Last Day!

[jdmidwest]

Anyone going out for the last day?

For years, I opened and closed Montauk. Then I tired of the crowds on opening day, but I still finished out the season. Then my daughter came along and there was Trick or Treat. Then the divorce and she outgrew the Trick or Treat and now I have been back on cycle.

The last day is usually a good one. Crowds are light. Weather is nice and pleasant. Fish are in full fall color. Flyfishing should be prime.

Heading out in the morning. Fishing the Trophy area first, then the park for a while. Middle of the week and nothing going on, should be a great time.

[Idylwilde]

Same Here!!

[Ill Trout Bum]

I'm envious of you guys. I too, used to start and finish the season at Montauk. Time constraints prevent me from a closing day trip this year. However, I can hardly wait for the C & R season to begin.

[jdmidwest]

Well, it turned out to be a pretty good day.

Daylight broke about the Belleview Mountains as I passed thru them on HWY 32. Arrived at the park around 8 and it was really empty. I did notice alot of traffic heading down the gravel road to the lower accesses, so I bought a tag and headed to the lower end of the park. Only one soul from the parking lot to the end of the park. Picked up a few fish in the riffles by the parking lot and then walked down to the cabins.

The park guys were dragging a motorized something out at the turd ponds and they fired it up. I walked thru the cabin holes and started fishing by the first bluff. Picked up a few fish on a bead head nymph. Fish starting working the top sipping mayflies so I tied a size 18 CDC Cahill and was into a fish in a few casts. This went on for about an hour and I ended up landing 10 fish on the cdc flies. Then the smell starting getting to me, the rank off the turd ponds was pretty bad this morning. I was getting hot so I bailed and walked back. The motor was a sump pump draining one of the ponds into the river. I then realized I had been marinating in the stuff all morning. YUCK

Back to the lower end and I picked up a few there at the put in spot. Drove to the upper end of the campground and fished down to the handicap access and picked up several more. Still only seeing one or two other fishermen the whole time.

Had lunch and headed up to the fly area. Fished the catch and release area and landed 5 in that spot, one going about 2 lbs. Fished the bluff area in the fly zone but the fish were not really doing anything there. It was getting about time to drive back, so I cut across the island to the back side of the hatchery office. I noticed several hanging out in that hole, so I tossed a bead head in there. Ended up with 5 more till I broke off and decided to call it quits.

Water was clear and low. Sun was bright and fish were skittish because of that. But was still a 50+ fish day. Nothing large, but fun. If only the park was like this all season.... No crowds, no stupidity.

[Njardar]

JD, great report, wish Ihad been there.