All Points Fly Shop + Outfitter - News

Written By: Joe Webster // Photo By: Josh Thelin

April is the month where things come alive in Maine. Our open water season begins on the 1st and creates endless freshwater options for trout, salmon, pike and more. Plus, the Striped Bass get closer to showing up to our coast towards the end of the month. Most of the action will still be revolved around freshwater fishing, however the amount of places to go with quality fishing opportunities greatly increases compared to the difficulties that deep winter fishing involves.

The southern portion of the state will be your best bet at finding ice free water. Ice out is when a body of water is declared ice free, and this usually does not happen until May for many of our northern fisheries. As far as southern Maine, this usually happens sometime in April, and fishing can phenomenal when ice begins to recede. The big phenomenon that occurs in April is our smelt runs are in full swing, thus providing our trout and salmon with a plentiful source of food to bulk up on after a long winter. If targeting trout and salmon, smelt patterns will generally be your best bet at getting a bite where smelt are present. Although limited, bug life is present, so nymphs, and in even certain instances dry flies, will also produce, especially as smelt runs wind down. Great fishing can be had in the southern part of the state for trout and salmon this time of year.

As smelt runs wind down in the southern part of the state, usually things are just starting to begin up north. Everything varies year to year, but towards the end of the month, you can start to consider more northern opportunities. Always check conditions as it is very possible to venture north to find your desired destination to be too iced over to fish. Early season up north is always quite a gamble and rarely results in hot and heavy fishing. Most fish will be taken on streamer patterns imitating smelt if you are lucky enough to find one. That being said when fish are found, they are usually pretty willing to take a fly. You will still need to be prepared with cold weather gear if venturing up north in April.

Check out our how to stay warm article for tips and tricks on how to stay warm on those cold days that are still so common during April in Maine -- HERE

Another option that fly anglers have in April is to target Pike. Every year this becomes more and more popular for good reason. Pike are ferocious predators that will explosively take a fly. For those who may not be outfitted for pike specifically, the rod, reel, and line set up you use for Striped Bass can often be successfully applied to Pike. Pike can be targeted with rods as light as a seven weight, however the bigger the rod, the bigger the fly you can throw, and Pike love big meals. Articulated bait fish patterns, poppers, and sliders can all produce fish. Pike flies are not all too different than striper flies. Floating, intermediate and sinking lines can all work under different circumstances and with different fly patterns, switching things up and staying versatile is key. 

We hope this helps you get an understanding of our Maine fisheries during the month of April. Please feel free to reach out to us at the shop for any questions you may have about early season fly fishing during the month of April in Maine.

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February and March are notoriously the hardest two months in Maine to catch a fish on a fly rod. Cold weather produces iced over stillwaters and rivers and streams that are often much too dangerous to fish due to unpredictable and dangerous shelf ice that forms on the banks. This is especially true recently with the very cold temps and then shortly afterwards a swing of 20 degrees warmer. Opportunities at fish will be totally dictated by weather and it is not uncommon to go long periods of time during these months where absolutely nothing is fishable. Always keep an eye on the weather patterns, and river flows to find those few opportunities that may pop up.Use great caution when fly fishing out on waters where unstable ice may be present.

Trout and salmon will be the name of the game, as they will actively take flies throughout the winter months and are often found in moving water that is less likely to freeze. For fly selection, streamers fished slow and low will produce bites, as well as nymph rigs that can get the flies down in front of the fish's face. Streamer selections should consist of Woolly Buggers in various sizes and colors, as well as smelt and other small baitfish imitations. For nymphs, small Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ear, and of course midges are reliable bets.

Check out our Winter Fly Fishing: How to Stay Warm Article for tips and tricks to stay warm on even the coldest of days.

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Words + Photos: Joe Webster

January in Maine for most fly anglers is spent at the tying desk preparing for the next season's adventures. However for those that are brave enough to bundle up and find what little open water may be available, there are some opportunities to be had. Most of these will be stocked trout and landlocked salmon fishing in moving water. To find water that is open year round consult the IF&W law book. The next step is going out and finding ice free water. The combination of those two steps can often be limiting and has a lot to do with weather. The southern part of the state is often more reliable at producing fishable water that is open year round. Northern Maine has very limited year round trout and salmon. Do not expect the January bite to be red hot, but getting out in the solitude of winter can be rewarding in and of itself. If you are lucky to catch a fish in the dead of winter in Maine, it can be incredibly rewarding. Never stand on shelf ice on the banks of a river as it is dangerous and unpredictable. Always be aware of ice chunks floating down river, they sneak up on you more often and faster than you think. This happens when shelf ice breaks off on warm days, which are usually the days anglers would be out. For fly selection, streamers fished slow and low will produce bites, as well as nymph rigs that can get the flies down in front of the fishes face. Streamer selections should consist of Woolly Buggers in various sizes and colors, as well as smelt streamers and other small baitfish imitations. For nymphs, small Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ear, and of course midges are reliable bets.

Check out our Winter Fly Fishing: How to Stay Warm article for tips on making winter fishing comfortable.

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Here in Maine, when targeting trout and landlocked salmon, a fly rod that can manage various type of techniques from dry flies to heavier, multiple nymph rigs is what most anglers are looking for, especially if they are going to only bring one rod fishing. A fly rod that can throw streamers in the early spring or fall, light dry flies in summer, and heavy nymphs in the warmer months can be hard to come by. It's tricky, as there are seemingly endless rod options even within the 5wt category. Even further, price options with fly rods is all over the map. $100-$1000 rods are advertised alongside each other, saying they can "do it all," so it can be difficult to understand the differences and what exactly you might be getting. Here at All Points, we have many different fly rod options, but we generally tend to steer a majority of our customers towards a few specific options when ideally looking to get that one "do it all" rod and to also not break the bank. Below are our three most popular choices which cover the general "budget friendly" category. These rods range from about $170-$425 and even include a fully American made option. 

ECHO Carbon XL

The Echo Carbon XL is one of the first rods we suggest for an introductory set up for fly fishing. It is usually between this and the Redington Classic Trout that are our best options for a price-friendly/entry level and capable fly rod. The Carbon XL is classified in the medium/moderate action category and very much has the feel of a traditional trout rod. It does well with beginner and intermediate angers as the medium action helps with a wide range of casting abilities. This rod can also handle a wide variety of light weight fishing applications but does best with dry fly fishing and lightweight nymphs. Similar to other medium action fly rods, it starts to suffer when managing heavier multi-nymph rigs and heavy-weighted streamers or sinking lines. We have found the ECHO Carbon XL to be popular with guides as a good "all around client rod" because they are affordable and fit well with most anglers abilities. It is available in 7'3" 2wt - 9' 6wt.

Check out the ECHO Carbon XL HERE

Sage Foundation

The Sage Foundation, as it implies is a great introductory fly rod that you probably won't want to put down even after years of experience. This is Sage's most budget friendly rod and is made right here in the USA. The Foundation will be able to accommodate a broad range of fishing techniques and casting styles making it a great versatile rod. As is with all Sage rods, the fit, finish, and attention to small details is impeccable. Compared to the other rods on this list, this rod will have a faster feel giving it a little more capability with various fly and line setups such as heavier weighted streamers and sinking tip lines. In turn, this makes the Foundation a little better suited for either intermediate-advanced casters or entry level anglers looking to buy a rod they might never need to upgrade. The overall build quality will be noticeable compared to the others on this list as well. If you are looking for an American made fly rod but don't want to break the bank, the Foundation is a great option. A good looking Stealth black finish on a blank which utilizes Sage's high quality Graphite IIIe technology certainly set this rod apart from others in a similar price range. Available in 9' 4wt - 9' 9wt options.

Check out the Sage Foundation HERE 

TFO LK Legacy

This rod is, according to TFO, the direct replacement for the very popular BVK in both price range and also performance. The BVK, in its time, was one of the most popular fly rods in the industry. It was a fast action rod that had a softer tip. This allowed for a wide range of techniques. Now with the LK Legacy, Temple Fork Outfitters has continued with a rod that is also fast action but welcoming to beginner/intermediate angers. Though coming in at $289.95-$319.95 (depending on specific model), we see it as a high performance rod that keeps up with many of the American made or higher end brands. In addition to the standard 9' models, this rod also comes in shorter 3wt and 4wt models that are fantastic for precision dry fly fishing as well as navigating small streams, and 9'6" lengths in 6wt and 7wt models that are great for their mending and distance casting capabilities. If you want a rod at a very reasonable price that you can certainly "grow with," the LK Legacy is a great choice.

Check out the TFO LK Legacy HERE

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It is a very rare occasion that the term “line holder” doesn’t come up in conversation when outfitting customers with reels for trout and landlocked salmon. But, when does a reel become more than just a line holder? Here are a few reasons why you may want to consider investing a little more in your trout reel and why it can be much more than just a line holder. 

Trophy Trout:

Whether you’re targeting them or you just happen to come across one in your adventures, losing big trout sucks. Most trout reels these days have drag systems that are more than powerful enough (provide enough drag pressure) to handle any trout or salmon situation. The advent of more modern/sophisticated drag systems such as disc drags are an improvement on click and pawl systems. However, there are a couple of other major factors that play into what makes a good reel for big trout. A smooth, consistent, high quality drag system plays a crucial role in dealing with light tippets. A reel with a drag that is, for lack of better words "jerky" and erratic, have tendencies to break lighter tippets or pop out hooks, especially when dealing with with large and/or sporadic fish. You would be surprised how much of a difference a quality drag system can make when protecting lighter tippets. Most quality fly reel manufacturers spend a lot of time engineering and constructing their drags, especially higher end models. You can have all the "stopping power" in the world with your reel/drag, but if it cannot provide smooth pressure with a good start-up inertia, it really doesn't matter much. In addition to being smooth, a drag that can be easily adjusted can also be important. This has a lot to do with personal preference, however one thing that should be considered is that it is advantageous to have a drag that doesn’t increase too much with tiny incremental adjustments. This way you can tweak the pressure you are putting on a fish by micro amounts without risking making too much of an adjustment and breaking off that fish when they make a run.

"When I am guiding and one of my clients hooks into a large trout, I will immediately tell them to "get that fish on the reel!"" This is one of the best ways of increasing the chances of landing that fish especially in faster or pocket water." (Josh Thelin)

Saltwater:

In many places, including here in Maine, sea run trout are becoming more and more popular to target. In a very similar way for our local striped bass fishery, we suggest using a fully anodized reel for sea run trout. Corrosion protection, as well as a sealed drag system can greatly increase the life of the reel. It is really the only way to prevent a reel from breaking down in saltwater. Saltwater is notorious for being rough on gear and can destroy lesser quality reels in a single season. So, even if the reel does not have a sealed system, a better manufactured reel/drag with higher quality components goes a long way!

Another fun opportunity with a saltwater worthy reel is targeting schoolie striped bass in the spring before the big ones show up. A 20” striper on a 6 or 7 weight rod will give you a run for your money and since they are usually first keyed in on small bait, a 6 or 7 weight rod can be a great way to target stripers in the spring.

Remember: No matter what reel you have, please remember to rinse your gear off after use in saltwater! Bringing a water bottle with you to quickly rinse your gear afterwards can be helpful if you are not in a situation where you can use a hose, sink, etc. 

Cold Weather:

Cold weather fishing isn’t for everyone, but for those who are brave enough to fish in sub 32 degree weather, gear is everything. From warm clothes, to putting de-icing paste on the guides of your rod, to a durable reel, everything needs to be considered. A sealed drag system on your fly reel comes into play big time when fishing in freezing temperatures. If water is allowed to make its way into a drag system, freeze, and expand, it can cause problems. In the least it will cause short term performance issues with the drag that day. Another thing to consider is durability. Some of the super light weight reels made these days are so fragile that an ice jam in your reel can cause the metal to crack. It is not always wise to go with the lightest gear possible if it compromises durability. A lot of the very weight forward fly lines these days cast and balance better on reels with a little more mass. 

Longevity:

This should be the most obvious reason. As the saying goes you get what you pay for. This is very true with trout reels. It's likely that a lesser reel might get you by for a season or so, but it will need replacing/repair sooner than later. If you want a reel that will last a lifetime that you can also hand down to your grandchildren, consider making that slight just up to a better quality reel.

Our Favorite Trout Reels:

Hatch Iconic

Galvan Rush LT

Waterworks-Lamson Guru S-Series

Sage Spectrum

By: Joe Webster + Josh Thelin 

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