Week of February 2nd 2025 - Magic Marmots

Bundle up, buttercups, it is six more weeks of Winter Fishing!  January was particularly brutal this year, with large swaths of rivers completely covered in ice.  This last week of the first month saw some relief and folks took advantage of retreating ice in search of Bubba Bow’s prize winning jaw tag.  This monster remains at large with hundreds of brown and rainbow trout from the Musky Trout Hatchery.  

I was able to get out to the Gorge early on Saturday morning. I quickly became envious of those who would come later in the day.  Despite the wind and a crisp chill, it was nice to see conditions improved and the afternoon was gorgeous; hopefully, some folks found fish.  I managed to get one interested in my drift and watched a rainbow follow the fly for a bit before losing interest and turning away. This was from about twenty-five feet away so I had a good view of my own disappointment as the South Branch is gin clear.  Overnight we had another drop below thirty-two degrees, into the mid-teens, making Sunday morning a bit too nippy for me.  I’ll try this afternoon if I can sneak out again.

The coming week’s temperatures look promising and the subaquatic menu will be constant - traditional nymphs, scuds, worms or Euro Perdigon BT and hotspots ahead of a smaller offering, especially an Al’s rat, Disco or Rainbow midge, or RS2 nymph.  Streamers can work if the water temps swing up with the midday sun and approach forty degrees. 

We can look forward to the arrival of the first Little Black Stonefly soon.  My favorite pattern from Tightline Productions can be found here: LBSN. Naturally, or perhaps less so, there is a Euro style equivalent: Euro Early Black Stone.  Both are effective and, with practice, fairly easy to tie. 

There are a few more weeks of Fly Tying 101, too, though these have nothing to do with predictions or magic rodents.   Check the website for availability.

Don’t wait six weeks to book your guide trip for the spring!  Weekends fill up fast. 

Trout Fest 2025 is graciously accepting vendors, sponsors and volunteers for the event on April 12th.

Stay warm and dry. I’ll see you out there. Roy B.