55 on the fly

Well we tried to "beat the heat", 91 today, by fishing early in the day.  It's been in the 90's for the last week or more and I think it's starting to get to us. We hooked up with a few fish today nymphing rather than fishing the dry-dropper rig.  Michelle caught her first Rainbow of the trip a real jumper. Oh and I --- lost a "good fish" when he got the line tangled around a rock cutting the line --- bummer. We quit about 10:30 and headed to breakfast and "beat the heat". Tomorrow it's going to be about 85 so we are looking for a little relief.  The guys in the shop are reporting the fishing is slow in the afternoon due to the high temp's and low water. Chelle and her rainbow trout... it sure is fun to watch them dance across the water.

I didn't get out and about until 11:30 today.  Michelle was off to do some shopping in town so I went fishing... just a quick couple of hours.  The weather has been very warm with temp's in the 90's. When the water is warm and low it makes for difficult fishing and you just have to work harder.   I got a chance to use my 1949 Orvis Battenkill bamboo fly rod and reel catching 5 rainbows and 2 brown trout.  All in the 7-10 inch range. A "double" to boot,  catching two nice rainbows at once...

My friend John Scott over on FAOL forum has a great Rubber Legs Stonefly Nymph* pattern that is a killer out west... I have great luck with it as does John...  I have scaled it down for here in NY to a size #14.  Just another stone to throw at them, simple to tie and different enough from what most folks are using around here. Hook: 1xl nymph #14  Thread: 6/0 Uni Black Weight: lead wrapped foil or black bead Tail & Legs: orange plastic fruit bag material or small rubber legs  Body: MFC Micro Lucent Chenille 035-black *see John's step-by-step here: RUBBER LEGS STONEFLY NYMPH by  John Scott, Lolo MT http://www.flyanglersonline.com/fotw...tw20100524.php

Our son Scott and his fiancee Erin were visiting us this weekend.  He lives and fishes in and around the Endicott, NY area.  We were tying up some turkey tail nymphs for him to use because he's been seeing some small winter stones while fishing... The last time I was out fishing on 2/9/12, I saw a few of our small stone flies on the creek too.  It won't be long before they are out in earnest.  So, tie some up and be ready for them. Here are two nymphs that I like. Korn's Oatka Stone Nymph (soft-hackle) Hook: #14 - 1xl nymph Thread: 8/0 Uni Black Tail & Body: turkey tail Rib: small copper wire Thorax: black dubbing Soft-hackle: iridescent turkey neck feather Rene Harrop's Turkey Tail Nymph Hook: #14 - 1xl nymph Thread: 8/0 Uni Black Tail, Body, wingcase, thorax and legs: turkey tail Rib: small copper wire

Craig Mathews at Blue Ribbon Flies has come up with a nice winter time midge emerger.   See him tie it here:   http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/how-to/soft_hackle_midge_emerger/ Inspired  by Craig, I got some "combo thread" from BRF and tied the #18's shown here... Simple to tie and just as effective I'm sure.  I hope to put this new fly to the test next week here in NY...   My materials list: Hook: 18-20 std. wet fly Thread: BRF - Combo thread 6/0 black/red for body  Tail: zelon amber or grey Thorax: black zelon or rabbit dubbing Wing: Ruff Grouse “V” tied soft-hackle style with wraps walking the fibers around the shaft.  I like my soft-hackle a little longer than Craig... tie 'em as you like 'em.

A short while ago I was encouraged by fellow FAOL forum members to submit a step-by-step of my Korn's CDC Spent-wing Caddis and the Parachute variation that I tie.  So I gathered up my meager photographic equipment and took some photo's of the tying process and sent it in.  Today they have posted it as the Fly Of The Week... see it here:  http://www.flyanglersonline.com/fotw/2012/fotw20120130.php

Here's my version of an old fly that I still tie for Parks Fly Shop in Gardiner, MT located just outside the North entrance to the park.  It's a simple wet fly to tie.  Use it as a dropper or swing a pair of them through a nice run.  The brook trout in the park really like this fly, fished behind a Coachman Trude makes for a deadly combination. Hook: MFC 7076, size 14-16 Thread: red danville Tail: red yarn, needloft  Body: peacock Rib: gold wire Hackle: grizzly hen soft hackle Photographed and tied by Doug Korn

Take a look at this short video clip from our hike into Gardner's Hole.  At the end of the clip you will see a dark green stand of pines.  That was where we were hiking for our fishing trip that day.  This is as close as I can get you without a plane ticket!  Enjoy!

Gardner's Hole is a favorite fishing spot of Doug's.  We hiked in about 2 miles past the stand of pine trees that you see in the picture.  There is a small canyon just beyond that spot that Doug wanted to explore and fish.  This area is so awesome - as in big and beautiful!  When you stand up on the trail and look out it is just amazing.  And you don't hear any noise but the wind!  It was a great day and hard to say good-bye to this amazing place on earth.  But we will be back! This is where we started fishing.  We worked our way up into the canyon area along the winding river. Doug found these elk sheds right around the river. Can you even ask for a more wonderful place to spend the day? We fished for several hours and caught a ton of fish!  Many of them were small brook trout but they are still fun to catch.  The male brook trout are so colorful.  Here are some pictures of Doug and I catching one of the many...

Words cannot describe the place that we were today.  We hiked into a place that has not been seen by many people.  I am so fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and brave guide that has investigated all of these places and is happy to share them with me.  It will be a place and a feeling that I will never forget!  God has provided wondrous things in nature!  Yes, we did some fishing (see Part 1)  but the hiking and views won out today.  Take a look at these photos - they say it all. ~Michelle This is called Sheepeater Cliff. A waterfall along the way.  I thought this was awesome - little did I know what was ahead! I wish you could hear the power in this water. We are way above this waterfall even though it doesn't look like it in this photo.  We had to watch our footing as we were very close to the edge at some places. This is the first meadow along our route.  Our hike in was high above this area. ...

We found the best place in Gardiner to watch for the full moon.  A couple of PBRs, a guy on an electric piano singing Moon River, and good company up on the roof of one of the restaurants.  We sat and talked and just watch dusk settle over the entrance to YNP. We could sit here all day! Here she comes! What a treat to see the "Green Corn Moon" in such a beautiful place!