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Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - Magazine - Index

GROSSENBACHERPHOTO.COM PAUL B. DOWNING PHOTO
PERE MARQUETTE LODGE PHOTO
Proud to be the only Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing
Lodge & Outfitter in the state of Michigan, Pere
Marquette Lodge offers a variety of comfortable MICHIGAN
lodging options, guided fly fishing, and a fullservice
fly shop all within walking distance of the flies-only, no-kill zone on
the famed Pere Marquette River. One of the things I love most about the PM
is the wide variety of fishing available throughout all four seasons. Summer
produces some of the most memorable brown trout fishing one can imagine, as
well as summer (Skamania) steelhead. Fall sees the return of spawning salmon
and a second run of steelhead arriving to feast on salmon eggs and fatten up a
little before the long, hard winter. Winter is when one finds the true meaning
of steelheading. They stay in the river until the following spring to spawn.
You can enjoy the tranquility of the river by yourself while knowing there’s
always a fire burning in the lodge with some kind of hot soup cooking in the
fly shop. Spring provides excellent trout fishing, and yet more steelhead! Trout
can be caught year-round in the river on both insect-imitating flies and big
bunny leeches. The Pere Marquette has resident browns averaging 12 to 22
inches, with some rainbows as well. The Hex hatch brings up some of PM’s
biggest browns, with many over 20 inches. If that excites you, look them up
at www.pmlodge.com, or call (231) 745 3972. by Carl Warmouth
The Rio Grande cutthroat is the only native trout
found in New Mexico, and is now extraordinarily
rare. Fortunately, this unique fish is still available
in the Castilla River in the Valle Vidal, tucked up
in northern New Mexico above Taos.
The Castilla is a tailwater fishery. Flows are dependent on the demand for
irrigation water. The season opens July 1 and fishing is great through the summer.
Standard fare is a dry-and-dropper with a size-18 or -20 nymph on the
bottom. The fish are mostly small, but you could catch a trout of 15 inches
or more. Taylor Streit, owner Taos Fly Shop and resident expert on the Valle
Vidal, says these cutts are hit-and-run experts, taking a fly and spitting it out
really fast. It takes quick reflexes to do well here.
The lower part of the Castilla traverses a canyon that is part of Rio Castilla
Park. While it looks like private water, it is in fact open to the public. Above the
canyon the valley opens. The river is full of riffles, runs and bend pools. It’s all very
fishable, although it is small water. Further up the valley Comanche Creek joins
the Castilla. There are still four fish-filled miles of the Castilla above this junction.
The best way to catch a rare Rio Grande cutt is to hire a guide from the Taos
Fly Shop (www.taosflyshop.com; 505-751-1312). Rates are $345 per day for
two anglers, and well worth it. by Paul B. Downing
NEW MEXICO
Though it’s certainly not a secret, when eastern
anglers think of trophy fisheries, western New York
State comes immediately to mind. It may, in fact, be NEW YORK
true that streams like Oak Orchard Creek are among
the world’s best places to catch really large trout. One will never find solitude here
anymore, but brown trout often exceeding 15 pounds get everyone’s attention.
The Creek’s flow is regulated, so anglers need to pay attention to rising water
levels, and like the fish, they will be found in greater numbers at deeper pools.
I find it best to look for pods of spawning salmon, behind which you’ll
find browns eating what drifts past. Egg patterns are very productive, as you
might expect, with the most common colors being chartreuse, orange and
pink. The key then, as well as later in the season, is to get your offering deep
enough for the fish to see it. That means plenty of split shot and a focus
on any pause when a fish picks up the egg. Make sure you bring your small
nymphs, as well, as fish will turn off on eggs and look for other food. These
are real trophy opportunities, so bring a camera! And if you prefer not to fish
for browns or salmon September to November, you can always find steelhead
during the winter, often through April. For guide service and lodging options,
contact the friendly staff at Buffalo Outfitters Fly Shop in Williamsville (716
631-5131; www.cattaraugusflyshop.com). by Bob Rifchin
• Pere Marquette River
• Pere Marquette Lodge
• Castilla River
• Taos Fly Shop
• Oak Orchard Creek
• Buffalo Outfitters Fly Shop
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