Memorial Day At Maramec Spring Park

[Bman]

Got to the park mid morning Monday. The spring is up a bit and milky cloudy, with about 2 ft of visibility max. Depending on sunlight. Overall fishing with the fly rod was tough, with just enough people to make it difficult to find a spot with the long rod. I covered the whole park making at least one lap around the place , and a trip down into the river. I would find a spot to fit in, catch one or two and move on.

Made a deal with two fish that would barely make 3 pounds. Poor things had at least three hooks and line broken off on them. This one male had a 1/32 oz jig in his upper lip, a plastic worm in the corner of his jaw, and a bait hook inside his mouth. Well I stuck him in his free upper lip with my size #20 scud. Brought him to the big net, and freed him of all those hooks. After a period of time recovering in the submerged net,(and a scolding) I let him go in a deep place of hiding. He was wore out.

I did find a few unmolested lunker sized fish. One of them would go about 6 pounds, the other about 4. I will be back later this week to see if I can put my name on them. (catch & release) with a pic.

Trizkid, You wanted to see the water condition. The stones along the farside are still visible. You can see the clarity.

Good luck Tuesday.

[puffydisc]

i fished there too with none on the fly rod while catching only five on the spinning rod with a white jig. I can never find any big ones during the catch and keep season for some reason... Any tips on how to spot them Bman?

[Bman]

i fished there too with none on the fly rod while catching only five on the spinning rod with a white jig. I can never find any big ones during the catch and keep season for some reason... Any tips on how to spot them Bman?

Walk and look. Don't just walk out into the water. Approach slowly and look carefully before you step. Try to keep the sun behind you. Find a perch to stand on. Sometimes they are right under your nose , and folks just don't know it. Being able to see big fish where they hide, and see your flies that you are drifting to them takes years of practice, and a lot of time on the water.

[ohmz138]

Walk and look. Don't just walk out into the water. Approach slowly and look carefully before you step. Try to keep the sun behind you. Find a perch to stand on. Sometimes they are right under your nose , and folks just don't know it. Being able to see big fish where they hide, and see your flies that you are drifting to them takes years of practice, and a lot of time on the water.

A good teacher doesnt hurt either.. pop;)

[flyfishmaster]

BMan,

Years of practice??? I thought you were only 29.

Later,

FFM

[Bman]

BMan,

Years of practice??? I thought you were only 29.

Later,

FFM

Well, I didn't say how many years.

[tippett7]

If you practice correctly it should not take years right? Ok maybe at least one, depending on how much you fish.

[Bman]

I hope my above statement about years of practice, and a lot of time on the water didn’t come off as egotistical. It wasn’t meant that way. I’m still just learning. I do know of some individuals who amaze me. Sure, a great set of eyeballs help. But they have an instinct, and never cease to amaze me. They can approach the water and say, look. There’s a 25 incher! I look, and look, and say duh, where? Right there under that leaf drifting by, see? And then maybe, just maybe I will see him.

In addition to what I have already mentioned in my previous post, try staying out of the water as much as possible. Waders are for chasing. Try going to the water without your rod, this is a tough one I know. Take a walk and observe.

[DoctaJ]

thanks for the report bman, I was down in cuba and almost went but I figured there would be people everywhere. An amateur fly caster like myself + lots of people = very dangerous.