speaks a thousand words.

Any Questions??

NOAA has predicted 4 to 7 inches of rain for the Eastern Adirondacks in the next 72 hours.  The Schroon watershed drains 600 square miles of  the Eastern Adirondacks.  Doing the math, this means the river is going to be blown out and unsafe to fish for at least two weeks.

My fall weekends are spent chasing King and Coho Salmon in Pulaski ever chance I get.

Can you blame me?

Hydraulic Fracturing and Environmental Water Quality

Preface/Disclaimer/

As my life time goes by, I find that I personally am doing a better job of environmental stewardship. Gone is my burning barrel in the back yard (and most of my neighbors too). I return & recycle all of our steel, aluminum, glass and plastic. My motivation to do this is primarily economic but I do "feel environmentally better" after the work is done. I'm not an environmental radical. I am, however, very skeptical of big business when they tell you "It's perfectly safe" & what they do will help insure our liberty as Americans.

I know bullshit when I hear it.

Lately, There seems to be a lot of news media coverage on the subject of hydraulic fracturing.

Drilling horizontally and using clean water to pressurize and then retrieve hydrocarbon based fuels just sounds like a bad idea.  Just a couple of years ago, every Mom & Pop gas station had to replace their in ground fuel tanks to avoid fuel/water contamination, right?



Think about it: Commingling fresh, clean water with toxins. Hmmmmmm?

An industry-supported fund to pay for potential environmental damage caused by hydraulic fracturing in New York State
is just stupid. (my opinion)

 

What if people get sick from drinking contaminated water? 

What if the fish are all dead?

 

Money can't fix that.  (common sense)

I encourage you to do some reading & research. Consider your sources and make up YOUR OWN MIND.

Essential Question:

Why is hydraulic fracturing exempt from the

Federal Safe Drinking Water Act ?

Here are some links:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-1215
http://www.tu.org/press_releases/2010/trout-unlimited-calls-on-gas-companies-to-disclose-chemicals-used-in-marcellus-s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAWawNVziXI
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/07/31/us/natural-gas-water-contamination.html?scp=4&sq=hydraulic%20fracturing&st=cse
http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/index.cfm
http://www.riverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Fractured-Communities-FINAL-September-2010.pdf

All About the Streamer

Day 1 on the Battenkill was all about streamers and getting the fly down to the fish. Windy and rainy weather conditions put a halt to most hatches on the day, although we did see some sulphurs hatching late. My one fish on the day came from a deep run on a seam between faster and slower moving water. This guy hit almost immediately when my fly began its swing.

Most fish that we encountered today were holding on the seams or in the deepest part of pools.We continued to fish the deep pools past dusk when Chris hooked into a pig. Barely able to see, we only got one good look at the fish before he spit the fly only feet away. It was a tough loss but it was a successful evening fish, as we both had strikes long after the sun set. It was a very interesting experience fishing tonight with winds howling in the trees at over 20 mph, making for some difficult casting conditions. Overall day 1 was a successful day. However, tomorrow we will be covering much more water in hopes of hooking into some true monsters.

STAY TUNED FOR TOMORROWS' REPORT!

-Alec

Skinny Water, Big Browns & Quality Friendships

My friend Al called last week and said he wanted to get together and fish.  Our halfway meeting point was the Ausable River.  I tied up a bunch of fresh tricos with indicator posts for the trip.  I left them on the vice this morning and lost my sunglasses before the first cast. 

NOT looking like a good start. 

At the first pool, Al did a good job with the little mayfly, landing a nice brown then a rainbow.  I was "Ohfer".  We moved up river and went back at it.  After and hour or so, I spotted a nice fish just off the bank feeding on terrestrials as they dropped in the water from an overhanging bush.  Third cast and I was on with a heavy, then off.  We moved again, this time down river to pocket water.  After a few casts in some very skinny water, I found a deeper pocket across the river.  I cranked up the St. Croix and fired the stimulator cross-river to the farside pool and saw a flash under my fly.  Two more casts and everything came tight with this nice fella'.  2 hook ups and one to hand.  With a fish like this one, I'll take that anyday.

After spending the day together fishing, Al and I have resolved that we need to get together and fish more often.  Great Day!  The fish are just a bonus. 

TOMORROW- BATTENKILL WITH ALEC

- STAY TUNED-

WIFI "LIVE ON LOCATION" REPORT FROM THE CAMPGROUND SOMETIME AFTER DARK

TRICOS

I fished the West Branch of the Ausable yesterday.  Whether you like to fish them or not, the Trico mayfly hatch is on.  The water was in the mid to upper 60's.  I was on the trout from 7 to 9:30 am, then all went quiet.  Eleven browns in that time, not bad considering that I can't see the fly (SIZE 22) and setting the hook is a guessing game.  Low water calls for a longer leader and longer drifts too.  I did spot some more fish later in the morning but the just weren't "players".  Hot summer afternoons on the Ausable call for spot, stalk and presentations with hopper patterns.  This can sometimes pay off with  a big brown if you put the time in.