Two Wonderful Days with Clients and a Day of Days with Smallmouth

Last Thursday and Friday couldn't have been nicer days on the water. I had a father and son the first day who were nothing less that a joy to fish with, the Tully was a happy creek that day too. Friday I had two brothers meet in the middle from Philly and DC. We fished the spring creeks in the morning, and the breeches in the afternoon. Fishing was tough on the spring creeks but we had some amazing fish grace us with a smile. Caddis, Caddis, Caddis thats pretty much all we saw both days and the fish were ok with that. We got fish on top both places, however nymphing was still the main producer.

The third day found Andy and I floating a tributary to the Juniata, one of our favorite little creeks to float. Spring is a great time to target smallmouth as they migrate to their spawning grounds. We floated and fished only 2 flies, Roamers and Cohen's Man Bear Pig. We casted at the bank, waited for an olive flash, and set the hook. There was some time between action, but it was a day on the creek we will never forget. This is a trip we just started to offer this year, and it is nothing but amazing.

The Roamer - Cohen Edition 

Moving on / Fishing

Hello All,

Some of you may have already heard the news, however for the rest of you, here it is.

As of April 1st, I have stepped away from my management role at TCO Fly Shop. After over 8 years in the shop, I am leaving to peruse my true passion as a full time guide. I have started Relentless Fly Fishing, which will continue to work directly with TCO. I will be managing all guide trips out of our Boiling Springs and Reading locations. Thank you Tony Gehman and TCO Fly Shop for all that you have done to get me to this point in my career!

I have also started a website to go along with my new business. You will be able to stay connected to the blog, watch tying videos, see photos throughout the season, and even purchase some of my custom tied flies.

Click on the link to check it out today!

WWW.RELENTLESSFLYFISHING.COM 

Now to some photos from the past few trips out. We have done a couple recon missions for early season smallmouth in between guide trips. The early season smallmouth fishing has been great, and is only getting better. We will be floating some small tributaries to the bigger rivers this spring in search for some serious trophies. Come join me, and support your local starving artist :)

Spring is know for as trout season, and that it has been. We have been splitting time between Reading, Boiling Springs, and State College, everything seems to be fishing well right now. 

Early Season Go-Tos

The weather is warming up and the fish are starting to get hungry. The number one question that we get in the shop right now is, "what are the hitting on today?". So Im going to answer that question for you all, so you don't have to come into the shop and ask. With the Tully and the Breeches both being stocked streams, its not surprise that then Sexy Walts Worm is a must have. They are both caddis filled systems, so the RT Tube Steak Caddis Larva is another must have, the last one is Kevin Compton's Hot Butt Caddis Jig.

Sexy Walt's Worm 
Hook: Partridge Jig
Bead: Tungsten Bead
Rib: Pearl Tinsel - Sm.
Body: Hares Ear Plus #1
Collar: UNI 6/0 Fl. Fire Orangee

RT Tube Steak 
Hook: Partridge Straight Eye Grub
Bead: Tungsten Bead
Rib: Stretch Tubbing - Micro
Body: SLF Bug Dub
Collar: SLF Bug Dub

Compton's Peaking Caddis
Hook: Partridge Jig
Bead: Tungsten Bomb Bead
Rib: Ultra Wire - Copper
Hotspot: Chart. Floss
Body: Jack's English Hares Ear 

These all mimic some sort of natural food, but I want to be honest with you all... They also look like food pellets :).

This is why I have lots of each of these in my boxes to start the season off.