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Here in New England that really just means one thing: Preparation. 

Preparation for April 1^st – opening day! Winter has been long up here and it has taken a toll on more than just fly fisherman’s psyche. I spend March getting ready mentally to return to my favorite areas and watersheds and making sure my gear is ready too. Here are a few things I do to get ready for the fast approaching season. These help get me excited to fish and hopefully ensure my 1^st trips out in April are as productive and successful as possible. 

Organization:

For many of us our last days on the water were some time ago. I use March to go through my fly boxes and take inventory on what flies I need to tie more of and to organize my boxes. The second part of the above advice can be applied to fly fisherman individually. Personally, I like my fly boxes to be color coordinated, organized by size and pattern and totally filled to capacity on April 1^st. It’s a silly thing, as I will probably use no more than 4 flies on opening day, but it mentally makes me feel better knowing my green drakes are stocked and ready to deploy even if there is zero chance I will tie one on until late June. Some anglers do not care this much about fly box organization, but March is a good time for everyone to take stock of last season’s lost tackle and make sure we have the flies we need. 

Fly Tying:

If you are into trying your own flies, I find March to be a great time to tie. The act of tying flies only increases my excitement to go fishing. I think about big fish hooked and sometimes lost on flies I have tied. I also take this time to fill my boxes with proven patterns and often make tweaks to patterns that I think could work. This gets me thinking about trying out these new patterns or even just simple small changes to time tested patterns. 

Attention To Detail:

In addition to filling my fly boxes I go through my entire pack/vest. Now is the time to think about replacing older products. How old is that spool of 5x tippet? How much dry fly powder is left in that container? Tippet and leader material, especially monofilament, definitely has a useful life span and can lead to easy break-offs if not replaced over a period of time. I normally will only use a spool for 1 year – 2 at the most. Other things to consider now would be to toss in some fresh glasses wipes or lip balm to my pack. I also take a look at most of my flies. We all get lazy after a long day of fishing and will not dry off our flies.  This can cause rust depending on what kind of irons/hooks are used. I will sharpen my hooks, especially on my streamers or larger hook points.

Gear Check-Up:

Now is the time to address any lingering gear problems. Did you have a small leak in your waders that you decided you could live with in September? Well, you won’t want to live with it in April when the water temp is 34 degrees. Get it patched now or replace with new. When was the last time you stretched out your fly line?  If it has been in your cold garage wrapped tightly around a spool for the past 4-5 months don’t plan on laying out any tight loops on opening day. Stretch that line out and clean and dirt and residue off it now with a line cleaner. It will lead to better casts and more fish when you do make it to the water...   

Lastly, remember how much fun it is to be out on the water. Enjoy the process of getting ready to be fly fishing again. 

Words + Photo By: Tim Ervin

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Fall in New England.  A special time that signifies the end of a season as well as new life. I can sense it when I walk out to my car each morning before dawn.  There is a slight chill to the air and the sun is later to arrive on the horizon. The fish can sense it too.  

Soon the native Brook Trout and wild Landlocked Salmon in Maine will be gathering at the river mouths and waiting for mother-nature’s signal to commence their annual trip up these waterways as they have done for centuries. Male brook trout will develop humps on their backs and kypes on their lower jaw. Their bellies will turn jet black underneath and their sides blaze orange and deep red. The red spots and blue halos seem only add to the dramatic aesthetics of the appearance. The white outline of their fins highlight the amazing array of colors. Salmon, being mostly silver for the season transform as well to darker shades of brown with purple and blue sheen on their cheeks and tails.  It’s an awe inspiring transformation and one that is matched be the surrounding foliage.  

If you wish to tempt these fish with a fly, here are some tactics that have worked well for me through the years and things to consider when planning a trip.  

By early September the fish will likely be staging at river mouths and stream outlets. Fish will also target shallow areas of lakes and ponds with sandy or fine gravel bottoms for spawning areas, so learn the watershed you are planning to fish and focus on these locations. During this time streamers that imitate smelt or bait patterns work well as the fish have been feeding on this food source through the summer and are still triggered by this kind of presentation. It goes without saying that if you see surface activity try to match what is hatching with dry flies. Typically the fall insect hatches are the smallest in terms of bug size so be ready with size 16 and smaller bugs and light tippet.  

Pay close attention to the weather. In Maine, the fish will typically start to enter the rivers and streams from the lake after the first good rain event in early to mid-September which will bring the river flows up from the low water conditions of the summer. The fish will require these higher flows to access their final spawning destination in many cases.  I have found that flows are the most important factor in bringing the fish out of the lakes. If the rains don’t come, as they have not for the past few September’s here in Maine, a good cold snap can also get the fish moving up into the rivers and streams. These fish are amazing in their ability to get to their spawning areas even when it seems the conditions would prevent passage.    

Once the fish are in the river I have found that there is no one preferred fly or even method for getting them to take. The fishing can be wonderful at a certain spot one day and void of life the next. Remember, these fish are on a mission and they will be moving almost constantly. Be ready to move around and try new things and places to fish. I fish everything from large colorful streamers, small nymphs, eggs and dries depending on the conditions and type of water I’m fishing.    

This is a magical time to be in the woods and on the water. The foliage and crisp air alone make the experience a memorable one.  

Most importantly, respect what is about to happen. Be aware of your surroundings. Know how to identify a spawning bed and avoid stepping on this area at all costs. Know how to identify fish that are actively spawning. If you come across spawning fish then it would be best to move on and try to find fish who are still in the process of moving up river. As with any time of the year, but most important during the fall season take steps not to add any unnecessary stress to fish you are fortunate enough to land. Wet your hands before removing the hook, use barbless hooks and do you best the land the fish quickly. I feel so lucky to be able to just witness one of these trout. Let’s all do our best to ensure this privilege can be had for years more to come.

Words + Photos By: Tim Ervin

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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 1^st through March 31^st. 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

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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

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