Fishing Report...

[jah]

I fished the Current today below Montauk but above Tan Vat. Immediately foul hooked two rainbows and snagged a tree. I thought it was going to be one of those days. I made my way down to the sharp bend with the deep hole. I tried egg patterns, copper johns, prince nymphs, san juan worms and got nothing. Then I made my way to the rock garden area and immediately hooked into a huge brown. He took a pink globall and fought like crazy. He made me his little you know what and broke me off. He had to go 20 inches, if not more. I stayed at that hole for another hour without so much as a look. I was wading back to my car defeated when I saw a shallow run with fish rising everywhere. I tied on an elk hair caddis and the action was fast and furious. They couldn't get enough of it. They were small (10-12 inches), but they were fun. This was my first time dry fly fishing in Missouri, even though I am from here, and it was a blast!

1. I tried stripping a wooly bugger today, but to no avail. I have never caught a fish while stripping a bugger. What techniques do you guys use on the Current? Cast upstream and let it drift and then strip? Cast downstream and strip back? Do you use a split shot?

2. I had a tough time casting my caddis today. I had a 9 foot leader and 14 inches of tippet. Is it better to shorten my leader when casting a dry? Or is it probably my technique? My tippet wasn't getting straight.

Jim

[cnr]

Catching trout on a dry sure is a lot of fun, congrats on a good day. For woolly buggers I am sure there are a lot of ways to fish them and each person has their favorite. I like to dead drift them and then give them small strips back on the swing, or cast across and slightly down and just let the fly dead drift and swing back. Seems like I get a lot of hits on the swing this way. Try a few different ways and let the fish tell you what they want.

[flyfishmaster]

jah,

Like you I have not revolutionized the streamer fishing at all. So I have little to no input on how to better that style of fishing.

I do have a questions though, how was the water on the Current this weekend. According to the charts the flow was a bit high. How was the clarity?

later,

FFM

[mhall02]

Catching trout on a dry sure is a lot of fun, congrats on a good day. For woolly buggers I am sure there are a lot of ways to fish them and each person has their favorite. I like to dead drift them and then give them small strips back on the swing, or cast across and slightly down and just let the fly dead drift and swing back. Seems like I get a lot of hits on the swing this way. Try a few different ways and let the fish tell you what they want.

Exactly how I do them, I've had really good luck at Montauk on the olive wolly buggers in the park. Fished skuds under an indicator in the Baptist Camp area, sounds like I need to get back down there.

[Paola Cat]

Jah ... good for you man. You got out and got some action at a beautiful place. Pretty cool. Anyway, I'll try to help you out re: your questions:

1. On the Current I like to use an olive wooly bugger or an olive mohair leech. I prefer to cast quartering upstream with one mend. Dead drift on a tight line until you get the big bow (drag) in your line. Feel and watch for anything "different" during the drift as this is an indication of a take. Then erratically strip or skip a few times ... then let your fly swing in the current below you. Strip a few times ... pause .... strip a few times ... pause .... repeat until you get enough line in to recast. There will be no doubt when you get a taker ... a majority of the takes will happen during the pause. This technique will also work well with cracklebacks, woolies, and SHs. I like to use weighted bugger and leech patterns some with BHs .... some without. I try not to use split shot because I feel it impairs the action of the fly ... but sometimes when the water's up .... you have no choice. If you use a split shot ... position it at least 18" away from the fly.

2. Sounds like your casting. Try bringing your rod only to the 12 o'clock position on your backcast (instead of the 2 o'clock position). This should help straighten out the presentation.

Anyway, this is how I do it. I'm sure others on this board have other techniques. I hope this helps. PC

[Gavin]

Water had a little bit of cloud to it...probably 3-4' of visability...Fishing was kinda slow this weekend..Caught 3 while floating in the snow on Friday afternoon...maybe 7-8 on Saturday and I fished most of the day, 4 on Sunday AM. Rolled a few nice fish, but didnt connect. Mostly fish in the 14-15" Range and a couple of 16-17" fish. Would post some pics, but my camera battery shot craps this weekend.

[jah]

jah,

Like you I have not revolutionized the streamer fishing at all. So I have little to no input on how to better that style of fishing.

I do have a questions though, how was the water on the Current this weekend. According to the charts the flow was a bit high. How was the clarity?

later,

FFM

The clarity was slightly off, and the water was up a little. I fish that stretch a lot, and it was very wadeable. There were some spots where I had to walk on the bak to avoid deep holes, but mostly I was in the water. The people who own that home right there below the cable have always been very good to my wife and I about walking on their property, so I took advantage of that yesterday to bypass one hole. Otherwise, like I said, I was in the water the entire time.

[jah]

Jah ... good for you man. You got out and got some action at a beautiful place. Pretty cool. Anyway, I'll try to help you out re: your questions:

1. On the Current I like to use an olive wooly bugger or an olive mohair leech. I prefer to cast quartering upstream with one mend. Dead drift on a tight line until you get the big bow (drag) in your line. Feel and watch for anything "different" during the drift as this is an indication of a take. Then erratically strip or skip a few times ... then let your fly swing in the current below you. Strip a few times ... pause .... strip a few times ... pause .... repeat until you get enough line in to recast. There will be no doubt when you get a taker ... a majority of the takes will happen during the pause. This technique will also work well with cracklebacks, woolies, and SHs. I like to use weighted bugger and leech patterns some with BHs .... some without. I try not to use split shot because I feel it impairs the action of the fly ... but sometimes when the water's up .... you have no choice. If you use a split shot ... position it at least 18" away from the fly.

2. Sounds like your casting. Try bringing your rod only to the 12 o'clock position on your backcast (instead of the 2 o'clock position). This should help straighten out the presentation.

Anyway, this is how I do it. I'm sure others on this board have other techniques. I hope this helps. PC

Thanks PC. I figured it was my casting technique. I will practice what you told me. I appreciate it!