Week of Nov. 10th 2024: A Moment to Honor Veterans
A Moment to Honor Veterans
Thank you to all who served our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force for your service and dedication to defending our nation, the Constitution, and principles that make this country free. From all of us at South Branch Outfitters, thank you for your service. No words can express our gratitude to veterans and their selfless dedication to preserving our way of life.
In terms of fishing, the rivers have seen no relief as the drought continues unabated. The Musconetcong River and Paulinskill are your best chances to find water. Below Clinton on the South Branch is producing, but be careful, an unfortunate individual was attacked by a beaver and sustained some bites to their legs and hand. I encountered a beaver on the Musky this week near Warren Glen. If you see a beaver, or even a dam, leave the water.
The best places to fish in these conditions are going to be the deepest runs and pools, especially well-oxygenated water with good bubble lines. I was happy to speak with a few anglers who had success fishing streamers slow and low past rocks visible in pools. Others I met were swinging wet flies and marveled at the size of the trout that are stocked each fall. There are big fish out there and a few really big fish, too. No kidding - three people mentioned a trout above twenty inches in the Musky. I can not say any more than that.
These last four mornings, Thursday to today, Sunday, I was lucky to get out at dawn for a few hours. I fished from newish spots from the South Parking area on the Musconetcong up to the TCA at Point Mountain. Choosing a different place each day, I found fish three out of four mornings. Dead drifting beadless olive wooly buggers and soft hackle pheasant tails, mopper-droppers with eggs or small nymphs, and gray or white zonkers all produced. In the afternoon of the morning I was skunked, I got out again near dusk and saw a few fish taking flies from or near the surface. Without seeing any identifiable bugs in the air or on the water in great abundance, I went with a #18 Adams and managed to fool one near the end of a pool.
In the evenings, work has begun on winter flies for New Jersey and some steelhead patterns for an upcoming trip. The shop has now, more than anytime in my memory, more tying materials than ever before - so much that Conor and Abraham are adding additional displays to the fly tying material room in the shop. Stop by to see our full bird skins - including a beauty of a pheasant skin for an unbelievable $16.00! There are multi-packs of bucktails in fluorescent colors and full size bucktails in various colors as well. Nature’s Spirit and Hareline have delivered all sorts of hackle, CDC, and dubbing. It’ll be a day or two before we get it all out!
Looking forward to December and January, I am happy to offer some basic fly tying 101 classes on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Seats are limited only because literal space is limited! We will work on beginner techniques and effective patterns.
Stay safe and tight lines!
See you out there, Roy B.