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Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - Magazine - Index

NEVADA
The East Walker River offers the possibility of
a really nice trout this time of year. The water
is low and clear, making the fish spooky, but
a woolly bugger cast as close as possible to an
undercut bank or overhanging tree can be very
productive. Let the fly float down naturally with
just an occasional twitch to keep it in the strike
zone. Hang on, a large brown could smash your
offering any second. The California section of the
river below Bridgeport Reservoir is closed now,
so make sure you don’t cross the Nevada line. For
more information, check in with The Reno Fly
Shop (775-825-3474; www.renoflyshop.com).
NEW HAMPSHIRE
When fishing is tough in winter, Tom Jutras
immediately picks the Lamprey River as a choice
destination. This river drains 212 square miles of
largely undeveloped and forested headwaters, and
runs 47 miles on its journey to Great Bay. It is
well stocked by both Great Bay TU and NHF&G,
boasting some larger browns and rainbows that
are mostly taken on nymphs and woolly buggers
in the late winter months. Warmer days can also
produce some activity on small dark stoneflies. For
more information and a chance to shake off winter’s
cabin fever contact Tom at Mountain Road Fly
Shop in Raymond at (603) 895-3500; Web: www.
mountainroadfly.com
NEW JERSEY
A great place to be in the spring in the Garden State
is the north-central area. You can go north or west
and find trout galore, plus some warmwater fisheries
for bass and panfish. Heading east, you run into the
Hudson River, and eventually drop a little south to
the saltwater known for its stripers, blues, and other
denizens that like a fly. So The Fly Fishing Shop
in Far Hills—a full service shop with all the fly gear,
fly fishing and tying classes, and guided trips—is
the place to go. The shop has a full lineup of spring
seminars and classes, and they offer something for
every level of fly fishing inclination and skill. Give
them a call at (908) 719-9100.
NEW MEXICO
It’s that time of year when I head to the Rio
Penasco for some fast and furious action, and the
place to fish is the Mulcock Ranch (505-687-
3352; www.mulcockranch.com). What a great
place. The upper section of the ranch offers open,
slow-moving, bend-and-pool-fishing, while the
middle section offers deep pools that beg for a
deep nymph or woolly bugger. The lower section
starts with a picturesque waterfall, followed by
hole after hole filled with trout. Charlie Mulcock
claims that the single best fly for the ranch waters
is a size-16 prince nymph, and I agree. Watch for
afternoon midge or BWO hatches, however, as
they can be a special treat.
NEW YORK
Among the things I often recommend in winter is a
trip to the Catskills for some midge fishing on size-20
to –26 dries and pupae. Both the Beaverkill and the
West Branch offer acceptable water levels for those
not put off by a little cool weather. Make sure you
have your streamer box, as well, and size-20 to –28
blue-winged olives for the West Branch. Subsurface
fishing is deep and slow, but can be productive. For
more information, see the Baxter House website
(www.baxterhouse.net) and take a look at the fish
they’ve been catching. They know their water!
NORTH CAROLINA
Delayed-harvest waters are fishing well, especially on
the Tuck and the Nantahala, with the last stocking
of the season on March 10. Nymphing is the way to
go right now, and red fox squirrel nymphs are tough
to beat, as is a two-fly rig consisting of a glowbug
trailed by a size-12 to -16 prince nymph, Tellico,
San Juan worm, or copper John. Watch water
temperatures: If they increase following a warm
front, fish will be ready to start chasing streamers
again. Woolly buggers and bunny leaches are good
choices. Visit www.HighPlateauOutfitters.com for
more North Carolina fishing information.
NORTH DAKOTA
After ice-out, North Dakota anglers will want to
check out Morton Pond for early-season trout. It’s
one of several receiving spring stockings, and offers
some of the best fishing in the state. Another spot
worth checking out is Nelson Lake near Bismarck.
This fishery remains open all year thanks to a
warmwater discharge below the dam. A variety
of gamefish can be found here, including crappie,
bluegill, bass and the occasional walleye. Fish
slow and deep using streamers, woolly buggers,
or Clousers on a sink-tip line fished directly
in the current outflow. Devils Lake is another
good option for aggressive pike in the shallows.
Try throwing Lefty’s deceivers or Clousers in
white/chartreuse with a wire bite guard. When
the water begins to warm, you’ll also find white
bass getting active along the shoreline. For the
latest on NoDak fishing opportunities and all your
fly-fishing needs, stop by and see Scott Stenshoel,
the fly fishing manager at Scheels in Fargo (701-
298-2918; www.scheels.com).
OHIO
Expect to find good opportunities for both
hold-over steelhead and chromers on the Grand,
Chagrin, Ashtabula and Conneaut Rivers. Water
temperatures, clarity and flow are the key variables,
so check the latest river conditions on the Ohio
DNR web site (www.dnr.state.oh.us/html) before
heading out. Glowbugs, sucker spawn flies, and
darker colored nymphs fished slow and deep with
an indicator are always good bets. Swinging a
big streamer or egg-sucking leech through pools,
slots, and runs is another exciting way to hook a
steelhead. Stop by or call the Backpackers Shop
of Ohio in Sheffield Lake (216-934-5345; www.
backpackershop.com) for the latest information
and everything you’ll need to make the most of
this winter fly-fishing opportunity.
OKLAHOMA
Unpredictable spring weather aside, the gang at The
Gadget Company (918-749-9963) in Tulsa was
excited about the good fishing. They noted that the
bad weather this winter has chased most of fishermen
off the better streams, and now is a great opportunity
to be the first fishermen on some of the local trout
water. Smallmouth streams will be waking up this
month, as well. Pack a big assortment of Clouser
minnows in every size and color if you are targeting
bronzebacks. And don’t forget the great fishing in
the Arkansas River that flows through downtown
Tulsa. Cast white, gray, or silver shad patterns to the
stripers that live there.
OREGON
East of Portland, the Sandy River steelhead bite
just keeps getting better through March and
April. Steelhead sulk in the Sandy year round, but
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