"A wild trout in its native habitat is a compact example of the earth doing well, of the deep ecology of things taking its course, of sustainability in action. Fishing is not an escape; its a way of engaging everything that matters."
Christopher Comuto, Trout Magazine
What's on this page:
Attractor Patterns - Unmatching the Hatch Running Reds
Reference Items: The May Fly Life Cycle An Animated Guide to Some Essential Knots Basic Fly Casting Technique Mid-Hudson TU Guide ordering instructions PFR MAPs (Public Fishing Access) Reporting problems to the DEC
Attractor Patterns - Unmatching the Hatch
Not matching the hatch and using attractor flies is a technique most fly fishers when dry fly fishing will use, whether its because the fish seem be ignoring what's flying around, or maybe because there doesn't seem to be anything flying around. Here's a very good article by Mike Lawson on the subject:
Ever since my grandparents left Denver for the muddy bayous of Mississippi, I have had the ability to fish some of the best waters this country has to offer for speckled trout, flounder, and redfish.Since we lived in Dallas, it was an easy 8 hour drive down to Ocean Springs, the last 3 miles driving straight out to the end of a point where their backyard is Davis Bayou and in front Biloxi Bay.
Being a kid, I used to sleep on my grandparent’s floor and had my grandfather wake me up at the ripe hour of 4am.I used to get up this early to try and catch the illusive speckled trout.Being just a kid, I chucked lead and shrimp out into the chocolate colored water waiting for something to bite. All too often it was a sea catfish or croaker.Only once in a while would I catch a glamorous species such as a redfish or trout, but I didn’t know the difference, it was a numbers game at that time.When you’re a kid, the tug is the drug and it didn’t matter how big the fish was or what species and I still feel there is something to the simple mind of being a kid.
My grandmother and my mom had more luck with the table fare fish.They would drop pogies (bunker/menhaden for you guys north of the Mason/Dixon) into the water and walk slowly up the dock dredging the bottom and waiting for the signature “stuck” feel that a flounder gives.You feel a tick and then you feel like you are stuck.Walk on top of your hook, reel tight and then set the hook.It’s as easy as that.My mom and grandmother would catch a cooler full of the flatfish and we had some good eating.
As I got older and started to figure the game out, I experimented with Cocahoe minnows, spoons, and spinner baits.I started to have great success catching trout, flounder, and the occasional redfish.As I got bigger, the fish got bigger and I was able to target certain species quite effectively.If I wanted redfish, I’d walk the shore where there were oyster beds and fish a spoon.If I wanted trout, I’d throw a spinner bait with a kick bait on the end (pink is a great color by the way, they can see it in the murky water).If I wanted flounder, just drag the bait up and down the dock.Anyway, I started to figure the game out.
So as the years have past and several hundred redfish later on spinning gear in murky water, I went down this summer in July in hopes to really do some damage.Having the best wife a guy could ask for, I left to go south 5 days before she set out to.I made the 21 hour drive from NY down to Mississippi and had 4 days to fish before I had to pick up my wife and son at the New Orleans airport.So off to the bay I went with a spinning rod in hand once again.It didn’t take long before I found several schools of feeding fish coming through in wave after wave.They were all healthy specimens around 25-30 inches, weighing 5-9lbs.The action was non stop and the weather was beautiful.This was just the start of the madness.
I struck gold, my friend and professional guide, Rob Lewis, is friends with some captains in Florida who are friends with some captains from Louisiana.To make a long story short, the day after my wife arrived, I set off back to Louisiana.This time, my destination was about 45 minutes south of the big easy to Chalmette.I took off with my guide for the day, Rocky; as we set off for the salt ponds of Louisiana, at the bottom end of Lake Pontchatrain. We made the run through the canals, it was an incredible sight to see.We were cruising at close to 40 mph, whipping through the needle grass and mud shoreline.I saw more nutria than we see muskrats and the shorebirds were also out working the shallow, fertile waters for bull minnows and fiddler crabs.About 15 minutes later, Rocky stopped the engine, climbed onto the poling platform and started moving us around.Since the sun was low, we tried to keep it at our backs so we could cut the glare as much as possible.The only problem was that the wind was whipping straight into our faces at 15-25mph, making it in some cases nearly impossible to cast effectively.We started off throwing a big crease fly to try and get top water eat, but it didn’t happen. We switched over to a Merkin crab and immediately hooked up on a puppy drum.It didn’t matter to me because this was my first red taken on a fly.It was a beautiful copper color with a single dot on the tail.Even with an 8wt, it put up a valiant fight before coming to hand.After a quick picture, it was back to sighting these guys on the flats.
As the day progressed, I saw fish busting mullet in the shallow water all morning into midday, but the fish weren’t cooperating.Even with some very good casts right on the money in front of these fish, they were just not in the mood for feathers and synthetics.We had plenty of targets and with their aggressive nature, they should have eaten better.Rocky was telling me that the wind coming out of the north wasn’t helping things (which rarely happens at that time of year) and the low tide accounted for a lack of water usually where there was plenty.I did however high stick another red right off the bow to get my second of the day shortly after lunch.And for the rest of the day as the reds disappeared, I was able to sight cast to some monster sheepshead with no avail.All in all, it was a wonderful experience that I will never forget.The scenery was beautiful, the fish plentiful, and even though the catching wasn’t great, it was a wonderful day on the water.
If you haven’t fished for reds yet, I strongly recommend getting out there and doing it.I know that Florida gets all of the publicity, but from everyone I talk to down south, the fish are smaller and wearier than they are the farther west you move on the coast.Fly into New Orleans, drive down to the sleepy towns in the bayou, and do some fishing in Louisiana.You’ll be glad you did.
Good Fishing….. Charlie Fiske 0101
Charlie with a nice Redfish!
The Redfish, an awesome adversary!
Redfish + Flyrod = Excitment
Sighting and targeting Redfish with a flyrod is a Great experience!
REFERENCE SECTION
Mayfly Life Cycle Video
Link to the video below. An excellent piece on the mayfly and its life cycle.
Fly casting is an acquired skill as well as it is an art when it is done correctly. It takes practice and attention to detail. There is more than one way to do it, but the majority of good casters will employ most of the elements that are listed below. This list is from a summary of the techniques that we teach our students at the adult education Fly Fishing course that our chapter runs at Arlington High School every winter. You may find it helpful to review them.
When holding the rod keep your thumb on top of the grip, not down on the side. If you are a right handed caster your left foot should be forward, or your right foot if you are left handed. As you cast always keep the reel under your wrist; do not swing it out to the side.
Before you begin the back cast, with the line in the water and in front of you, strip in any slack line; there should be line tension against the tip and the tip should be low. Normally your rod tip and the line beyond your tip should be in a straight line, and the end of your line should start to move towards you as you begin the back cast. If the end of the line doesn’t start moving, you still have slack which first needs to be removed. Not removing it will decrease the efficiency of the back cast.
When casting, whether forward or back, start slowly and move the casting hand smoothly with increasing speed throughout the stroke beginning from the first movement, and then end with a decisive snap of the wrist to an abrupt stop. The length of the stroke will depend upon the distance you you want to cast. It is important to begin the stroke slowly. The rod will continue to load as long as you continue to accelerate throughout the length of the stroke. The more quickly you stop at the end of the stroke, the tighter and more efficient the casting loop will be. Tight, efficient loops enable you to cast farther and with less effort because there is less air resistance against the fly line.
As you complete the forward cast do not drop the rod tip and pull the line down. Instead, follow the line down with your rod tip thereby allowing it to gently land on the water.
It is primarily the application of the forearm that moves the rod through the casting stroke. In most situations there should be relatively little movement of the upper arm. Other than performing the wrist snap there should also be little movement of the wrist. The more you pivot your wrist during the casting stroke the greater the width of your casting loop and the greater the inefficiency of your cast.
Keep your back cast up! Don’t drop the tip low as you reach back. And don’t start the forward stroke until the line has just about straightened out behind you. Executing your back cast properly is an essential step in setting up a good forward cast.
During the forward cast you can avoid the problem of opening up a well formed loop by waiting until the loop is at least a rod’s length in front of you before you begin to drop the rod tip.
Move your rod in a straight plane when casting. Imagine that you are casting between two walls eight inches apart. The rod may be held at any angle but the stroke must move along a straight path.
Keep in mind that the line will always go in the direction that the rod tip was moving before the rod straightened out at the end of the forward stroke.
When casting to a fish aim at a point that is at eye level above the water. Then, as the line drops at the completion of the cast, follow it down with the rod tip allowing it to land gently on the water.
Hitting your rod with your line or hooking your fly on your leader when casting results from a problem called a tailing loop. These result from several casting problems. Most common are: Do not accelerate too quickly at the beginning of your casting stroke. Do not push your hand and forearm forward at the completion of the forward stroke. Don’t allow your hand to creep forward as you wait for the back cast to complete. Holding your rod tip too high at the end of a forward cast will also cause this problem; this can be corrected by pushing your thumb down slightly and pulling your little finger up as you complete the cast.
When executing a roll cast cant your rod out to the side, bring your rod tip up and well behind you, come to a full stop allowing the line to drape behind the rod. When the line has stopped moving hold your hand somewhat higher than normal and execute the forward stroke, but don't drop the rod tip below a forty-five degree angle. The more quickly you stop the rod tip at the end of the stroke, the more quickly the line will shoot forward.
TU Fishing Guide
Mid-Hudson TU Volume 2 Fishing Guide 20 new pages and new places to find fishing access.
Pick one up at the monthly membership meeting or send a check for $15 to Mid-Hudson TU TU Guide/JW 47 Church Lane Stanfordville, N.Y. 12581
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Mid-Hudson TU Shirts and Hats
There is a limited number of Mid-Hudson TU logo shirts and hats still available. If you are interested in purchasing one send an email to info@midhudsontu.com and we can arrange a delivery. The shirts are $35 and hats are $15 USD. Click on the shirt images to enlarge and see colors. The logo on the shirts (not shown) is the same as the hats and is above the left pocket.
Inventory as of 3/3/2010
Shirts XL 2-Light Olive 1-Light Tan XXL 1-Light Olive 1-Light Tan 1-Dark Olive 1-Dark Khaki
One size fits most hats still available in Orange, Navy and Olive.
Hats in Orange, Navy and Olive
Public Fishing Access Maps (PFR's)
For the most comprehensive information about pfr's (public fishing easements) consult our Fishing Guide which is discussed towards the top of this page.
Forest Protection & Fire Management (845) 256-3025
Law Enforcement (845) 256-3013 Fax (845) 255-9249
Hudson River Estuary (845) 256-3016 Fax (845) 255-3549
Freedom of Information Legislation (FOIL) (845) 256-3052 Fax (845) 255-3414
1-800-TIPP DEC or 1-800-847-7332
TIPP DEC is available 24 hours a day to report Environmental Conservation Law violations. It's toll free and confidential. You can also report a violation by email to our regional dispatch office and someone will get back to you promptly. The identity of all TIPP informants is kept confidential.
