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Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - may2008 - Index

fish, including speckled trout, redfish, black drum,
and sheepshead. Twenty members stalked fish in
skinny water, casting pencil poppers, Clousers and
cactus shrimp. High wind has plagued the coast this
spring, but it’s showing signs of relenting. Finding
clear water and bait is a must. The backside of
Matagorda Island and the lee side of spoil islands
are holding some fish. Orvis also relayed several
reports of jackfish and tarpon sightings at the Port
O’Connor jetties.
UTAH
Sometime in mid May the ice will be out on
Strawberry Reservoir. This is one of the very best
times to fish this fantastic fishery. Harley Jackson
of Trout Bum 2 (877-878-2862; www.troutbum2.com)
suggests stripping big black leaches
or zonker-type baitfish imitations in shallow
water. In fact, just after ice-out the fish are so
shallow you can wade the shore and catch them,
but shortly a float tube will be needed. Soon after
ice-out, chronomids start to hatch. The fish are
big, with rainbows and cuts up to 24 inches caught
regularly. and much larger fish caught on occasion.
Access all over this large lake is great. Two popular
areas are Chicken Creek and the Ladders.
VERMONT
Like all cool northern destinations, fishing northern
Vermont takes planning and luck. Weather can be
fickle, even in May, but plan to be there after fish
have returned from spring movement in and out of
feeders and the trip will be one to remember. Hopefully
the runoff from this year’s heavy snows will be
slow and gentle, allowing a nice even flow rate in
waters like the Winooski. Don’t overlook the state’s
small brook trout streams, which are what draw me
there more than anything else. For information, or
to book a guide, contact Ed Schirmer at (802) 863-
6105 or visit www.schirmersflyshop.com
VIRGINIA
Stripers are in the tidal rivers, such as the James,
York, Rappahannock, and Potomac, along with
other anadromous and resident species, all of which
jump on a fly. Smallmouth bass fishing in the Rappahannock
River is quite good, and largemouth and
stripers accommodate anglers in the tidal reaches.
For up to date information and for tackle/equipment
needs, contact Rich Heigl and crew at Gander
Mountain Outfitters in Fredericksburg
(540-575-5228; www.gandermountain.com).
Rich likes the Shenandoah National Park trout
streams in late spring and early summer as long the
rain continues to keep them full. I’ll be hosting a
Grand Bahama Island bonefish trip November 8 to
14, 2008 through Grand Bahama Outfitters
(www.grandbahamaoutfitters.com) and Virginia’s
Greasy Creek Outfitters (540-789-7811;
www.greasycreekoutfitters.com). The bonefish run
BIG on Grand Bahama Island, and I’d be glad to
help you catch some.
WASHINGTON
With most rivers running high and brown with
snow melt, and the last of the state’s more than
4,500 lowland lakes stocked and open for trout
fishing at the end of April, May sets up as the hottest
lake fishing month on the calendar. Fishing pressure
will be intense on some of the famously hot lakes
in the Seattle area, like Wilderness, Rattlesnake,
and Mineral, a congestion that will spread across
the state to Spokane where Badger, Clear, Williams
and West Medical lakes will be making local head-
lines. Most May trout, especially recently stocked
Triploids, will be in the top few feet of water, nicely
positioned for dries and wets fished off floating
or sink-tip lines. Productive early patterns should
include a range of callibaetis, baetis, damsels, and
white and tan midges, plus small leeches, scuds
and woolly buggers.
WASHINGTON, DC
The shad, both hickory and American, are still
around in the tidal Potomac River in May, and can
be caught at Fletcher’s Boat House, (202-244-
0461; www.fletchersboathouse.com). The shad
will be gone by late May, but stripers, smallmouth
and largemouth bass can be taken then. Fly shops
in the greater Metropolitan Washington region,
most of which offer guide service as well as gear,
include Orvis at Tysons Corner, Vienna, VA
(703-556-8634); Orvis of Arlington, VA (703-
465-0004); and L.L. Bean at Tysons Corner,
Vienna, VA (703-917-1921).
WEST VIRGINIA
The South Branch of the North Fork of the Potomac
River sustains both trout and smallmouth
bass in various stretches, and sometimes both commingle
with conditions are right. Such a place is
at Harman’s North Fork Cottages on Route 55/28
in Cabins. Todd Harman stocks good-size trout
from spring through fall and there always are some
holdovers that attain large proportions. Here you
almost can fish from the front porch of your private
cabin while steaks are sizzling on the grill. Guiding
is available. Contact Harman’s at (800) 436-6254
or log on to www.wvlogcabins.com
WISCONSIN
With record breaking snowfall and plenty of rain,
Wisconsin rivers will hold decent water levels for
much of the season. Trout anglers will find good
fishing from the numerous southwest Driftless Area
streams to the mighty Bois Brule in the north. In the
west-central part of the state, the Kinnickinnic and
Rush are also well worth a spring trip. You can expect
a variety of mayfly and caddis activity throughout
this productive period. While smaller BWO’s,
Hendrickson’s, and sulphurs dominate early, in
late spring you’ll start to find larger bugs hatching
(and larger fish eating them), especially at nightfall.
When things are slow and the bugs aren’t hatching,
chuck streamers for structure-loving browns. Stop
by or call Pat Ehlers at The Fly Fishers in Milwaukee
(414-259-8100; www.theflyfishers.com).
WYOMING
My indicator bobbed along the surface, while five
feet below it my egg pattern bounded along the
gravel. I started to mend to prevent drag, but as
I did my indicator disappeared. Completing the
mend, I set the hook on a solid trout. Finally, a
nice 18-inch cuttbow, who had used the strong
current to advantage, came to net. Five minutes
later I landed another 18 incher, then a somewhat
smaller rainbow. These substantial trout had come
up out of Pathfinder Reservoir into the Miracle
Mile section of the North Platte River. This section
of the river is the tailwater from Seminoe Reservoir,
so while the water may be a bit high with spring
runoff, it is clear, and the fishing is great. It is mostly
deep nymphing with beadheads and yarn eggs, but
there are occasional BWO hatches in side channels.
The nearest city is Casper, so I stay in one of the
cabins at Miracle Mile Ranch (307-325-6710;
www.miraclemileranch.com).
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