OPTIONS
Were getting to the time of the year where I have to ask myself… What the hell do I want to fish!?
The last few weeks have been pretty dam good on the fishing spectrum.
2 weeks ago I had a crusher float day with a few of the Ohio dudes. Some really nice fish brought to hand, almost all of them over 20” on some big streamers. Besides the good fishing day, it was just a hell of a day on the boat. Good laughs were had and some trees were caught!
Last week I had my clients Sandy and Shawn Wolfinger. A father and son duo that have fished with me for the last few years.. they cleaned up on some low - clear water conditions… but was a beautiful day in the lake effect snow!
This week I had Shawn Jia, his father and his brother, who’s a relative first time fly fisher. WOW did we have a good day. Shawn and his father have joined be previously on some steelhead streams, then on the Lower Niagara this past fall, and now back onto the lake erie tributaries where they absolutely cleaned up on some nice fish!! Shawn finished the day with an absolute stud, 30-31”, 9-10# chrome hen steelhead. The water conditions were absolutely perfect, coning down from a nice blowout. a little tint to the color, with the mid day water temps hovering around 38 degrees. Fish were relatively cooperative, but catching and landing becomes so much easier when the anglers retain the information you’re relaying to them throughout the day, as this family always does!
This week I was able to get out and do some personal fishing. A temp of mid 40’s had me thinking about early season dry flies. Took a drive with Uncle Mike to a historic spring creek, where we’ve had luck in previous years with surface feeding trout in March.
After a slow start, the sun started to warm the air and we began seeing some life. Black stones and Baetis were making appearances along with a few fish responding to them floating by. Relatively slow overall, I was able to seal the deal on nice 15-16” spring creek brown. These brown trout genetics are classified as “ ground zero “ for americas trout. The oldest fish hatchery in the western hemisphere is located on this stream, so there’s clouds of history surrounding the area and as I sit on the bank and wait for trout to rise, Im always pondering who’s sat exactly where I have, or the life and ecology here, hundreds of years ago.
Im very thankful for the life I get to live, and just like this headline, the options i’m provided in the greater Western New York area and beyond on a fishing aspect and more.
Loopwing emerger - #20 with some grass on it
Based on the current 10 day weather outlook, our regions temperature’s will be on the decline, hovering back around upper 30s and lower 40s. I am guessing based on that, ill be back on the streamer game next week! Some of the largest browns i’ve laid hand too have been caught in March, April and May.
Maybe i’ll pick up the Musky rod..
Maybe start casting for early season smallmouth….
Maybe float for some walleye?
Tis the season…. OF OPTIONS!!
