Fished Montauk 1/5/08

[flyfshn]

A couple of buddies of mine and I headed to Montauk on Saturday. We arrived and were on the water by 9:30am. Two fishermen were just leaving and two arrvied with us....so we had the water to ourselve. This was our first time fishing there, so we were a little unsure where to go, but Patfish sent me a map on Thursday (Thanks!). We started at the two bridges (new and low water) and fished upstream. I started with a weighted olive mohair size, Steve started with a 10red bh midge size 18 and Butch started with a black bh midge size 18. Butch caught the first fish just past the dam, approx 16" bow. Steve caught one about 20 yds upstream, was a 17" bow and the next cast he caught a huge fish, which looked to be a brown. Since this was his only his 2nd time fly fishing, we were stuck together and when I saw that huge brown, I told him I was coming over to net it for him......this fish was probably 21 or 22" and the fish darted over towards him, so he tried to net it and "dink", his line snapped when the fish was 6" from his leg! I felt horrible for telling him to hold on and that I would come over and net it....I should have let him take it himself! I switched to a size 18 red bh midge and begain catching fish....first one was 18" bow and then brought 6 more to hand, lost 2 more and missed 5 others. Steve brought 6 to hand, lost 3 more and missed 4 others, Butch brought 5 to hand. We used size 18 red and black bh midges, olvie and black weighted bh mohair leaches, size 14 crackelbacks silver and yellow and several others that did not produce any hits. It was very windy and overcast all day, but it was fun! Later in the afternoon the fish were rising (for about an hour), but the smallest dries we had were a sz18 and they definitely wanted something smaller. I caught 1 small bow on a sz 18 dream colored dry (tied like a crackelback). About 3:30 we decided to drive up to the spring and when arrived at the water, two guys were heading out and told us the horn was going to blow at 4?? I thought the hours were 8-5, but sure enough, 4pm the horn went off.....we still had an hour of daylight! Was a great to get back on the water!

[jjtroutbum]

Good report Mike! Sounds like it was even better fishing.

[patfish]

Right on Mike! Sounds like a y'all had good trip.

[King Fish]

Great report.. heading that way Saturday.. but will stop and pick up some more midges for sure..

PK

[flyfshn]

The key was small, smaller and smallest....I also heard that from others on the water. I wish I would have tied some 20-24 before we went.

[Gene K]

The key was small, smaller and smallest...

I have been down the last two weekends, and everything I have caught has been on 20 and smaller. Half dry and half wet. Largest was a 4# on a 22. However, I watched one guy tromp into a riffle I was fishing (I had stepped back to the shore to tie on a new leader) and he hammered at least 8 in a row, literally, on some sort of streamer. I was a bit too PO'd to go make conversation with the guy and find out what it was.

Oh, and my son caught his very first trout on a fly rod (Xmas gift), and it was on a dry fly!

[zander]

That sounds like a blast. I can't wait for my son to be old enough to flyfish with me but even then unless I can find a Thomas the Tank Engine flyrod I may not have much luck in that dept.

[King Fish]

I'm going saturday.. Plan on picking up some midges sizes 20-24..

Streamers ? Now that sounds interesting.. never used them in the winter.. any more suggestions out there... ?? Got a new reel.. new waders and new boots I haven't tried yet.. and maybe.. just maybe.. I'll get lucky and catch one or 2.. but if not.. as long as I don't get wet.. it will be a Good day...

PK