Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - Magazine - Index

Regional Editors
Bob Rifchin — Northeast
rmrifchin@comcast.net
King Montgomery — Mid-Atlantic
ffawriter@aol.com
Carl Warmouth — Southeast
cawarmo@callawaygardens.com
Robert Tomes — Upper Mid -America
rstomes@msn.com
Greg Berlocher — Lower Mid-America
bigredfish@aol.com
Paul B. Downing — Rocky Mountain
pbdfishreports@aol.com
Terry Sheely — Pacific
tsheely@reachone.com
are a good choice when the fishing gets tough.
Consistent winter trout action can be found on a
number of Iowa streams including Spring Branch
Creek, and Upper and Lower French Creeks. For
the latest information and your fly fishing needs,
stop by or call Jene Hughes at 2 nd Ave Bait House
& Fly Shop in Des Moines (515-282-4217; www.
iowaflyfishing.com). See their website for the
new edition of The Complete Guide to Iowa Trout
Streams, great resource for anyone interested in
fishing the Hawkeye State.
Kansas
With ponds and lakes better suited for ice skating
than fishing, Backwoods (316-267-0359) is
pointing anglers toward Slough Creek in Sedgwick
County Park, and Spillway Creek below Kannopolis
Reservoir. Both creeks have enough flow to
keep them from freezing, and hold good numbers
of stocked rainbows. The fish below Kannopolis
are larger, and rainbows up to 24 inches have been
taken recently. The government fish are fond of
size-18 and -20 midges, glo-bugs, and other egg
patterns. Call the shop for more details.
Kentucky
Fly fishing in February offers fewer opportunities
than other times of year, although the Cumberland
River in Burkesville and Otter Creek near Louisville
both fish well year-round. Nymphing with stonefly
68
patterns and the usual bead-head nymph patterns
will be the most productive. Clouser minnows and
big streamers in chartreuse and white are always
the go-to patterns if nymphs don’t produce. For
more information contact Adventure Angler
Outfitters in Louisville at (866) 266-4537.
Louisiana
Encouraging news from Louisiana continues to
come in after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Although the saltwater marshes surrounding New
Orleans have suffered damage, the redfish that overwinter
in the marshes have refused to leave. When
the winter weather cooperates, Uptown Angler
(504-529-3597) in New Orleans reports that fly
fishing for big winter reds is as good as it’s ever
been. Redfish exceeding 20 pounds are common
until March. Uptown Angler recommends crab and
baitfish patterns. If your schedule is flexible, and
you don’t mind waiting out passing cold fronts, call
the shop to book an 8-weight trip of a lifetime.
Maine
This state’s greatest winter fly-fishing opportunity
is for sea-run brown trout on the Mousam and
Ogunquit Rivers. For the most part this means
subsurface presentations and sometimes weighted
flies as well. Personally, I prefer mini lead-core heads
with floating lines so the sink rate can be easily
changed to suit conditions. Retrieves get slower
as the water gets colder and the fish are less active
chasing available baitfish. Use the current to make
the fly tumble like an injured minnow and easy
meal. Some days there’s too much ice, but the fish
can really turn on with a prolonged warm spell. For
more information contact Eldredge Brothers
Fly Shop in Cape Neddick (207-363-9269; www.
eldredgeflyshop.com).
Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland hosts a lot of
great saltwater and some good freshwater fishing.
On warmer days anglers can score on bass and
panfish on the ponds and tidal rivers, usually with
a sinking line and patience. Mason Huffman at
The Salisbury Fly Shop (410-543-8359; www.
salisburyflyshop.com) offers fly-tying and casting
lessons, and can put you onto fish up and down the
coast. He works with some fine guides—Captains
Matt Tawes, Kevin Josenhans, Dan Harrison, Mark
Sampson, and Bruce Wooten, to name a few.
Massachusetts
When the weather is cold I focus on tailwaters and
coastal streams. There are striped bass wintering
in coastal rivers from the Charles in Boston down
to Scorton Creek on Cape Cod. There is generally
open water below dams on the larger streams, and
not surprisingly, the fish are there too. Fish the
deeper holes on dropping water. For trout anglers,
the Swift below Quabbin gets my vote for winter
consistency. The trout are active because water
temperatures are consistent, and there are midges
on any warmer flow of air. Tuck that box of tiny
pupa and dries in a warm pocket and get a few
hours relief from the worst of cabin fever. Dress
warmly, and remember that you’ll be walking in
snow to get to the water. For more information
contact Concord Outfitters (978-318-0330;
www.concordoutfitters.com).
Michigan
Assuming decent water levels, hearty Michigan
fly fishers will find winter opportunities on Lake
Michigan’s numerous tributaries. The prime
targets this time of year are dark, “hold-over”
steelhead from last fall and bright early-season
fish, especially in late February and early March.
Popular rivers like the Muskegon, Grand, Rogue,
and St. Joseph get most of the attention, but there
are many others to choose from up and down
the lake. With typically gin-clear and low water
levels, it’s usually best to fish slowly with lighter
tippets and smaller, natural eggs and stonefly or
Hex nymph patterns. Expect to find most fish
holding in the deepest holes, darkest pockets,
and tight to any available cover, like log jams and
rocks. As the water warms, try swinging streamers
through shallower pockets and runs for more
active pre-spawn players. For more information
and all your gear and guiding needs, stop by and
see Bill Veurink at Orvis Great Lakes in Grand
Rapids (616-975-3800).
Minnesota
Your best bet for winter fishing in Minnesota is the
beautiful Whitewater River system in Whitewater
State Park in the southeast corner of the state
(www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/trout_streams/
winter.html). Designated catch-and-release, this
early-season trout fishery offers a much needed
fish-fix for those anglers who just can’t take it
anymore. Expect low and clear water, so make your
presentations stealthy using light tippets (5x to 7x)
and small flies (sizes 18 to 24). With little hatch
activity, you’ll do best to start with small attractor
nymphs like hare’s ears, pheasant tails, copper
Johns or zug bugs. On warmer days you may find
fish feeding on top and receptive to a Griffith’s gnat
in sizes 18 to 28, or a little black stonefly in sizes
16 to 20. For the latest fishing conditions and your
fly fishing needs, stop by or call Bob Mitchell’s
Fly Shop in Lake Elmo (651-770-5854; www.
bobmitchellsflyshop.com). This full service fly
shop also offers free seminars and clinics as well as
fly-tying, casting, and entomology classes.
Mississippi
February is a month of extremes. Normally cool
air temperatures can drop to very cold, or rise
to unseasonably warm. Through it all, water
temperatures remain fairly cold, so fly fishing
can be a challenge. Bass will be lethargic and
difficult to predict, but panfish are warming up
for a March spawn. During this time, sub-surface
flies are most effective, although warmer days