As I was driving to work this morning, I looked at the river and it was beautiful! The warm water was steaming and all the trees along the river were covered with white crystals.  Then I looked at he temperature on my car dash and it said 3 degrees!  Whoa!  I must be nuts!  It was a beautiful sight!  Don’t think we received as bad a storm as many of the people west, north and east of us did.  We did get some ice, sleet and finally snow.  However, we have been able to negotiate most roads every day since it started.  Cold temperatures yesterday and today are the most miserable.  They are projecting upper 20s to low 30s by Friday.  That will feel like a heat wave.  Saturday and Sunday look like mid 30s, with a chance of some type of precipitation Sunday afternoon into Monday.   Monday’s temperatures start dropping again for the early part of the week.   Other than six hours yesterday morning, they have been running water non-stop since Tuesday morning.  I’m certain there are plenty of places needing power for heat. 

As I said, great time to be sitting at home with a roaring fire in the fireplace and tying flies.  Get all caught up so when this weather breaks, you can hit the water with a good quantity of flies in your vest.  Just before the storm hit, Monday to be exact, a fisher came into the store to stock back up on flies.  He had been fishing the size 18 rusty midge and quit fishing when he broke off on the 47th fish on that fly.  Better include a few of these in the ones your are tying!

A REMINDER!  – March 5, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. here at the shop we will have John and Jim from Schmidt Outfitters in Michigan giving a presentation on fishing for steelhead in Michigan.  John has graciously offered to do a drawing for a full day guide trip for two as well as a one night stay in their lodge for two people.  Remember….you can’t win if you don’t show up and enter the drawing.  They are also doing a switch and spey rod demonstration and will show you how to do this, if you are interested.  They will demo some steelhead fly tying and we will have a few other tiers here at the shop tying flies.  We will even have some hot dogs, beans, chips and pop if you get the “hungries”!  Come on by….make it day…take in the activites…go catch a few fish…eat a hot dog.  Great way to break out of the cabin fever blaaas!

Last week we saw temperatures creeping up into a grand finale of upper 60s on Friday and 70s on Saturday.  Today?…..40s, overcast and a little windy.  Forecast is not good.   Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 40s with showers in the afternoon, changing to freezing rain in the pm.  Tuesday low 30s with some kind of precipitation; Wednesday low 20s and windy; Thuesday low 20s and partly cloudy; Friday mid 30s and sunny.  If we can believe it, Saturday they are saying sunny, and low to mid 40s.  Generation has been pretty consistent.  Water on in the a.m. for a few hours and off by 10:00-11:00 a.m.  Off until 5:00-6:00 p.m.  With the wonder Friday we had, we were also fortunate that the generators were off all day!  They were also off all day Saturday and today just as projected by SWPA.  Monday looks like the on in the a.m. then off by 9:00-10:00 a.m for 8-9 hours. 

Lots of fishers out Friday.  Blame them?  Good reports on catching.  Although the normal gray or tan scuds were working, black wooly buggers, dark sculpin patterns, and holographic green cracklebacks seemed to be the best patterns. 

Jim and Stan both out Saturday.  Jim had Jim and his nephew, Danny out for half a day.  They are from Fayetteville, AR.  This was Danny first attempt at fly fishing, and Jim wanted Jim to show him the ropes….which he did.  Fish were a bit picky Saturday, but they picked up several fish on a size 12 olive sculpin, a size 16 gray scud and a size 18 gray sow bug.   Stan had Doc from Tulsa out for the day.  This was his annual birthday celebration trip.  Doc turned 78 this month.  Happy Birthday Doc!  They worked for them, but caught several fish on a size 18 burgundy midge under a size 18 Primrose & Pearl midge.  

After the fly tying clinic where we tied the Barr’s Copper John, Carolyn sneaked off for a little while and fished with Dawn from Louisiana.  We picked a few fish on various patterns, but couldn’t find anything consistent.  RedSan Juan worm, black wooly, size 16 red ass soft hackle (James Albert), holographic green crackleback and an olive filoplume.  One of the fishers on the bank was going well with olive filoplume fishing the riffles at the Rockin Chair area.  It was such a beautiful day, it would have been a great day even if we hadn’t caught one fish!  Not too many days on the water in January were it is in the 70s!

For every day we have like today, it is just one less day of winter weather.  Beautiful outside today!  It was in the 50s with lots of sunshine.  Water was off most of the day and projection is for it to be off almost all day tomorrow.  Weather forecast continue to be good through Saturday and then it looks like we have a cold from coming in again by Monday or Tuesday.

With the nice weather a few more people have been venturing out into the water.  Good reports coming in from most.  One of the guys said it fished better for him yesterday than today, but he still had a good day today.  Small tan scuds, 16 and smaller, olive wooly buggers, egg patterns and copper dun midges are what I am hearing the most.  I’m feeling an escape plan in the works.  Got to get out of here and go fishing!

After we got over the shock of snow on Wednesday and Thursday, and the extreme cold, especially on Friday, what a great weekend.  both Saturday and Sunday were in the 40s, partly cloudy (sun peeked out several times) and very little wind.  Most of this week is supposed to be in the low to mid 30s with Friday hitting the mid 40s (we’ll see on that one!).  Although the generation projection said water running Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we have seen the same pattern as the rest of the week….on in the morning until 10:00-11:00 a.m. then off for 5-6 hours and back on in the late afternoon.  There was lots of wading time this weekend.  With the more than pleasant weather, it was a shame the projection stated the water would be running all weekend.

With the temperatures in the single digit on Friday morning, it was mutually agreed that a 10:00 a.m. start would be a little warmer.  Although low 30s was projected for Friday, don’t think it made it out of the upper 20s.  Stan took Jim from the St. Louis area and his son Matt, who lives in Colorado, out for a short full day float.  Again, they forcast the water running all day, but when they hit the water, it had shut down.  Other than cold, fished pretty good.  Grey scud and size 18 copper dun midge were the primary patterns they used all day. 

After the fly tying clinic Saturday morning (good turn out), fishing fever got the best of me, especially as nice as the day was, so I stopped at the boat ramp for a little while.  Fish were popping everywhere so I tried a holographic green crackleback….no takers.  Okay, let’s do a soft hackle.  One bump on the copper dun soft hackle, nothing on a P&P soft hackle, so out with the sinking leader and tied on a black wooly bugger.  First cast, hit, second cast, fish.  Stood there on the boat ramp and caught enough fish to satisfy my fever. 

Few fishers out today.  One came in this morning on his way home and said he had a great day on the dark gray scud at the rebar hole.  Another came in this afternoon and he had a slow day for a while, but finally started catching them with the black wooly bugger up near the outlets.

Not going to be in the 40s today.  Looks more like mid 30s and overcast most of the day.  Looking for SNOW!!! to start late tonight.  Right now they are forecasting 2-5 inches.  Sooooo…if you are one of those who likes to fish in the snow, here’s your chance!  It is cool, when the large, white, soft flakes are hitting the water.  All the sound is cushioned by the falling snow, so it is very quiet and soft.  Under the right conditions, the fish will think it is a blizzard hatch and you’ll see fish popping everywhere.  Anyway, so much for that.  Thursday will be in the upper 20s probably due to the snow cover.  Friday is still predicted to be sunny but temperatures will now be in the mid to upper 20s with Saturday sunny and mid to upper 30s.  Just a bit cooler than I showed yesterday.  Sunday and Monday are still a toss up with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s, but moisture is still in the picture.  Generation continues along it routine of off for 5-6 hours in the late morning into the afternoon.

Reports from the river are still good.  With the cool weather we had yesterday, not too many fishers coming in, but those who did were having a good day, especially on gray scuds.  Still a few on the black wooly bugger.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for MARCH 5, 2011.  Get in on the drawing for a guide trip to fish for steelhead and a night’s stay in Michigan.  More to follow.

Weather has been a bit of a guessing game.  Supposed to have had some showers during the day yesterday and possibly some sleet last night.  Guess what?  Nothing!  It is getting cooler today.  Started out this morning in the upper 30s and is quickly dropping during the day.  Supposed to be in the 20s by the time I close the shop this afternoon.  Tomorrow’s prediction is low 40, Thursday the upper 20 with the possibility of snow.  Friday looks like partly sunny and mid 30s with Saturday sunny and low 40s.  Snow showers Sunday and Monday, but that is a long ways off.  Could do a couplete 180 degrees by then.  Water generation still off and on and off again, so late morning and early afternoon wading opportunities are there.

Half a day float yesterday for Ken and his brother Sam.  Both are residents of Missouri, just different cities.  Stan started them out around 10:00 a.m.  We were in a pickle with the rain prediction for yesterday, but it never happened.  Turned out to be a pretty nice day in the mid to upper 40s. 

Sam - 1/17/11

Sun would have helped, but no wind so it certainly was a tolerable day on the water.  Good fishing day too!  Best patterns were a size 12 gray scud and a size 18 copper dun midge.  Midges were not working well in the early part of the trip, but by 3:00 p.m. and later, they were the best pattern.

Good weekend both in fishing, generation and weather!  What more can you ask for in mid January?!  Friday was somewhere in the 40s, Saturday was into the mid 50s and Sunday into the 40s again.  We are expecting lower 50s today.  Unless the sun comes out, that might be a stretch.  Looks like 30s and 40s for the rest of the week with some wintery stuff scattered in here and there.  In addition to the nice weather, the generation schedule cooperated for those who wanted to wade.  After a three hour shot of water from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., it was off until Saturday morning at 6:00.  Four hours this time then off again until 6:00 p.m.  Our projection for today is on five hours from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.  A seven hour off-time is projected with it starting up about 6:00 p.m. again tonight.  It will be time to come off the water by then anyway.  “O dark hundred” and getting cool!

Reports from those who fished Friday were good.  Good numbers and nice fish.  Hitting most everything, grey and tan scuds, copper dun midges, olive and black wooly buggers.  Saturday’s reports were a little more difficult.  Catching fish, but working a little harder for them, especially depending on where you were fishing.  Up near the hatchery, we had a glowing report from one of the students in the Saturday fly tying clinic.  He called yesterday to say he had a great day on the Big Ugly that he had tied.  First time to catch something top water and on a bug he tied!  Can’t get much better!  The copper dun midge, black and olive wooly buggers and sculpin patterns were all working.  Like I said, not fast and furious, but fast enough to hold your interest.  Sunday when back to really good day on the water for most of the folks I talked to.  At the Lookout Pointe area, the size 12 scuds both in grey, and tan were working well.  Black wooly bugger was still doing well most anywhere you threw it.  Lots of nice fish!  Beautiful color on the rainbows!

Wow!  Had a few nights of single digits.  It felt pretty darn cold Wednesday morning when I got into my car and the outside temperature gauge read 7 degrees!  Must say that today felt pretty good even though it was 15 degrees when we ventured outside the house.  Did turn out to be a nice day today with sunshine all day, temperatures got into the mid 30s and very little wind.  What a difference.  We dodged the bullet on snow fall.  Little signs of it here and there but the roads were never covered and the stairs and drive in front of the store had no signs of snow by mid day on Monday.  Temperatures will continue nice, for this time of the year, mid to upper 30s tomorrow, 40s Saturday, and upper 30s to 40s both Sunday and Monday.  However, there is mention of moisture of some kind.

Generation schedule had been consistent so far this week.  On the morning around 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. or noon, then off for 5-6 hours.  Gets it down far enough to do some good fishing and wading.  And, it looks like that trend might continue Friday.  The projection is for the generators to go off at 11:00 a.m. with 6 hours of off time tomorrow morning/afternoon. 

One of our customers came in Tuesday afternoon, to warm up I think, and said he had had a great day up near the hatchery.  Water was off and he was fishing between outlets 1 and 2 toward the south bank.  He was fishing a Big Ugly with a primrose and pearl midge dropper.  Said it made him think of the “good old days”, when you had a fish on almost every cast.  His last breakoff made him leave the water as he could not tie on another fly!  Too cold. 

Just a reminder to mark your calendars.  March 5, 2011.  We will have John Gouker and Jim Haeck from Schmidt Outfitters in Wellston, Michigan here to do a presentation on fishing for steelhead  in Michigan.   Both have been involved in fly fishing for many years.  John is a full time, year around fly fishing guide and fly fishing instructor for Schmidt, while Jim guides some time, he spends most of his time in the shop.  Both fish the Little and Big Manistee Rivers for steelhead, trout and smallmouth bass.  They will also tie a few steelhead flies and give a demo on spey and switch rod casting.  They plan to have provide time to let interested people try their hand at these techniques.  For a chance to shake the cabin fever, get out and learn about something new and different, mark those calendars!  MARCH 5, 2011.    John is giving away a free guide trip and one night’s stay at Schmidt’s in a drawing of people who attend the presentation!  Better be there!  More detailed information to follow.  Stay tuned!…

Great fly tying clinic this past Saturday.  Clinic was full, so if you are thinking about coming to any of the upcoming ones, be sure to give us a call so we can put you on the list.

We did get some snow over night.  So far, it is not too much and the roads are in good condition.  Temperature going to struggle to get into the low 30s today with more snow on the way late today and through the night.  They are saying a possibility of 1 inch more on top of the dusting we already have.  Temperatures will be in the 20s Tuesday and Wednesday, then a warming trend, into the 30s! Thursday and possibly 40s Friday and Saturday.  Right now, there is a possibility of moisture on Saturday.  Off water time both Friday and Saturday.  Yesterday they ran a couple geneerators all day starting at 5:00 a.m.  Generating right now but the projection is for it to be off around noon for five hours. 

Had a few groups of fishers in the shop yesterday.  Some had been fishing and were heading home; others just getting here and going fishing.  One father and son had a wonderful day on the water Friday.  Both had caught more fish than they had caught in a long time.  They were wading up in the hatchery area.  Another group was a mixed bag.  Some had had a good day fishing, but a few in their group said they spent a little too much time in the trees.  Scuds, tan fur balls and black wooly buggers were some of the patterns they had been throwing.  I stopped at the boat ramp Saturday around 3:00 p.m. to see circles everywhere.  Had to throw a line, which I did for 30 minutes or so.  Caught several fish on the ruby midge and the primrose & pearl midge.

Gina and Stan took Dan, his son, Danson, and his son-in-law Jonathan out for half a day yesterday.  The last dine Dan fished with us it was his third time to have a fly rod in his hands.  He had definitely fallen in love with fly fishing, and he received a new fly rod for Christmas.   Yesterday was its first day on the water and as Gina said “He got the skunk off the new rod”.  Picture below is of his first fish on the new rod!  Stan took Danson and Jonathan.  Both of these guys are brand new to fly fishing.  Everyone did well and had a good number of fish on as well as making it to the boat!  Best patterns were the pink or cerise San Juan worms, dropped below the large ruby midge.

Danson & Jonathan - 1/5/11

Dan's first fish on new fly rod