Rambler23
L-i-v-i-n'
I finally got the chance to get out today for the first time in 2010. I made the trip to what I call my home waters (still over an hour away), The East Branch of the Croton. There were a couple cars there when I pulled up, which didn't really surprise me on a rather mild Friday. I rigged up and hopped in on the river's most eminent pool, which you rarely find open these days, and got started.
I was fishing three nymphs, all different caddis variations, and worked my way down the pool and back up a few times. After a very slow start to the day, I finally got my first take. I set the hook, and I immediatey knew I had a monster. I thought I had hooked the biggest trout of my life, until the fish broke the surface for the first time. I then found myself muttering "there's no f'ing way I just hooked a walleye in the Croton River." I pulled the fish closer to which I could easily see those fangs and ruthless eyes that walleyes possess. Sure enough, a walleye had taken my olive electric caddis. I grabbed my net, where I struggled to get the fish inside and snapped my tippet. I thought I had missed my shot at a pic, but as noted in the title, this was no ordinary day. The fish after breaking me off, simply positioned itself adjacent to me, appearing content with its location. I was able to get some decent shots off after all...
Unfortunately the pictures don't do this fish justice, as I estimate he was easily two feet.
Things settled down for a bit after that. I worked my way down the river a considerable length, hitting a number of spots that I normally stop at with nothing doing. I walked back to where I started for a final run before I decided to call it a day. At this point the sun made its first appearance of the day, and the tide turned completely. I wound up landing 2 browns and 3 more 'bows in about a half hour period. The last of the day already had a fly in his mouth, so I removed both and sent him back on his way.
All trout caught today were strong, thick, healthy looking fish and as you can see from the above shot, their colors were impressive. I found this to be a sign of good things to come for 2010.
A last note, being relatively new to tying, today was particularly satisfying because I only used flies that I tied. The electric caddis landed four of the six on the day and I even took one on my first attempt at tying a LaFontaine sparkle pupa
I was fishing three nymphs, all different caddis variations, and worked my way down the pool and back up a few times. After a very slow start to the day, I finally got my first take. I set the hook, and I immediatey knew I had a monster. I thought I had hooked the biggest trout of my life, until the fish broke the surface for the first time. I then found myself muttering "there's no f'ing way I just hooked a walleye in the Croton River." I pulled the fish closer to which I could easily see those fangs and ruthless eyes that walleyes possess. Sure enough, a walleye had taken my olive electric caddis. I grabbed my net, where I struggled to get the fish inside and snapped my tippet. I thought I had missed my shot at a pic, but as noted in the title, this was no ordinary day. The fish after breaking me off, simply positioned itself adjacent to me, appearing content with its location. I was able to get some decent shots off after all...
Unfortunately the pictures don't do this fish justice, as I estimate he was easily two feet.
Things settled down for a bit after that. I worked my way down the river a considerable length, hitting a number of spots that I normally stop at with nothing doing. I walked back to where I started for a final run before I decided to call it a day. At this point the sun made its first appearance of the day, and the tide turned completely. I wound up landing 2 browns and 3 more 'bows in about a half hour period. The last of the day already had a fly in his mouth, so I removed both and sent him back on his way.
All trout caught today were strong, thick, healthy looking fish and as you can see from the above shot, their colors were impressive. I found this to be a sign of good things to come for 2010.
A last note, being relatively new to tying, today was particularly satisfying because I only used flies that I tied. The electric caddis landed four of the six on the day and I even took one on my first attempt at tying a LaFontaine sparkle pupa
