Hello all and once again, thanks for checking in at
The O’Grady Flyfishing Adventures. I wanted to start this blog by aging myself
a little with a quote from Steve Perry. Yes, only us elder folk will even have
a clue as to who he was. So despite the best (or worst) efforts of evil
corporations, big oil, SUV’s, and white males between the ages of 23 and 56,
“Winter is here again oh lord”. I know many anglers keep personal logs on
fishing conditions but I am lucky enough to have both an incredible memory and
also my personal blogs to look back on. For many years I felt like and have
blog evidence that Christmas day is in addition to the birth of my Lord and
Savior, is almost always Gods last BWO hatch gift of the year. Looking back it
seems that the 26th rolls in and the water temps dip into the midge
only range. Cat and I and a few friends made it to the water yesterday and it
appears that we will be in the same regular time frame. Temps yesterday were
coming out of the damn between 42 and 43 degrees. We saw a very quick and very
small BWO hatch at around noon and then a little longer and bigger hatch again
at around 2:00. The temps have the fish mildly interested but if you have ever
taken a guide trip from me then you will understand that the fish seem to be
more in the TV dinner category. At times yesterday fishing was fun and at times
it was getting frustrating. Several takes were super subtle. Cat started off
the day on top with a healthy 18 incher until a few hours later when I weaseled
out an 18 and a half incher. I was feeling pretty good about my superiority
until Cody pulled one out that never got measured but everyone said it was at
least 18 and three quarters.
As Steve
Perry so eloquently said, “Winter is here again oh Lord”. So what does that
mean to us anglers? Should we stop fishing? Absolutely not, however it is
definitely time to rethink your tactics. First of all think about your tippet,
the water is slow and clear, 6x fluoro should be the norm for the next several
months. Secondly, try and think like a fish and figure out where the fish are
at any given time. And lastly, think about what the fish are eating on.
Yesterday my first fish took a size twenty FOD but almost every fish after that
were caught on a size 22 J-bomb and a 22 Bling. The really small sparkle wing
has been producing as well. And Lastly, keep your expectations realistic, if
the only way you can you call a day on the water a success is if you were
“hammering 25inchers all day long” don’t come. Enjoy the moments when they are
feeding and relax and enjoy the ambience when they are not.
Okay for you
young guns out there, Steve Perry was the lead singer for an ancient band
called Journey. If you have never heard them you are missing out. The next 10
days will most likely be the most crowded of the year so please be considerate.
If you happen to see me on the river, please let me take all the best runs.
JKJKJKJK But seriously, this is Christmas be thankful for the incredible gifts
we have been given and enjoy His season. As always Connell, Cat, Winston, Mary
& Joseph, and The Drift Fly Shop humbly thank you for reading…….
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