The Beginning of June

Until the rain came, fishing was fantastic. Caddis and Sulphur hatches every day and every evening that had fish up and feeding like crazy. The spring creeks are fishing very well and fish are eating sow bugs, caddis, and sulphurs. Even the smallmouth are starting to eat again, now that they are done spawning.

Dead Ringer Caddis Pupa

This fly got its name from being a very close mimic of a real caddis pupa. I have spent hours on the water trying to find live(or dead) caddis pupa to study. Some would say Im a little obsessed, but thats ok I need something to do in my free time. Anyway back to the fly, it has barred rubber legs to imitate wing pads, long wood duck to add the effect of horns, and a tungsten bead hidden under the shellback for weight. I use a bead one size smaller than usual to keep down on the bulk. This bug floats down the river looking as close to the real thing as it gets. Check out the video and tie some up.

This is a Caddis Pupa fly pattern - Dead Ringer Caddis Pupa 

What a Week!

I was on the water 5 out of the last 7 days from the Little J to the Tully, we even spent a day fishing out of the boat. The fishing has continued to be fantastic. Sulphurs are around but all the fish still seem to be keying in on caddis. They are taking the pupas all day long, and when the opportunity to eat an adult floats by they take that as well. The water is at a perfect level just about everywhere but with all the rain look for the Tully to go up soon. If you are in the state college area, the Sulphurs are still coming off strong and there have been sightings of Drakes on many different creeks. The stoneflies are starting to crawl towards the banks, sot they won't be long either.

Hot Flies: CDC Sulphur Dun, Bird of Prey Caddis, Primetime Caddis Pupa, CDC Bubble Back Caddis, CDC Caddis.

Jam Packed into One

It has been very hard to keep up with the blog this year. With the new shop, an hour and twenty minute commute, and being newly married, it is hard to find time to sit and type to give everyone some updates on the fishing around the area. I have however, managed to find time to do some tying and fishing over the past few weeks. It seems as if we are under way with all fishing on the east, the bass are starting to migrate to spawn, the muskies are adding a few pounds after the winter, the mayflies are coming off, and the stripers are moving up to the flats. I will be doing a write up of a very skilled guide down on the Susquehanna flats, He's one of my good friends and a fellow Maryland native that has spent countless days searching the Chesapeake Bay for stripers of all sizes.

On the trout side, Hendricksons are still coming off in the south east, grannoms are done but just firing up in central pa. We have plenty of tan caddis on just about every stream, so get out your pupa and cdc caddis. Its go time! Over the past week or so, any caddis pupa pattern has been working as well as some larger caddis larva. Of course when the fish start rising, we put all that stuff away and pull out the High Fly and dust up those dry flies.

Client fish from a spring creek

Client fish from the Yellow Breeches 

Rob with a nice fish, me with a bad picture.

On the bass and musky front, well they don't like me this year it seems. Every time I head out for them it is blowing, raining, and freezing cold. Some of my friends however are doing very well and have been finding some nice fish in the big rivers along with some of the tribs. Here are all the flies I have been tying for this coming smallmouth season.

Smallmouth Bass Fly Patterns

The Roamer in many different colors 

Feathered Game Changer flies 

Flies I tied at the PA Fly Fishing Museum Open House. 

Stripers, well I will get into that on the next post.

Thank you all for your continued support.