Week of February 15th: Can We Fish Yet?
The ides of February are upon us and it feels like the weather has turned towards spring. Already, the day’s light feels longer and, yes, some of the ice is melting. I took a closer look at the lower section of the Musky TCA, however, and it is still solid.
Another angler was hoofing it upstream ahead of me, so I didn’t venture all the way towards Penwell to see if things were different. Instead, I decided to check out downstream at Changewater Bridge where some open water is visible. I ran into the shop’s latest local tyer, Sam M., and together we gave it a go. Sam dresses flies for larger salt and freshwater species; check out his work on the carousel next to the register.
It was a beautiful windless morning, but neither of us moved a fish. Mid-morning to afternoon is going to be the best time to fish, but I am always hopeful for the morning bite. We didn’t see anything moving beneath the surface, but the geese were also making the most of the soft water after what may continue to be a brutal winter.
Next week looks warmer still and with the rain in the forecast we should shed most of the ice on the river. The river levels will rise and let’s hope it does so quite a bit! I was out this morning at Ken Lockwood on the South Branch and found promising looking, open water. After carefully navigating the shelves that remain on the bank, I think I had one solid take as I carefully nymphed around rocks and through the deepest parts of the river available. There is still plenty of ice, so please be careful. I did notice that the flow looks low. Let’s hope for a wet end of the winter so we can replenish the rivers after last year’s drought.
While poking around the rocks and runs, I was also looking for early black stone flies on the ice. I did not see any, but that doesn’t mean they’re not here or will be seen in numbers soon. Early black stone flies will begin to outperform midges, like the zebra and WD40 once the water temps reach 40 degrees, but really become active around 45 - 55 degrees, so we are not quite there yet.
What to do in the meantime? Tie flies! The Quill Gordon and Blue Quill are the first mayflies out and it is good to be prepared! We can also become active by rallying for our beloved Musconetcong River. There is a proposal to build a giant industrial complex along the Musky in Bloomsbury. If plans go through, we could see a massive structure with the accompanying truck traffic and pollution where old farmland used to be. The runoff and waste water would run right into the Musky, not far where recent conservation efforts have had a real impact on the quality of life for flora, fauna, and anglers alike. Read more here.
Finally, planning for fishing trips and events can be fun. We are booking for spring guided trips and casting lessons and 101 Tying classes continue for a few more weeks. There is a tying event in memory of Jim Holland on March 7th at the firehouse here in Califon and Trout Fest is coming in May.
See you out there,
Roy B.