Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - april2008 - 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
St Joseph below Berrien Spring Dam. For starters,
try high-sticking deep pools, runs, and pockets
near spawning redds with multiple drifts using an
indicator and stonefly nymph and/or egg fly. As
temperatures rise, swing dark or brightly colored
leeches or woolly buggers through tailouts and/or
near structure for more aggressive fish. A slight rise
in water temps or a flush of water from snow melt
or rain can bring in fish. Contact Wildcat Creek
Outfitters in Zionsville (317-733-3014; www.
wildcatcreekoutfitters.com) for current conditions.
IOWA
Fly fishers will find typically wary browns, as well
as rainbows and brookies, on Bloody Run, Spring
Branch Creek and French Creek. Smaller attractor
nymphs, scuds, and zebra midges fished on 5X
to 7X tippet produce consistent results. It’s also a
good idea to carry an assortment of small dries like
Griffith’s gnats, Baetis, and caddis to take advantage
of mid day risers. Given their small size and lack of
weed growth, it always pays to be stealthy. The nice
folks at 2 nd Ave Bait House & Fly Shop in Des
Moines (515-282-4217; www.iowaflyfishing.com)
can set you straight on where and when to go.
KANSAS
Feeder creeks above Lakes El Dorado, Marion, and
Wilson are crowded with love-struck white bass,
reports Backwoods (316-267-0359) in Wichita.
The shop suggests packing 5- or 6-weight rods and
46
filling your fly box with white streamers, buggers,
and shad patterns. Target pools immediately below
a series of riffles. Look closely and you can see the
backs of fish swimming through the shallows to
move further upstream. The shop also mentioned
that a few walleyes are being taken on flies in area
lakes. Anglers should wade five feet out from the
face of the dam and cast parallel to the shoreline.
Extremely bright flies are best.
KENTUCKY
The Cumberland is a black caddis blizzard beginning
in April, so try dries like Scalley’s cripple caddis, La
Fontaine’s sparkle pupae, Goddards, elk hair caddis
and X-caddis. Subsurface caddis patterns include La
Fontaine’s deep sparkle pupae, traditional hackle wet
flies, and Z-wing caddis, all in sizes 12 to 18. Beginning
around Rock House, anglers will notice both
small and large stoneflies imitated with size-4 down
to -12 Kauffman’s stonefly nymphs, yuk bugs and
black or brown woolly buggers. Call Chris Scalley
at (770) 650-8630 for more details.
LOUISIANA
In addition to marsh redfish, the gang at Uptown
Anglers (504-529-3597) in New Orleans suggested
salty anglers consider casting to cobia and
dolphin in the warming waters of the Gulf. The
shop specifically mentioned the numerous oil platforms
just off the beach of Grand Isle as one of their
favorite cobia haunts. Pack an arsenal of large white
Deceivers, squid patterns, and a few big poppers to
tempt these curious fish. April anglers should start
to see the first weed lines of the year; cast Clouser
minnows to holding dolphin underneath.
MAINE
Winter still has a tight grip in the North Country and
some of the best opportunities still involve coastal
rivers and sea-run brown trout between Ogunquit
and Scarborough. In particular, the Ogunquit and
Mousam Rivers are favorites at the lower ends of the
tides when the fish congregate in pools, but when the
water is moving either in or out. Twelve-inch fish are
the norm, but there are enough larger holdovers to
keep it interesting, and it might be wise to check the
Dunstan River near the Route 9 bridge. Some of the
tidal creeks in the Kittery area also have been producing
results. For more info, call Aardvark Outfitters
in Farmington (207-778-3330), and while you
have him on the line you might inquire about the
great smallmouth water in their backyard.
MARYLAND
The premier streams of far western Maryland in
Garrett and Allegany Counties are showing signs
of spring, and the trout appreciate it. On warmer
days, fish the Savage, Youghiogheny, Casselman
or North Fork of the Potomac rivers. Allegany
County has many mountain streams loaded with
native brookies. Beginning in April, popular
instructor Dusty Wissmath will hold fly casting/fishing
classes through the summer into fall
at the Savage River Lodge. These two-day classes
are wonderful for beginners and intermediate
anglers. Guiding, including float trips, is available
out of the lodge. For information, contact
the Savage River Lodge (301-689-3200; www.
savageriverlodge.com). While in the area, contact
Spring Creek Outfitters in Oakland (301-387-
6587; www.springcreekoutfitter.com) and book
a day or two on these trout and smallmouth
bass rich waters.
MASSACHUSETTS
The Deerfield River in the western part of the state
gets little pressure in the cold months, and angler
success is often the result of streamers and nymphs
fished deep and slow. In April the traditional
hatches and more selective feeding begin, with
midge hatches below the Fife Brook Dam where
a warm day can hold a few surprises. Footing can
be tricky, and river levels can change quickly as
the dam dictates, so pay attention. Access is easy
via Route 2 and Zoar and River Roads. For more
information, call or visit the Lower Forty in
Worcester (508-752-4004).
MICHIGAN
April is prime time to take advantage of Michigan’s
early-season trout and steelhead opportunities.
Anglers in the southeast part of the state should
check out the Huron River, or the Clinton River
below Yates Dam, for spring-run steelhead at
the height of the spawn. Depending on water
levels and clarity, look for fish close to obvious
spawning redds and in darker holes immediately
downstream. Try dead-drifting egg flies and/or
stonefly nymphs when the fish are holding deep.
On warmer days, swing an attractor streamer like
an egg-sucking leech or bright spey pattern for
more aggressive players. Trout anglers will also be
looking expectantly to the Michigan spring opener
on the last Saturday of the month. Rivers like the
AuSable, Manistee, and Muskegon all offer good
early-season hatches of caddis and mayflies. Check
in with the experts at Orvis Detroit in Royal Oak
(248-542-5700; www.orvis.com). This full-service
shop will get you started the right way no matter
what your experience level.
MINNESOTA
Although the early catch-and-release trout season
has been open for some time, April marks the
general trout opener throughout the state. As
usual, the various branches of the Whitewater
River in Whitewater State Park offer plenty of
quality fishing in the southeast part of the state.
Beyond the park you’ll also find good fishing on
streams like the Root River near Lanesboro. For
starters, try searching deeper slots and runs with
weighted nymphs or crustacean patterns, like sow
bugs and cress bugs (sizes 12 to 18) on lighter tippets
and an indicator. Warmer temperatures will
often trigger dry-fly activity, so always carry a few
smaller dries like the Griffith’s gnats, little black
caddis and blue-winged olives. Steelhead fishing