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Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - may2008 - Index

LAWTON WEBBER PHOTO
during May, and some of the biggest wild fish of the season are caught
then. Hendricksons, March browns, larger sulphurs, and tan caddis
are the most prolific hatches on the Winooski during May.
The Winooski can and does get warm from the middle of June
through August, which makes early morning fishing the way to go
most times. Early morning does not provide the biggest hatches
compared to the evening, but the trade off is that the fish are actually
hungry and have the energy to feed. In the evenings in mid summer
the fish wait until the sun has actually set before rising, leaving you
only 20 minutes or so before it’s lights out. Summer hatches consist
of various caddis in sizes 14 to 20, sulphurs in sizes 16 and 18, and
light Cahills in sizes 12 and 14. The most important mayfly hatch
on the Winooski begins in August: the Isonychias.
Isonychias in sizes 10 to 14 begin hatching around the beginning
of August and run through the end of September. In August the Iso’s
will usually hatch later in the day—say around 5:30 PM or so—but
on cool days and later into September they hatch earlier in the day.
By mid September you’ll find Isonychias most anytime of day, though
the afternoon hatches (after 1:00 PM) seem to be the most prolific.
Vermont hatches in general are very weather dependant—a cool,
drizzly day in August can bring out the Iso’s at noon, while a hot day
in September may delay them into early evening. From September
through mid October you’ll also find blue-winged olives in sizes 20
and 22, and little yellow quills in sizes 16 and 18.
Traditional Catskill-style dries, along with parachutes and Comparaduns,
all work well on the Winooski. I tend to stick with the lowerprofile
parachutes and Comparaduns on the slower, flat-water stretches
with rising fish, and the bushier Catskill patterns in faster water. For the
various species of caddis, I use Henryville Specials and the X-Caddis
mostly, in sizes 14 to 20. CDC caddis patterns also work well. When
fishing caddis on the Winooski, the pattern is not usually the issue, it’s
getting the fish “timed” right so it sees your fly in the faster water.
While the Winooski can have some good surface activity, it really
is a nymph fisherman’s dream—and it’s all about the drift, not the fly.
Tungsten bead-head nymphs in patterns like pheasant tails, princes,
zug bugs, green caddis larvae, and yellow/brown stonefly nymphs will
catch fish consistently—provided you get the nymph down to the
fish, which is why I’m a big fan of tungsten nymphs. (As a side note,
lead split shot is illegal in Vermont).
Swinging nymphs down-and-across is a popular technique, particularly
when there is good caddis activity or when fast-swimming mayfly
nymphs like the Isonychia and little yellow quill are hatching. Remember
to use 4X tippet when fishing down-and-across, as the combination of
heavier water and wild rainbows slamming the fly will result in many
break-offs with 5X tippet. The fish are not tippet shy, and when swinging
down-and-across they will see your fly first, not the tippet.
Swinging wet flies—like soft hackles and March brown wets—is
also a very productive method, particularly in shallower, slower water.
During the Isonychia hatch, flies with peacock herl bodies fish very
well, and if you see splashy rises, a traditional wet fly like the Picket
Pin fished dry on top will out produce many popular dry flies. At the
end of the swing, let it go under and give it a few short strips.
If you’re looking for a quality fly-fishing experience for wild and
stocked trout, without all the baggage of the more popular waters of
the Northeast, you need to give the Winooski a shot. You may just
find yourself with a new favorite river.
Lawton Webber is a well-seasoned Vermont guide, and operates Pleasant
Valley Fly Fishing Guides (www.pleasantvalleyflyfishing.com).
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