Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - Magazine - Index

spring is when fishing pressure falls, willows bud,
morels poke out of the ground, and experienced
steelheaders put in their time. Wild fish are
coming back in the Sandy and deliver exciting
catch-and-release action, but only hatchery
fin-clipped steelhead are on the plate for catchand-eat
anglers.
You’ll hit good water as soon as you hang a right
at the Stark Street bridge to the new fishing deadline
four miles above the former Marmot Bridge. A lot
of fly guys favor the smaller, but quicker, water in
the upper reaches, and you can expect company in
the newly opened section above the old Marmot
site. Flies vary almost daily, but they’re 85% wet
and weighted. Check in at The Fly Fishing Shop
(800-266-3971) in Welches.
Another good spring bet is the North Fork
Santiam, a super drift boat river, but there
are some snarls and teeth, and a guide is
recommended for first timers. There’s a nice
short drift of a couple miles below North Santiam
State Park to Mehama Bridge that offers good
steelhead water and is reasonable for intermediate
oar pullers. Good info and guides can be had at
Kaufmann’s Streamborn (503-639-7004) in
Tigard and Sportsman’s Warehouse (503-589-
0800) in Salem.
PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania’s limestoners are great places to
fish all year round, but for those areas that don’t
have spring creeks, it’s fun to spend time with
other anglers, guides, and factory reps at a fly shop.
Join the folks at The Evening Rise in Lancaster
(717-509-3636; www.TheEveningRise.com) on
Saturday, March 15 for their Second Annual Fly
Fishing Fair. All the festivities, including food,
drink, and seminars are free. Their fly fishing and
casting schools begin March 29. Dunkelberger’s
Sports Outfitters in Stroudsburg (570-421-
7950; www.dunkelbergers.com) carries a full line
of fly fishing stuff. The staff is very knowledgeable
on fishing in the Poconos, and aren’t afraid to
share that information. Tulpehocken Creek, near
Reading, is a rainbow and brown trout stream that
has been cleaned up over the years, and is giving
up large fish. Contact the Tulpehocken Creek
Outfitters in Reading for more information
(877-TCO-FLIES; and www.tcoflyfishing.com).
TEXAS
A good friend to all, Captain Chris Phillips recently
underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. I am
glad to report that Chris is doing well and in good
spirits. The local fly fishing community is holding a
benefit for Captain Phillips on March 30 at Blanco’s
in Houston. Call an area fly shop for details.
Lake Fork is arguably the best reservoir in the
country for big largemouth bass. Orvis Dallas
48
(214-265-1600) suggests that anglers looking to
tangle with the fish of a lifetime check out this
sprawling lake in northeast Texas. Spawning bass
can be found in sloughs and creeks. Polarized
glasses are essential for spotting fish. Locate the
warmest water in the area and fish large streamer
patterns very slowly. Carry extra spools filled with
intermediate and sinking lines for fish suspended
in deeper water. Saltwater anglers who decide to
brave the coastal winds should target the backside
of St. Joseph and Mustang Islands. The lee sides
of spoil islands will also provide some relief from
the wind. Finding baitfish activity in the area you
fish is critical. Pack and assortment of Clouser
minnows that will allow you to fish water shin
to waist deep.
RHODE ISLAND
Striper fishing in late winter is limited to a few
spots, the best of which is the Providence River
in the area of the hurricane barrier. The walls of
the structure are quite high above the water, so fly
fishing from there would be an exercise in futility,
especially if you hooked a fish. It really requires a
small boat of some type to get on the city-side of
the barrier where the warmwater outflow holds fish
through the winter months. The barrier is right
next to Naraganset Electric off route 195. Fish deep
and relatively slow. For more information, contact
The Saltwater Edge at (866) 793-6733; E-mail:
info@saltwateredge.com
SOUTH CAROLINA
Redfish are still going strong on the low tide this
time of the year. Sight cast to schooling reds in
the shallow water. Hot flies to entice them are the
Raz Ma Taz and Clouser minnow in chartreuse
and pink. Freshwater fishing for bass and bream
using yellow and black poppers will be productive
as water temperatures begin to rise. Cobia season
is just around the corner, and by mid April
we’ll be on the lookout for this wonderful fish
on the fly. To learn more about fishing in the
Lowcountry, call Lowcountry Outfitters at
(843) 837-6100.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Depending on run-off, March fishing should be
pretty good on the Black Hills’ productive, but
under-fished streams. Rapid Creek, Spearfish, and
Castle Creeks are among the better choices for
an early-season fish fix. Indicator nymphing with
a San Juan worm, egg pattern, black stonefly or
copper John nymph will produce fish. On warmer
days, try casting small dries, like a Griffith’s gnat or
other midge pattern, to rising fish when you find
them. Always use the lightest tippet possible. Hans
Stephenson at Dakota Angler & Outfitter in
Rapid City (605-341-2450; www.flyfishsd.com)
has everything you’ll need for flies and tackle to
enjoy these great waters. Stop by the shop for
more info and free fly-tying classes on Saturday
mornings.
TENNESSEE
March can offer excellent fishing in the Great Smoky
Mountains with its 800 miles of fishable trout
streams. The quill Gordon is the first significant
hatch, hatching when the water warms to around
50 degrees for a few days. Since Smoky Mountain
streams are as low as 1,200 feet above sea level, and
rise to over 5,000 feet, hatches that begin down low
work their way upstream as the temperatures rise.
A hatch may start the first week of March down
low, and begin two weeks later up high. With the
quill Gordons you will see blue quills, blue-winged
olives, then dark Hendricksons and March browns.
Check with Little River Outfitters for fishing
reports that are updated every day (877-448-3474;
www.littleriveroutfitters.com).
UTAH
Seven trout on nine casts! That’s what one fly
fisher reported while fishing the Weber River last
March. That was followed by a full day of catching
whitefish. An afternoon hatch of black midges
finished off the day. The Weber during pre-runoff
offers very productive nymphing and streamer
fishing, as well as the occasional BWO, caddis or
midge hatch. Flies to use won’t take you very far
into your fly box. Flashback pheasant tails and
hare’s ears are generally effective. Some fly fishers
prefer larger sizes, like 10s or 12s, while others
swear by 16s or smaller. Check with Trout Bum
2 (435-658-1166; www.troutbum2.com) for the
latest conditions.
VERMONT
Late winter fishing in the North Country will
never be easy, but there are opportunities. There
are special-regulation areas in the White, West
and Black Rivers where you will be fishing slowly
with streamers and leech patterns. The lower end
of Lewis Creek also deserves your attention if
not icebound. For information on what is open
and available, contact Taddinger’s Orvis Shop
in Wilmington (802-464-1223; Web: www.
taddingers.com).
VIRGINIA
The Harrisonburg area in the rural Shenandoah
Valley is home to the state’s finest spring creeks and
mountain freestone streams in the nearby George
Washington National Forest and the Shenandoah
National Park. Brian and Colby Trow at Mossy
Creek Fly Fishing (866-667-9275; www.
mossycreekflyfishing.com) run this relatively new
full-service fly shop and guide service. They have
access to parts of Mossy Creek and many mountain
streams that hold native brookies, rainbows, and
browns. Mark your calendars for two fly-fishing
shows: The Falmouth Flats Fly Fishing Show (540-
899-6464; www.ffflyfishers.org) in Fredricksburg
on March 22; and the Waynesboro Fly Fishing
Festival (540-649-1915; www.vaflyfishingfestival.
org) on April 21 and 22.
WASHINGTON
For a dozen years the state has enforced a no-kill
rule on sea-run cutthroat, and it’s paying off big
along the shallow gravel edges of Puget Sound.
Twenty-inch cutts are not exceptional, foot long
fish are common, and fly-fishing for sea-runs has
never been better. Spring is a top season for finding
schools moving and feeding in the gravel and clam
beds. Anywhere the shoreline falls into a shallowly
tapering beach, especially near the mouth of a
freshwater spawning stream, is worth checking
out in the spring. For starters, target Befair and
Penrose State Parks, Seattle area’s Lincoln, Carkeek
and Golden Gardens beaches, Kayak Point, Priest
Point, Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Tolmie
Dash Point State Park near Redondo, Purdy
shoreline, Carr Inlet, and Hoodsport. And all
of the finger reaches and inlet beaches around
Olympia are fat with sea-runs. Success is a matter
of hunt and find, cast and hunt some more. Beach
casting works, small boats are better. Six-weight