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AdirmanMarch 29th, 2018, 12:46 pm
Monticello, NY

Posts: 504		So what is the strategy for opening day/ early season fishing to hook into some nice trout? They’re usually sitting on the bottom and hardly moving thisntime of year. I guess nymphs would be the best approach, certainly not dries correct?
Jmd123March 29th, 2018, 6:20 pm
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2611		Depends on the season and your waters. I have hit the Rifle as early as April 13th and have both seen a few flies (early brown stones) and had hits on imitations (no hook-ups though). That was 2012 however, which was a freaky dry short winter and early spring...by the opener there were lots of hatches in progress and the next two mons were incredible. Some years, though, early season is dead, insect- and fish-wise. Nymphs would probably be the ticket, though I also like to swing streamers early in the season. That same crazy early April day that I saw a few dries ended up with me popping a beautiful 14-inch brown on a POG Bugger on the way back down. (I like to dry up and then streamer down.)

Depends on what the next few weeks bring. Our waters are not warm, but they're not high right now either...and lower waters warm faster! Just need the warmth to do so...

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
WbranchMarch 29th, 2018, 6:49 pm
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2733		Adirman,

I guess nymphs would be the best approach


Hi there, I know you live reasonably close to the Beaverkill and back when I was a younger guy full of excitement about Opening Day I would go to Cairns Pool and fish a Montana nymph with as many BB's as it took to keep the fly bouncing along the bottom. I liked brown with an orange thorax or black with a yellow thorax.

The Montana nymph used to be a very popular fly but I rarely see I offered in fly catalogs anymore. It is very easy to tie. I used to use a Mustad 9672 wet fly hook. The tail can either be black or brown hackle fibers dependent on what the body color is. Tie in the tail, tie in a piece of black or brown chenille about 4" long. Wind the chenille about 2/3 of the shank and tie it off (don't cut off the excess) Tie in a brown or black wet fly hackle, tie in a piece of orange or yellow chenille and wind to eye and cut off the excess. Palmer the hackle to eye and cut off excess. Take the remainder of the body color chenille and pull over the thorax and hackle like a wing case and tie down and cut off excess. Lacquer the head. Once you get the hang of it they take only about five minutes to tie.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Jmd123March 29th, 2018, 7:00 pm
Oscoda, MI

Posts: 2611		"The Montana nymph used to be a very popular fly but I rarely see I offered in fly catalogs anymore. It is very easy to tie."

Found that one in John Merwin's Fly-Tying guide, a book I bought back in 1990 I think. And Matt is correct, very easy to tie! One variant I have made is to use peacock herl for the body in place of the black or brown chenille (try this one a Woolly Bugger!), and if you really want some flash, use chartreuse chenille in place of the orange or yellow. And use peacock sword for the tails, like on a Zug Bug...make the body with 4-6 strands of herl wrapped together, which will build a nice fat body much easier than with one or two strands. Hackle color of your choice but I like to use olive on this one.

Give it a try!

Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
AdirmanMarch 29th, 2018, 7:47 pm
Monticello, NY

Posts: 504		Sounds good guys, gonna look this fly up to see what it looks like, thanks 😊
PartsmanMarch 30th, 2018, 2:16 pm
bancroft michigan

Posts: 420		What method of nymph fishing do you guys prefer? upstream with or without indicators? Wet fly type swinging, euro, or all the above. I'm going Tuesday probably the s.b. ausable river, I don't care what the weather is going to do I have to get out, its been way to long of a winter.

Mike.
AdirmanMarch 30th, 2018, 2:33 pm
Monticello, NY

Posts: 504		I do a lot of euro style lately but find that the older methods are more enjoyable, whatever is effective at the time works for me!
Summer_dougMarch 30th, 2018, 3:07 pm
Detroit, MI

Posts: 56
What method of nymph fishing do you guys prefer? upstream with or without indicators? Wet fly type swinging, euro, or all the above. I'm going Tuesday probably the s.b. ausable river, I don't care what the weather is going to do I have to get out, its been way to long of a winter.

Mike.


Way too long! I feel the same way.

Enjoy the beautiful south branch!
From Michigan
WbranchMarch 30th, 2018, 5:01 pm
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2733		Partsman,

When I do nymph it is usually casting slightly up stream, old school, and let it drift below me on a tight line. No bobbers.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
MartinlfMarch 30th, 2018, 5:28 pm
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3233		Picked up a nice brown a week or so ago on a chilly day using a rubber leg stone tied a lot like a Montana nymph. They certainly do work.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell
AdirmanMarch 31st, 2018, 5:16 am
Monticello, NY

Posts: 504		If I can get a chance to go out tomorrow, I’ll definitely be hugging the bottom and trying to sight fish as much as possible. Fish are so sluggish this time of year and hardly move
MartinlfMarch 31st, 2018, 1:58 pm
Moderator
Palmyra PA

Posts: 3233		Best of luck.
"He spread them a yard and a half. 'And every one that got away is this big.'"

--Fred Chappell

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