Rise and Shine: A S.Branch Report w/pics

[jcstikfish]

I was stuck home at home all weekend playing nurse to my tonsillitis ridden wife. With the forecast of snow and colder temps later on this week I felt it was imperative that I play hooky today and see where the South Branch is on it's road to spring. I hadn't fished the SB since it de-iced and opened back up last week.

I was really pleased with what I found. Rise and shine, the fish are really waking up.

Fished for about 4-5 hours and found the stream and trout to be in fantastic shape!
Fish made out fine despite the most ice we have had on the river in quite some time.

Despite stream temps still being low, I found the fish activity to be in much more of a early spring pattern as opposed to a winter one. Some years the extended daylight can kick the fish into gear despite cold water. This weekends flush out helped as well.

These SB trout were feeding voraciously today (moving to the fly, etc.). Still in wintertime lies, but eagerly making up for the feeding time lost during the extended anchor ice invasion. Nothing coming off. I saw one adult EBS on a rock,....one. No doubt the EBS nymphs are active, but I forgot my snorkel, so I can't confirm for sure.

I connected with a ton of fish. As many as a decent day in mid-May (no bs ) Also a few bigger boys, and one beautiful wild male brown. (pics below)

Patterns used:

With the EBS hatch getting ready to really blow open any day, I figured my egg thorax (Double Barrel Stone we had a thread going)) would be productive, and it was!

Here's that thread: http://www.njflyfishing.com/vBulleti...Winter+Pattern (Double-Barrel Winter Pattern)

I took some fly in mouth shots. Brook, Browns and Rainbows all liked the stone.





I fished a tandem rig (in-line) all day with a midge larva below the stone. After their recent misfortune the Little Lehigh Fly Shop was on my mind and I decided to fish an Al's Rat in their honor. Fish were likin' the Rat as well.





A few bigger fish.





What it's all about (took the stone)



The South Branch looks to be in great shape for spring 07'

~James