Memorial Day Weekend

Brewster River - 5/26/12

It looks like a beautiful holiday weekend is in store for our region this Memorial Day.  We're in summer fishing mode for the most part with low to moderate flows and water temps on the bigger rivers approaching that lethal 70 degree mark.  When water temps exceed 69, do the trout a favor and find cooler water to fish in a smaller tributary or go poppin' for bass.  For those of you familiar with the Ten Bends stretch on the Lamoille River in Hyde Park, please take note:  If you access the Lamoille via the "Fisherman's Parking" access in the Ten Bends development, you are required to fill out a creel survey found in the green mailbox before leaving.  Also please be aware that fishing via this access is not permitted when water temperatures exceed 69 degrees.  This thermal refuge was instated by the Ten Bends HOA and only applies when accessing the river within Ten Bends property lines.

The best bet for trout this weekend is going to be early am fishing on the bigger rivers and morning/evening fishing on the tribs.  Most of the tribs will remain at comfortable temps throughout the day, but with all this bright sun will come some shy mid-day trout.  The bass fishing on the lakes has been on fire, but please be mindful of fish on their spawning beds and leave them alone to do their thing.  We got word of an absolute beauty of a rainbow that left one of our local tribs on a stringer the other day, likely to sit in the freezer for a couple years.  It's a damn shame that some people just don't care or have any clue of the impacts of taking that breeding fish out of the gene pool.  
Make sure to get your teams registered for the 2012 Ditch Pickle Classic on Lake Champlain!  All you gotta do is send us an email to ditchpickleclassic@gmail.com including your team name and contact info.  Registration is $25/person and all proceeds benefit Friends of Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge.  The DPC is July 14/15 this year.  Don't miss it! <"((((><

Back in Action

Mercury 115 in need of TLC looking for a good home

I've been on the search some time now for a new powerplant for the Sea Nymph, and it looks like she'll be back in the water in no time!  She's gonna be fitted with a very quiet and clean running Honda 50hp four stroke.  This boat has been great to me and I'm glad I was able to find a new outboard at the right price to get me out on the lake again!  I'm selling the merc in the photo above and some great parts for it.  It needs a new #1 piston and proly some other stuff as well.  Make me an offer!
It looks like we have a great weekend in store!  The only downside to all this nice weather is that the bigger rivers will be getting warm in the afternoon hours, so carry a stream thermometer and avoid fishing those oxygen depleted water temps.  
I fished with Chris from Waterbury last night whose been struggling with his catching lately.  He broke his streak last night catching a handful of rainbows on both nymph and dry/dropper rigs.  Just before dark, we moved to an area predominantly occupied by wild trout.  On the first drift, Chris hooked into a solid fish that decided to spit the pheasant tail.  Needless to say, I think Chris has re-discovered his passion for fly fishing which means far more than catching any fish.
We've still got openings for the weekend.  Drop us a line and let's get out and fish! <"(((((>< 

Isolated rain

We have been on the water guiding and fishing around the Lamoille this week and we saw quite a varity of bugs.  Sometimes fish were eating them, sometimes not.  Sulpher spinners have been over the water just after 7:15 or so, and I've seen duns popping off in the late afternoon/early eve.  March browns and stoneflies have also been around.   2 nights ago there was a very large hatch of caddis and fish were all over them for about an hour.  Lots of stockies caught on an x-caddis pattern.  The other night saw bugs hatching and few fish rising.  So, we have seen a bit of everything this week.  Yesterday, I had a 70 year old client who was a blast.  He did good and caught 4 or 5 stocked rainbows and missed as many. All those fish came on flashback pt nymphs #14 on the swing. Then we switched spots and he got 1 nice wild bow on a #10 olive crystal bugger.  We fished late morn into early afternoon and the bug activity was slow but there were random risers here and there.  The best action I have seen has been from 7:30 pm to dark.  With that said,  we might see some water temps possibly topping 70 on the big rivers in the pm this week.  
Last nights rain was interesting around here cause the storms were very heavy in isolated spots.  Here in Jeff, rivers look messy but, east of here looks downright low.  At first, I figured they were holding water back in Lake Lamoille but, upstream of there, is clear as day.  
So, the rest of this week will have decent weather, just a little warm with a chance of rain on Friday.   Have fun out there. 

High Pressure

The story this week is sunshine.  We have had bright sun and it looks like the weather will stay that way at least through the weekend.  I fished a Winooski trib midday yesterday and between the clear water and the sun, things just did not feel right.  We caught some small wild bows on nymphs but no big fish were seen or hooked.  Not surprising in that kind of weather but,  ya can't always get out when it's perfect.  There were some bugs around and the fish were not responding to them on the surface.  We saw mostly yellow sallies, and a couple of  large mayflies that I did not identify.  Most large rivers should have sulphers coming off right now although I have not seen any myself.  So, between the weather, the good water flows and the recent local stockings, this weekend should be some very good fishing, just be sure to have some spinner patterns with you cause the next couple o weeks usually marks some of the better spinnerfalls of the season. Have fun out there.

Our Newest Lodging Partners

Our display board in the lobby of the all new Hotel Jay

We're very excited to be working closely with2 new lodging partners this season; Jay Peak Resort and Sterling Ridge Resort & Log Cabins!  If you plan on visiting our area anytime, both of these 4-season resorts offer outstanding accommodations and ameneties!

The Field & Stream Dream Cabin at Sterling Ridge Resort

Pickin' Away at the Pike

Sometimes the fishing is so good that they just fall out of the sky

We got a little pike fishing in up North yesterday and, as most other days we have set aside for fishing recently, it was pretty raw, rainy and windy out!  Luckily the rain let up and we found some spots to fish out of the wind.  We caught plenty of smaller pike and had some real bruisers turn away at the boat.  There were also a couple smallmouth in the mix with one that was a real beast of a fish.  Water temps matched air temps and never rose above 54 degrees on the surface.  We found fish pretty concentrated and found ourselves doing the same drift over and over.  Looks like a nice weekend is in store for us here in the North, so get out and fish!
Some things to consider...

• Registration is now open for the Ditch Pickle Classic.  Get your team together and contact us at ditchpickleclassic@gmail.com
• We are having our first Fishin' Buddies meeting on Saturday, May 19 from 10am-12pm at our shop.  We'll be teaching 9-15 year old kids fly tying basics for FREE!  Call 802.644.2214 to reserve a spot for your child.
• The next Feathers n' Friends fly tying night will be on Tuesday, May 22nd from 6-9pm at our shop.  This class on Lamoille River Essential Trout Patterns is FREE TO ATTEND, but space is limited so contact us soon to sign up!

Fishin' Buddies Fly Tying Class - May 19

We'll be having our first "Fishin' Buddies" get together on Saturday, May 19th from 10-12pm at our store in Jeffersonville.  We will be teaching 10-15 year old kids the basics of fly tying.  If you have a child that would like to attend, please contact us at 802-644-2214 or chris@gmtrout.com
The goal of our Fishin' Buddies program is to get kids interested in fishing.  This class is completely free to attend and all tools and materials will be provided! 
Kids must pre-register and space is limited, so don't delay in getting your child signed up!