South Branch Smallies

[rbm]

I've been watching small mouths on the south branch coming out of the water and hitting someting on the surface on the way down. No matter dry fly I throw (size 14 adams,hendricks,emergers, and even mudlers), they won't hit.

Does anyone know what they are hitting.

 

[Caddis]

They could be taking terrestrials falling out of trees? Did you notice what the flies they were taking look like? Just for kicks, I'd try a popper! You might even catch a trout with one.

 

[GARYB]

They may be jumping for dragon flies/darning needles, up on the Ramapo they are all over the river skimming around eating midges.

 

[Andy B]

Gary:

Go after them with foam beetle's and Foam Dragon fly's. Also Smallies really hit after a rain storm on sneeky Petes and other types of poppers. Smallies fishing is outstanding in the summer time and provides a great day with a ton of fish.

Andy B

 

[LEEDZ49]

Could be a damselfly. A coule weeks ago the trout were on them on the upper Deleware.

Smallies love helgramite immitations too. Try that when there is no surface activity.

 

[rbm]

Thanks guys. I'll give it a shot!

 

[Dr. Bell]

On the Wissahickon here in PA I've had some smallmouth fun on Chernobyl Ants recently. Just one more thing you might try...

 

[Scott]

Fall webworm, AKA tent caterpillars. LOTS of caterpillers on the water. Try casting a caterpillar copy dry fly under a nest overhanging the water, and HANG ON!!!!

 

[willowhead]

Very interesting and entertaining thoughts/and or ideas based on experience guys. Does anyone think that it just might be the elusive white fly? That Susguehanna magic Mayfly? I wonder. Something to ponder. mark(willow)

 

[Scott]

Good point. One of my most sucessful "search & destroy" patterns is a light gray hackle wound all the way up the shank of a #14 hook & tied off wioth black thread. . Big & bushy, but fish hit it when nothing else works. It fools finnicky trout, too. I guess it looks like those white moths you always see fluttering about streamside...