And So It Begins ...

Hendricksons are here. They haven't appeared in all their glory, but there are enough on the water to hold the interest of a few of the river's better fish.

These were the little guys. Some much better fish were showing themselves, but so intermittently that stinging any of them was unrealistic at best. Still though ... I'm thankful for a good day. Hello spring.

Bamboo For Sale

ROD HAS BEEN SOLD

Selling a rod on the internet auction house. Anyone interested can check out Ebay auction #150434778784. It is an impregnated Orvis Battenkill 8', 4 3/8th ounce, 2/2 bamboo fly rod. The rod is in excellent condition, and is all original. The cork is soiled but otherwise fine, the ferrules retain 95% of their bluing, and the tube's label is in good shape. All sections are straight as an arrow, and nothing is short. The rod is labeled for an 8#, but performs best with a WF6 or DT6. I think it is one of Orvis' most versatile tapers

Lesser Loved Fish

It's spring in New York, and my heart has turned to thoughts of trout. Trout that are lean from weeks under winter ice, and that haven't seen a fly for months. Sadly, my favorite trout streams are at least forty-five minutes away, and distance, time, and the demands of fatherhood often conspire to keep me away from my favorite haunts. At these times I turn to the lesser loved fish, which are so much closer to home.

The local smallmouth fishing is outstanding. They're plentiful, average two or three pounds, and in the words of Chuck Palahniuk's character Tyler Durden, "they fight 'till they're burger." So today - if I'm lucky - I'll find myself casting a six inch streamer on a 200 grain sinking-line, in the hopes of hooking up with a few bronzebacks. Lesser loved, but loved nonetheless. 

Elk Hair Caddis (not what you're expecting)

Elk Hair Caddis from peter smith on Vimeo.