Fishing has again been postponed by daily rollercoaster temperatures that prompted a visit to the regional office of our state’s conservation department. Armed with their pamphlets and maps identifying state-owned stream accesses and conservation areas have led to several Continue reading →

My criterion for mid-winter small pond success has always been two consecutive days of 70-degree temperatures. We just had two days in the mid-60s followed by one day of 58 degrees. Close enough. I went fishing. White/silver Mini Minnies Continue reading →

An overcast 48-degree day with bitter cold in the forecast sent me to a pond with a 5-weight rod and intermediate line. A white/silver Mini Minnie was counted down to 8 feet near the earthen dam and slow stripped. A Continue reading →

Cold, howling winds forced cancellation of my fishing plans and put me in my tying chair with a load of self-pity for a couple of days. After checking the contents of my vest I noticed flies needed to be replaced Continue reading →

Three consecutive days of 65-degree temperatures sent me to a small spring-fed pond where full sun continued to warm the upper layer of the water. This enticed bluegills toward the surface where they traded the discomfort of direct sunlight for Continue reading →

While continuing to fish through the winter season, I’ve spent increased time at the tying bench. Aside from replenishing lost or damaged flies I’ve been refining a new bass fly that we want to put into production later this Continue reading →

Time spent at the tying vise eventually resulted in a trip to the stream to view the action of the new creations. After a few minutes of dangling and stripping the size-10 streamers at my feet casts were launched Continue reading →

A recent blast of arctic air sent me to a spring branch that emits a constant 54-degree flow. Plummeting temperatures in the main river induced warmwater species to enter the spring. Careful stalking and 5X tippets enabled short roll Continue reading →

Brilliantly-colored leaves framed the long, deep, rocky pool I chose this week. My intention was fishing for smallmouth bass. A size-6 bead-head brown woolly bugger was knotted to a 4-foot length of 4X tippet on an intermediate line. A Continue reading →

Nasty day! Cold, 48 degrees, windy (NE at 12 mph) was about perfect for white bass. I waded a windblown flat on a major reservoir with an 8 weight, full-sinking line (3 ips), and an all-white Clouser. Casting into the Continue reading →