Fish Don't Read Calendars
Posts tagged: Brook Trout
The Seasons Of Fly Fishing
Here in New England we have 4 distinct seasons. Each season represents change. Most people associate change in seasons with the weather. Fly fisherman will often associate the change in seasons with the change in fishing conditions, techniques and species to target. New England, and especially Maine sees as much change in fishing conditions as it does weather with each passing season.
Let’s start with spring, as it is often associated with birth and new beginnings. When I think about spring I think about the “start” of the fishing season. In Maine, many of the natural reproducing trout water is closed from October 1st through March 31st. April is seen as a time to get back to my favorite waters. Spring can be tough in Maine as winter can hold on through the end of May, but the fishing can be fantastic. Trout are normally hungry after the winter but sluggish as the water temps are still in the 30’s-40’s well into May. June sees the full blossoming of trees and insect life. The smelt and sucker spawn happens which coax the big trout out of the larger watersheds into the rivers where we enjoy targeting them. For saltwater fly fisherman, June is typically when the big stripers start to show along the New England coastline.
Summer can really be broken out into early and late summer. Early summer can be great fishing, with weather playing a large role. July brings the big bugs to the surface – big stones and the fabled Hex hatch. This can be some of the most exciting fishing of the year on rivers and ponds. Watching large trout sip on big dry flies has to be one of the highlights in fly fishing. Late summer can lead to slower trout fishing while most rivers get too warm and the trout will drop back into the big lakes for thermal refuge. During these times, not only is the fishing slow it can be unethical to stress the fish by fighting them in low oxygen level water. When this happens we seek out the warm water species such as smallmouth and largemouth bass. In addition the salt water fishing stays hot all summer long.
Fall is a special time in New England. I will admit I am including late September in “fall”. The trees are a blaze of red or orange and so are the native brook trout. The air is cool again and the bugs are mostly gone. Trout begin to stage for the spawn at the mouths/outlets of their chosen rivers in mid to late September. Water flows and temps are paramount to being able to enjoy this fishing. I believe that a male native brook trout in the fall is the most beautiful fish. The trout are not the only fish getting ready to spawn, the landlocked salmon also do their dance in the fall and the fishing can be outstanding. The fall run of false albacore and stripers is also happening down on the coast. This is when many salt anglers have their best fishing and have the chance at a 30-40 lb. striper from the surf. It is a wonderful time to be a fly fisherman in New England. It is my favorite time of the year.
Winter is spent tying flies and trying to stay warm. New England has some great winter fishing, mostly over fish that were stocked in the fall. Maine and NH have a great stocking program which can keep us busy in the slower months and thinking towards spring. Make sure to dress accordingly as the water and air temps are frigid.
Up here there are great opportunities to fish year round. Make sure you take advantage of the fishing opportunities in your area!
Words + Photos By: Tim Ervin
3 Tactics For Increasing Hook-Ups To Heavily Fished Trout
I spend most of my time fishing for big native Brook Trout in northwestern Maine. When fishing in Maine for big natives, there are a handful, or maybe even only a couple of rivers that will typically produce the size and class of fish that I’m after. While I will not list these few rivers, they are by no means a secret. A quick google search will probably reveal the rivers where I spend my time. Beyond that, spending a few days on these rivers during prime fishing time: April-June and then again in mid to late September and watching the other anglers will generally give you an idea of the prime holding water. There are plenty of other fly fisherman in Maine and even New England who share my passion for these fish, so even though we like to think we know secrets about these waters and fish that most others do not, these fish receive a fair amount of pressure daily from anglers stripping feathers and drowning nymphs in their faces. Inevitably, these fish become educated to the game and can become picky with what they will eat and when they will eat. Here are a few tips or tactics that I use that might help others have increased success on their favorite waters.
1. Tie Your Own Flies
Even though places like LL Beans and Cabelas or any one of the hundreds of on-line places to order flies have increased their catalogs which can offer more diversity, I think tying my own allows me to customize my patterns to what works. Many see tying as an art, and it can be if you want it to be. Otherwise it, can just be a hobby that helps you connect a little deeper to your passion of fly fishing. You don’t need to invest in a $500 vise and spend thousands on rare feathers. There are good, fairly cheap vises and thousands of great synthetic materials. Make it what you want it to be. Who knows, maybe it will become something you enjoy and allows you to catch more fish.
2. Change Up The Times You Fish
I like to fish in the dark – sometimes I plan my trips to start when the sun goes down and end when the sun comes up. This might be tough for some as it tends to deprive us of sleep, but the results are fantastic. If sleep deprivation is not your thing, maybe just plan to stay for the first hour or two after sunset or arrive an hour earlier than you normally do. The fish are programmed also, and I think they relax when anglers typically leave the water and feed more carelessly. That said, you will normally have the best spots all to yourself.
3. Pay Attention To Your Surroundings
Flip over rocks to see what bugs are in the water and what size they are. If you see a fellow angler having success, pay attention to how she or he is fishing. Not just the fly they are using, but how they read the water, how fast they are stripping the streamer, or the length of tippet from indicator to fly…any number of details can help. I don’t keep a fishing journal but I try to understand what decisions led to each hook-up. What was it about the cast or presentation of the fly? Sometime there is no rhyme or reason, but often there is a pattern as to what creates success.
Words + Photos By: Tim Ervin