Week of November 24th, 2024: Giving Thanks
Week of November 24th
To begin the week of Thanksgiving, thank you, dear reader of this humble report, for taking the time. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity and audience.
We can all be grateful for the rain and the forecast of more to come. The rivers reflect the return and the Musky, for a moment, was at the average flow. The fishing reports are varied with some difficulty in finding the pattern that works with the change to flows and temperatures. It looks fairly mild in the coming week and that can get the nymph action going.
PT, HE, and blowtorch patterns and midges (WD40, Rainbow warriors, and zebras) alone or tandem look promising. Streamers may be a good idea after trying indicator or tight line fishing. Since the temperature isn’t expected to drop much below forty degrees, look for potential rising fish and bump down tippet size. BWO and even a few dot wing sedge can be found.
Should you encounter a working fish, sipping near dusk, the ever popular Adams # 16 was Jim’s favorite for a reason. Don’t take my word for it - checkout Matt Grobert’s updated Hatch Chart for the South Branch.
Eggs will work, too, which is a reminder to step carefully and perhaps stay away from streams that produce wild fish. A spot on the river bed, a pretty good circle or oval among gravel , clear of debris is likely a spawning bed for native brook trout and wild browns. Give these redds wide berth! The eggs need oxygen so redds are made in moving, riffly water and you’ll see gravel patch that has been swept clean - literally clear of tiny pebbles and vegetation compared to neighboring gravel. You may not see the fish as readily as the redd. In low water, like now, they’ll wait for low light or dark to be safe from predators. An empty redd may also be holding eggs after the fish have moved on. Either way, with less realestate to spawn the fish are packed in tight. Tread lightly!
I am grateful for my family; through thick and thin, I am lucky for the people in my life. For my dear wife, especially this year, my eternal thanks - she doesn’t read this report, but puts up with me and supports my fishing.
SouthB ranch Outfitters is grateful for our customers and is launching the Black Friday Sale on Monday, the 25th. See details elsewhere on our website or stop in to see our deals on Korkers Buckskin and Reading boots, Umpqua products, and Readington rod kits.
Think about treating yourself to, or drop some heavy hints that you’d like, a new rod this year. We are proud to offer the finest Douglas, Guideline, and R.L. Winston have to offer.
Keep this wet, nasty weather coming!
See you out there! Roy B.