Last Sunday and Monday

[3wt]

Fished 7/15-16...Man do I love fishing during the slow part of the week. It gives you the opportunity to really fish the stream without avoiding people or skipping busy sections all together.

My brother and I pulled in at about 4:30 and were fishing by ~5:30 on Sunday. It looked like the sky was gonna erupt on us, but it held out just long enough to drive all but the crazies off the stream.

Tried out some pine squirell sculpins and black matukas. Both worked better than anticipated, and I'll be adding them both to my normal arsenal.

Several fish caught from under weed beds and out of little pools in the riffles...spots where most people don't bother casting.

Biggest fish was a 16" rainbowy that came Monday morning on a Mohair leech.

Soft hackles worked in the early morning when the fish were interested in the top, but wouldn't take dries very well. I think the most productive soft hackle was a hare's ear, followed by olives. Tricos were hatching, but not like I'm used to in July, like I said, not great luck with dries.

Red San Juan worms worked well as normal, and of course Mohairs. Pretty sure one of us caught some on Cracklebacks.

We both caught more large fish than normal and had a blast being nearly alone on the river for a good part of the day.

[hfdhoosier]

Good post, seems like you fish Montauk alot. Its my park of choice, the weeds in the stream prompted me to have to change my fishing style but that is good thing. Always learn something new everytime I go trout fishing. Maybe someday we can fish together. I am still learning alot about flyfishing and enjoy learning new things. Keep up the good posts, its the good reports that make me want to go fishing.

HFDHOOSIER

[drew03cmc]

I am dying to fish Montauk, but it is the farthest from home with Bennett and Roaring each under 3.5 hrs from home.

[3wt]

I try to get out there at least a few times a year. Any time the planets align and we end up there at the same time I'd be happy to fish with you. Don't let me fool you-I'm no expert, but I almost exclusively fish at Montauk when I get a chance to fish, so I can usually fool a few fish (although I pretty much got skunked earlier this year...)

My favorite thing about Montauk is that it's a little different from year to year. I have to applaud the naturalists or whoever manages the stream. The weed beds pose a challenge, but I was getting a little bored with that stretch, the past few years. Now there are probably more fish hiding, and fewer people constantly attacking them. Good for fly fishing if you ask me.

The next best thing is that it has a great blue ribbon area just outside of the park. It's a different game and challenge, but if you get bored with "easy" park fish, you can try your hand at the big leagues, or if you get sick of having those snobby picky guys skunk you, you can be in the park in 5 minutes to have some fun.

[Kayser]

Exactly right. I was down there end of June/early July for a week, and spent most of my time outside of the park, with Below Baptist being my favorite. The fish seem to hide and fight a little better, and every now and then you catch one with spectacular colors, or be frustrated by one blending with the gravel.

Do rainbow trout reproduce in the Current? I caught a bow below Baptist that was 4" long with parr-marks and undamaged nose and fins. The fins were bright pink with snow white tips and small brown spots on them. Hatchery fish usually are scarred up and have dull colors, even at that size, and I was just curious about that lil' fella.

Rob

[hfdhoosier]

I always wondered if they reproduced also. Some where I heard they do reproduce but not very effeciently, ie conditions have to be just right. I never have fished the current by Baptist but have fished alot just below Tan Vat. Am starting to do pretty well there. At first I did not. Caught rainbows and browns, no big size but the biggest bow at 16in and brown at 15in. Mainly on olive hackle wet flies and orange egg flies. I am starting to learn more ways to fish different styles of water and I think that has helped me outside the park. Would love to fish with others from this forum because it seems I always pick up new techniques or "tricks" when fishing with someone new. I hope I can be helpful in some way to them too .

I might be heading to montauk this Mon,Tues if anyone would like to join me.

HFDHOOSIER