Cross Current Fly Fishing

2008 Mid-Summer Fishing Report & Update

2008-07-17T23:35:00.004-04:00

The West Branch of the Delaware is still fishing at its technical finest with sulfurs, blue wing olives, isonychias, Cahills and some terrestrials.. The water has been mostly on the low side, except for most Fridays and Saturdays when there have been water releases, with the best fishing concentrated on the upper section of the river. Light tippets are the norm and landing a jumbo brown on 7 or 8X is a very cool experience.

I've added a Dave Scadden Three Man Pontoon Boat to my fleet which has been allowing me to float the West Branch even with the low water flows we've been having. The way this whole water release game goes is that we've been seeing water released on Fridays and Saturdays for reasons too complicated to get into here. So mostly on Friday and Saturday there's been enough water to use a drift boat. On other days the pontoon comes into play.

The Main Stem smallmouth bass fishing has been pretty sweet the past couple of weeks and should stay that way well into October. We've been seeing big numbers of fish and a good number of big ones. As always, the spin rod produces the most fish, while the fly rod produces the most challenge. Either way, it's just plain fun!

Saltwater fishing off Northern New Jersey has been very good with big bluefish leading the way. Fluke fishing has been good too with enough keepers mixed in with the shorts to make for some tasty dining. Stripers are mostly done for the summer, although fish are still hitting baits from time to time. Striper fishing should pick back up again in the fall.

Bluefish on the fly are savage fighters and a great fish for the fly fisherman new to the saltwater. Looking forward to the albies...

Orvis Saltwater Helios 10 wt.

2008-03-27T11:44:00.003-04:00

Last Fall I fished a Helios 10 weight in the salt for stripers, bluefish and false albacore. The rod performed beautifully. It's light weight, lighter than many five weights, made casting all day long very easy. Casting this rod is distance made easy.

The wind didn't matter as this rod generated tight loops and line speed to slice through the up to twenty knot winds we encountered. I have to admit that initially I had some reservations about the fish fighting ability of such a light rod. That concern was put to rest after the first fish was hooked. This rod is no light weight, it just doesn't weigh much. With the drag cranked down the rods backbone and muscle were put to the test on big North Carolina false albacore and New Jersey's chopper blues and striped bass.

The five weight Helios spent a whole season with me on trout and smallmouth bass. Scroll down to read about that rod.

Smallmouth Bass

2008-03-27T11:37:00.000-04:00

From late June through October the smallmouth bass fishing really turns on in parts of the Upper Delaware. Last July this fishery was placed on Field & Stream magazine's top five list of smallmouth rivers. The section of river I fish is not just loaded with bass, but it's among the most scenic in the system.

Each year this fishery is becoming more and more popular with my clients, so if you've never done it and would like to give it a try call or email me. I'm sure you'll get hooked just like the fish! FlyFishTheDelaware.com

Summer Trout Fishing

2008-03-27T11:34:00.001-04:00

Last year we saw some excellent sulfur hatches. With the higher flows this past winter there should be some excellent summer hatches again this season. No anchor ice and bank to bank water in the river means high nymph survival rates not just for the Spring hatches, but for the Summer hatches too.

Now is the time to make plans for this coming season. Drop me an email at crosscurrent@optonline.net or visit www.FlyFishTheDelaware.com

Upper Delaware Current Conditions & Forecast

2008-03-27T11:30:00.000-04:00

Upper Delaware Current Conditions & Forecast

The Upper Delaware reservoirs are currently at more than 100% of capacity. Couple that with the remaining snow pack in the higher elevations and the typical spring rains that have yet to come and we should be looking at some normal to above normal river flows for this Spring. The river remained higher than normal all winter due to scheduled water releases form NYC and rain and snow fall. With no anchor ice, it should mean some better than decent bug hatches and a high fish survival rate. The brown trout also had to have had an excellent spawning season with a higher than usual redd survival rate.

America's Sportsmen Take Aim at Congress:

2008-03-03T17:46:00.002-05:00

Global Warming Threatens Hunting, Fishing Traditions

More than 670 Groups From All 50 States Call for Cap-and-Trade Climate Legislation To Protect America's Wildlife Legacy

Washington, DC (February 12) – More than 670 hunting and fishing organizations from all 50 states, representing the millions of Americans who share America's sporting tradition, are urging their U.S. Senators and Representatives to target global warming with strong climate legislation.

Read the rest of the article: Click here

Learn more about global warming at targetglobalwarming.org

Walnut Creek Fishing Hours

2008-02-23T10:22:00.001-05:00

Erie County, PA, 2/6/08—Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Dr. Douglas Austen, acting under the authority of the Commission, has ordered the immediate closure of fishing on Walnut Creek from Route 5 north to Manchester Road Bridge between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The Executive Director has found that this action is necessary and appropriate to conserve and preserve fishing opportunities in the area. The action reflects the concern of some property owners about the noise levels and unnecessary neighborhood disturbances caused by anglers fishing Walnut Creek during the time period of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Prior to this action, from the day after Labor Day until the opening day of trout season in April, all Lake Erie tributary streams were closed to fishing from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., except for Walnut Creek and Elk Creek north of Route 5. The amendment now prohibits fishing on Walnut Creek from Route 5 north to Manchester Road Bridge between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The modified regulation has been posted and is now fully effective and enforceable. This temporary modification will remain in effect until January 1, 2009, unless the Commission, by appropriate action, adopts the amendment. The Commission, under a separate notice of proposed rulemaking, will seek public comments on a permanent change to the Commission’s fishing regulations.

Fish Factoid

2008-02-08T19:48:00.000-05:00

Just a little tid bit of information I find interesting...

In 1883, seven smallmouth bass were traded to Germany in exchange for the first brown trout eggs to be introduced in North America.

Upper Delaware River Gas Exploration

2008-01-19T21:19:00.000-05:00

It seems like all the nice places left in this country are continuously under attacks that threaten to degrade the environment.

With on going water, or rather de-watering issues almost a daily threat throughout the early and mid summer, to the eyesore of a proposed high power line along its bank, the Delaware river, the longest un-dammed river in the Eastern US is no stranger to these assaults.

Now add in natural gas exploration. In its January 17, 2008 issue, the Delaware River Reporter reveals the quiet maneuverings of natural gas drilling companies in the Upper Delaware River Basin. Read the whole story at:

Fishing’s Broad Economic and Conservation Impact

2008-01-12T21:13:00.000-05:00

Report Highlights Fishing’s Broad Economic and Conservation Impact
by Mary Jane Williamson

January 8, 2008 — Alexandria, VA — Recreational fishing is more than just a getaway for millions of Americans. As an industry, it provides a living for countless people in businesses ranging from fishing tackle and accessories manufacturing to travel and hospitality to boat manufacturing. According to a new report on fishing statistics, published by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), when expenditures are multiplied by America’s nearly 40 million anglers, their dollars have a significant impact on our nation’s economy. Read the rest of the report HERE

Maybe time to buy a 14 weight!

2008-01-07T17:15:00.001-05:00

Off Season Reading

2008-01-06T18:50:00.001-05:00

Here are two recent books on the Delaware and Catskills that should be mandatory reading for any serious fly fisherman of this historic region.

The first is Fly-Fishing Guide to the Upper Delaware River
by Paul Weamer.

The second book is Ed Van Put's Trout Fishing in the Catskills

Orvis Helios Fly Rod

2007-09-18T22:13:00.001-04:00

It was almost three months ago that Tom Rosenbauer sent me a prototype rod simply called the "whisper" rod. Nothing fancy about the prototype. From its plain looks it could easily have been a mid priced rod for the budget conscious angler (the rods that will make it to the consumer are anything but plain!). I initially cast it with the expectation that I indeed held a mid priced rod in my hand. Immediately after the first cast I knew this rod was truly something special, a rod for the serious caster who appreciates the finest tool ever made to ply his craft.

The more I fished the rod, the more I liked it. I put it into as many of my clients hands that I could and found one simple common denominator; everyone who cast it not only liked it, but they cast better with it than with the rod they were currently using.

The extreme light weight and delicate feel of this rod is in stark contrast to the swift power this rod generates to buck the sometimes windy conditions that surround big water trout fishing. The rod I have is a mid flex 8'6" 5 weight that feels like something less in my hand, yet casts like something more. Fighting and playing fish with this rod is incredible. I've used this rod's sensitive tip to protect delicate 7X tippets against twenty inch class brown and rainbow trout while the rods backbone easily handled bringing big fish in fast water to the net. It's hard to believe that such a light rod can do so much.

Steelhead Fishing in Pennsylvania

2007-08-22T15:01:00.000-04:00

Steelhead Fishing in Pennsylvania

By: David Alan

With the colder nights and that first frost brings forth the beginning of steelhead season in Pennsylvania. For many anglers the arrival of the steelhead in creeks like Walnut, Elk, and 20 Mile brings a sense of excitement that is unmatched by other forms of fishing in the state. Steelhead Salmon are an extremely powerful fish that can make the drag on a reel scream and push your rod to it's limits.

Now how do you go about fishing for these silver bullets? There are several techniques but the most common forms in Pennsylvania are fly fishing and drift fishing. In this article we'll go into detail on how to fish for steelhead in the Pennsylvania streams and what streams to fish in Pennsylvania.

Fly Fishing

First, lets talk about fly fishing and what type of gear you will need to have to tackle these fish. The following is a list of commonly used fly fishing equipment for fishing for steelhead in the PA streams.

Gear

Fly Rod = 7 to 8 weight rod from 9 to 10 foot

Fly Reel = Any fly reel with a good drag. Large arbor fly reels are preferred, they pick up the fly line a lot faster and tend to have a better drag system.

Fly Line = 7 to 9 weight forward floating fly line

Leader = Taper leader from 20 to 15 to 10 pound test leader material then connect 8 to 6 pound fluorocarbon as a tippet. If water is clear use 6 then 4 pound fluorocarbon as tippet.

Flies

Egg Patterns = Sucker Spawn, Blood Dots, Crystal Meth Flies, Estez Eggs

Sizes - 12, 14, 16 size nymph hooks 2X strong or 8 or 10 live bait (egg hook)

Streamers = Egg Sucking Leech, Wooly Buggers, Crystal Buggers

Sizes - 2, 4, 8, 10 salmon hooks or streamer hooks

Nymphs = Stone Flies, Prince Nymphs, Hairs Ears Nymphs

Sizes - 10, 12, 14 size nymph hooks 2X strong

Fly Fishing Techniques

Dead drifting with an indicator - To dead drift with a indicator simply put on a indicator or small trout bobber about 6 foot up the leader then attach some weight 2 BB sinkers or 1 3/0 sinker about a foot above the fly. You will need to move your indicator up and down your leader to find the depth of the water. To get a true dead drift your indicator should stand straight up and down and not have the appearance of dragging the bottom. (This is easier said then done; there are all types of indicators to help with getting a true dead drift)

Dead Drifting without an indicator - This is my favorite way to fish for steelhead! I use this method on the larger streams of Pennsylvania and New York with great success and you can't beat the strike you get when a steelhead slams your fly while it is swinging or at the end of the drift. You can use this technique whether you are fishing egg patterns, streamers, or nymphs and is extremely versatile in any type of water depth or current.

First, You need to have a leader and tippet any where from 10 to 15 feet depending on the size of the creek you are fishing. If fishing Elk Creek or Walnut creek in Erie, PA you will want to keep your leader around 10 to 11 feet. Next, depending on the depth of the water you want to put a sinker any where from 3 feet to 6 feet up your line. The sinker should be a single 3/0, 7, or 5 depending on the depth and speed of the water. Finally, you should cast your fly upstream at about 1 to 2 o'clock then mend your line upstream immediately then get your fly rod high in the air then let it drift and then swing through to the end of the drift. Don't pull the fly out of the water to quickly to cast again let it hang for a few seconds. Some of the most incredible hits are at the end of the drift. If you prefect this technique you will have some of the most fun days you have ever had fishing for steelhead.

Spin Fishing with a Drift Rod

An effective techniques of fishing the tributaries of Lake Erie is fishing with bait and a dead drift rod. I have seen more fish caught on skein, egg sacs, and minnows than any other technique. Fishing with bait you can consistently catch steelhead and 20 plus fish days are not uncommon when the fish are running.

Gear

Rod
8 to 12 foot spinning rod or 11 to 15 foot Canadian style drift rod. (Canadian style drift rod requires a center pin reel)ReelSpinning - Good spinning reel with a front drag that generally holds 140 yds of 8lb test is standard.Center Pin - Okuma makes a affordable center pin reel that will allow you to get started with this method. Some Center Pin reels will empty your pocket book.Line4 to 8 lb fluorocarbonIndicator / BobberSteelhead style drift bobber (Blackbird and Drennan make excellent floats)

Hooks
Size 4 Salmon or Steelhead hook will work for most circumstances, or a size 8 octopus style.

Split Shot . You will need a variety of split shot from BB to 5's depending on depth and current

Bait
Egg Sacs, Skein, Single Salmon Eggs, Minnows, Shiners, and Worms

How to Rig

First put your drift bobber on first, generally you float will be anywhere from 4 feet to 7 feet depending on depth from your bait. Next stagger your split shots about 12 inches above your bait to 15 inches above your bait. Space your split shots anywhere from 2 to 2 inches apart. Next, tie on a salmon hook or octopus style hook. If fishing skein or egg sacs, use a size 4 hook to hold the skein on the hook. If you are fishing clear water and using single eggs use a 12 to 14 size hook.

Where to fish

Elk Creek - Is the largest creek of the Erie PA streams, I would have to say that I prefer Elk creek to all the other creeks because of it's size and the ability to do some hiking to in the woods to find a place to fish. There are many well-known holes on Elk Creek, including the mouth Elk Creek Access Area, the Legion Hole, and the Conrail Tubes on the lower sections of the creek and Foley's End and Streuchen Flats on the upper end of the creek. At the beginning of the season focus your attention on the lower sections of the creek due to fish not being able to make it to the upper sections. Then in the spring focus on the upper sections where the steelhead will spawn.

Walnut Creek - Is the second largest creek in the Erie PA region most if not all the fishing at Walnut Creek is done at or just above the Walnut Creek Marina. This creek is full of steelhead and fishermen! It is a small stream that runs right beside the parking lot of Walnut Creek Marina and is a great place to take kids and is accessible for all people.

Twenty Mile - Is the largest of the Eastern mile streams to fish Twenty mile you will need to park along route 5 and walk to mouth. Fishing at Twenty Mile can be great when Walnut and Elk creeks are to high and muddy to fish.

Route 5 Streams - There a number of small streams that you can access by using route 5 as your guide these streams include Raccoon, Godfrey, Trout, Cascade, Four Mile, Seven Mile, Twelve Mile, and Sixteen Mile.

Steelhead fishing is one of the most exciting fishing opportunities we have in Pennsylvania plus you have the opportunity to catch a fish that often goes over 10 pounds and fights like no other species of fish known to Pennsylvania waters. My only warning to all those thinking of going steelhead fishing is be prepared to catch the bug then spend endless hours thinking, tying flies, preparing bait and for the next chance to land that silver bullet.

Author Bio

Owner of Penns Ads www.pennsads.com/community which is a community guide for all of central Pennsylvania.

Goodby to Graphite?

2007-07-25T19:10:00.000-04:00

"A Scottish company has joined a Las Vegas firm to make fishing rods from carrots.

E21, the American company, is applying the same technology in an attempt to develop golf club shafts that would reduce tendonitis and drive a golf ball farther and straighter than conventional materials would.

Carrot Stix, the veggie-based fishing rods, won the best-in-show award at the American Sportfishing Association’s international trade show..."

The company behind this innovation is CelluComp

Read the whole story at: http://www.projo.com/sports/to....html

The Top Five Smallmouth Bass Rivers

2007-07-25T11:50:00.000-04:00

In their July, 2007 issue, Field & Stream Magazine named the Adroscoggin River, Upper Mississippi River, New River, John Day River and the Upper Delaware River as their picks for the best smallmouth bass rivers in the US.

I'm not sure about four of the five, but the Upper Delaware is something I've known about all along. There's about 60 miles of outstanding smallmouth water on this stretch of river holding more than enough fish to provide great fun on fly or light tackle.

The Best Fish of Summer - Smallmouth Bass!

2007-07-10T18:57:00.000-04:00

Too many fly fishermen, and spin fishermen for that matter, hang up their rods at the end of each Spring and lament the passing of another fishing season. What many don't realize is the end of trout season is the beginning of another exciting, challenging and rewarding fishing season. It's smallmouth time.

For the trout fisherman this should be a natural progression as these fish live in streams and rivers too warm to hold trout, yet they share many of the same habitat preferences except for water temperature.

There's been a lot written about smallmouth bass, so I'm not going to get into it too deep here. A quick search on the web will yield much information or better yet, reading through one of the many books on the subject

Keep your skills honed, your tackle from getting dusty and most of all, enjoy the great fun these hard fighters will provide through the summer and fall.

Some suggested reading: Fly-Fishing for Smallmouth
Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Strategies for the Fly Rod
How to Catch Smallmouth Bass

Pennsylvania's Wild Trout

2007-04-02T21:59:00.000-04:00

This is brought to you from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission...

Pennsylvania’s trout anglers have high catch rates and high release rates, according to two surveys released last year by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Penn State University. The studies found that most trout caught in the state were released by anglers, in turn extending and improving fishing opportunities for other anglers.
Anglers fishing stocked trout streams in the spring caught, on average, slightly more than one trout per hour fished; 63.1% of those fish were subsequently released. During the course of the legal fishing season on wild trout waters, average catch rates varied from around one fish every two hours for brook and brown trout on large streams to nearly two brook trout per hour on small streams. An amazing 92.7% of wild trout were released.
The PFBC collected angler data through on-the-water interviews and creel surveys. Penn State processed and analyzed the data as well as using an economic model to determine the fiscal benefits associated with Pennsylvania trout fishing. The studies were conducted independently of each other. Data collection for wild trout fishing was collected through the spring and summer of 2004. The stocked trout study focused on stocked streams during the opening weekend of the season and eight subsequent weeks in 2005. Fall and winter fishing for stocked trout and fishing in trout-stocked lakes were not examined in this effort. Pennsylvania stocks about 20% of its adult trout into lakes each year.
An estimated total of 80,098 angler trips were made on Pennsylvania’s wild trout streams during the regular trout season in 2004. By stream size, 57.5% of the angler trips were made on large streams and 42.5% of the angler trips were made on small streams. Over the course of the survey period angler effort averaged 239 angler hours per mile on large streams and 44 hours per mile on small streams.
PFBC sampling work indicates there are approximately 600,000 legal-size wild trout in Pennsylvania waters. Anglers caught an estimated total of 343,240 trout on wild trout streams and released 92.7%. Only about 25,000 trout were harvested on all wild trout streams during the 2004 survey period. Anglers harvested a very small number (9 per mile) of the legal size trout available on wild trout streams (221 per mile).
Both the complete wild trout fishery use study and the entire study on the spring stocked trout fishery use are available on the PFBC’s web site at www.fishandboat.com.

Delaware River System Post Flood Fishing Season

2007-01-11T16:30:00.000-05:00

The flood of June, 2006 was devastating to the local communities and the fishing industry on the Delaware. For several weeks the system was unfishable and the personal and the business losses were extreme to everyone in the community.

By the end of July things began to change. There was a tremendous amount of bait washed into the river from the reservoir and the tributaries. As the water receded we found many large and very hungry brown trout in the river more than willing to crush streamers. There were days when you could watch fish slash and boil on bait fish, throw your fly at the "blitz" and hook up to a very nice brown.

It took longer for the insects to come around and seemingly longer for the fish to get on them, but as the season progressed flying ants, olives, isonychias, hebes, and cahills were back on the menu.

Was it as good as normal? Mostly not. It is obvious that the fishery took a hit from the flood, but it is far from destroyed. The changes in the river have rearranged some of the riffles, created others where there weren't any before, and all in all caused a new learning experience for fishermen.

There are still many awesome wild trout in the Delaware system. From the number of small fish around this summer and fall it looks like we'll be okay. I wouldn't expect the banner Spring like we had this past year ( ...who knows?), but you can be sure there are still trout in the river. True, many tributaries have been damaged by the flood and time will tell if the damage will definitely affect future recruitment. I was fearful that we lost a year class of rainbows, but seeing a decent number of baby 'bows in the river has eased that fear some.

As far as next years hatches go, this is something that time will tell. As long as the fish are there they will still have to eat, just what they eat might change. I think we'll see bugs, just not as many as we're used to.

All in all, the resiliency of a wild fishery will prove itself superior to one dependant of domesticated trout.

By the way, the smallmouth bass fishing this summer and fall was truly incredible. Anything less than a thirty fish day was lousy. The fish were big and plentiful and more than willing to eat flies and lures.

Find out more about this fishery at Cross Current Guide Service & Outfitters

VHS Threat to Fisheries

2007-01-09T17:34:00.000-05:00

If you have been fishing in the Great Lakes Basin, which includes all tributaries to the Great Lakes, it is important that you clean your equipment, especially waders and watercraft, before you enter any other water bodies.

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) virus is a real and current threat to fresh and salt water fisheries. All anglers should be concerned about this danger that, so far, has been isolated to the Great Lakes Basin in freshwater environments. In saltwater, the virus has been found in the Pacific Northwest and in the North Atlantic.

Here are a few websites where you can get more information about this fish killing virus:

USDA Emerging Disease Notice
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia in the Great Lakes Region
NOAA VHS Factsheet
Michigan DNR Factsheet

I'd like to thank Chuck Murray, Fisheries Biologist, Pennsylvania Fish nad Boat Commission's Lake Erie Resarch Unit who has provided some of the links above and has kept me updated on this disease.

Wading Tips For The Modern Fly Fisher By Stanley Stanton

2007-01-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

A certain amount of physical conditioning is needed to do any kind of serious wading. You will need do those 45-minute morning walks three or four times a week to get in shape. Wading in rivers is not the same as walking down to the corner store for the morning paper. For your own safety and enjoyment it pays to be fit.

For most fly-fishing situations, stocking foot type waders are the best because they are lightweight, easy to get on and off, and give better flexibility and comfort. The breathable type wader is the best for most wading situations. They are cool in the warmer months of the year and warm in colder water conditions when used with the proper wading underwear. However, I prefer neoprene type waders during the winter and late fall months given the cold weather and water conditions here in Oregon. Neoprene also gives the user the added benefit of flotation should you happen to fall in that icy cold water. It is also a very good idea to wear a float coat or some type life jacket just to be on the safe side during the colder months of the year.

Why are waders better than hip boots? Simply put, waders keep your back side dry when it rains, and there are those special times when fly fishing that the waders will allow you to get out farther from shore line. Many times waders will allow you to move to a better position so you can cast to that special place that holds fish.

Good quality wading shoes with felt soles are a very good investment. Better yet, felt soles wading shoes with studs or cleats are even better and a must when wading bedrock rivers, or rivers with large round rocks. Felts with studs or cleats will also help you avoid lower back pain caused by slipping and sliding around those smooth slimy rocks during a long day of fishing. Take my word for it; you do not want to spoil a destination fishing trip by being stove-up with lower back pain. So spend the extra bucks and invest in a good pair of wading shoes with felt soles and studs. If you now have wading shoes with only felt soles, you can purchase studded sandals or have a shoe shop replace your present felts with studded felts.

Did you know that most people fall down wading when they first enter the water? I learned this when I was a kid and my uncle did just that every time he took me fishing. He only had hip boots, and he always fell in just as soon as he entered the water. I couldn't understand why he even wore boots; they were always half full of water.

Here are a few wading tips my uncle could have used: When starting out, take your time and get the feel for the conditions of the river bottom, the flow of the current and water clarity.

After several minutes in the water you may need to adjust your wading boot strings or sandal bindings. You don't want your feet slipping back and forth inside your wading boots; you need a solid firm footing while wading.

When you first enter the water, your steps should be about half the distance they would be if you were walking on dry solid ground. Keeping your feet apart about the width of your shoulders will also help you to maintain balance while in the water.

When you need to move down stream, side-step and keep your body parallel to the flow of the current.

Do not try to back out of the river, you must turn around and walk out just like you walked into the river. For example, if you are in the river and the current is flowing from your left to right, make your turn on your right foot, using it as a pivot point and let the current help make the turn with the left foot. Just do the opposite if the current is flowing from your right to left. Never try to turn into the current flow to make a turn.

Always take your time and be careful, if you are uncertain about your wading abilities be sure to wear a flotation device.

If you feel uneasy about wading for any reason, consider using a wading staff. They are inexpensive and will give you that needed third leg when you need it. You might even try making one out of that old golf club or ski pole you have gathering dust in the corner of the garage. Remember to wrap the wading staff tip with duct tape to prevent that clanging noise on the river bottom.

Please remember to be careful while you are on the river, do not harm our wonderful land, don’t litter, and please practice catch and release for the next generation.

Stanley Stanton is an Oregon Fly Fishing Guide and McKenzie River fishing guide, visit http://www.oregon-fly-fishing-with-stan.com For information about Fly-fishing for Rainbow Trout, Steelhead Fly fishing and salmon fishing in Oregon. Email: stan@oregon-fly-fishing-with-stan.com The above author authorizes distribution of this article with the provision that it be reprinted or Published in its entirety, including this resource box.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stanley_Stanton

VHS in NY

2006-12-30T22:49:00.000-05:00

DEC Adopts Emergency Regulation to Help Prevent Spread of VHS to Additional New York State Waters

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today the filing of an emergency regulation to help prevent the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) virus to additional waters in the State. The regulation, which takes effect immediately, limits the release, possession, and taking of certain bait and other live fish species. VHS is a pathogen of fish and does not pose any threat to public health.

VHS was first confirmed in New York waters in May 2006 in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, and has now also been confirmed in several fish species in Great Lakes basin waters in New York State and other states. Once a fish is infected with VHS, there is no known cure. Because of the fatal virus's ability to spread, and potential impact on fisheries, recreation, and the economy, the World Organization of Animal Health has categorized VHS as a transmissible disease with the potential for profound socio-economic consequences.

VHS can be spread from water body to water body through a variety of means, not all of them known at this point. One known mechanism is through the movement of fish, including bait fish. DEC, in cooperation with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, is sampling waters across the State, including all waters used as sources of brood stock for DEC hatchery activities, to help determine how far the disease has spread in New York.

A Federal Order was issued on October 24, 2006, by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in an effort to prevent the spread of VHS to other waters and to protect economically important sport fisheries and aquaculture. The Federal Order prohibits the importation of certain species of live fish from Ontario and Quebec and the interstate movement of the same fish species from eight states bordering the Great Lakes. The Federal Order was amended on November 14, 2006 to allow interstate movement of fish species provided the fish have been tested and certified free of VHS based on testing procedures implemented on the state level. Information on the Federal Order can be found on the APHIS website at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/aqua/ .

The Federal Order does not address the movement of fish within New York State. In-state movement of fish for use as bait or for stocking could spread VHS in New York and cause significant adverse impacts to the State's fish resources. Therefore, in order to protect New York's valuable fishery resources, DEC has adopted emergency regulations to:

Prohibit the commercial collection of bait fish from waters of the State where VHS has been detected. The rule amends State regulations by removing certain waters impacted by VHS from the list of specially designated waters that allow bait fish to be taken for commercial purposes. A list of waters being removed is attached;
Limit the personal possession and use of bait fish. The rule limits the number of bait fish that may be possessed to a total of 100, as well as restricts the use of bait fish for personal use to the specific water from which it was collected. This rule does not pertain to the possession of bait fish in the Marine District; and
Require live fish destined for release into the waters of the State to be inspected by certified professionals and be certified to be free of VHS and other serious fish diseases. The rule prohibits the placement of live fish into the waters of the State (including possessing, importing and transporting live fish for purposes of placing them into the waters of the State) unless accompanied by a fish health inspection report issued within the previous 12 months. For all species of freshwater fish, a fish health inspection report shall certify that the fish are free of VHS, Furunculosis, Enteric Red Mouth, Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus, Spring Viremia of Carp Virus, and Heterosporis. For salmon and trout, the fish health reports must also certify that the fish are free of Whirling Disease, Bacterial Kidney Disease, and Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHN). The fish health reports must be issued by an independent, qualified inspector, as well as conform with specific testing methods and procedures.

The emergency regulations became effective today - November 21, 2006. Text of the regulation is available at www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/propregs/ on the DEC website. Hard copies of the rulemaking can also be requested from DEC by writing to: Shaun Keeler, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4750; or by calling DEC at (518) 402-8920.

While the emergency measure is in place, DEC will proceed with proposing these amendments as a permanent rulemaking. Publication in the State Register on December 6, 2006, will initiate a 45-day public comment period, concluding on January 22, 2006. During this time, the public may email comments by accessing www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/propregs/ on the DEC website. Comments can also be mailed to Shaun Keeler, NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4750 .

Fly Tying Tips and Tools

2006-12-14T22:23:00.000-05:00

Fly Tying Tips and Tools
By: Peter Roberts

Tying your own flies can be very rewarding and relaxing. It also has another benefit in giving you something to do if you are unfortunate to live where the rivers are frozen in winter, or fly fishing is closed for some months each year.

The tools are simple. You could make most of them yourself, however it would be best for beginners to buy at least a fly tying vice. There have been over the years quite a number of different vice types manufacturered. In my opinion, the cam type of vice is the easiest to use. This is a vice that has a cam lever to open and close the jaws. It's adjustable to various angles and hook sizes. Quick and easy to open and close.

The next thing to get your hands on are some hackle pliers. These are also a cheap spend, but really worthwhile. They are a little difficult to make a pair yourself.

Apart from these items, you'll need a pair of curved scissors with sharp points and another set with small straight blades. You probably could also do with a needle that is pushed into a stick. This is for fixing hakkles that have been inadvertantly wound under. You can also use it for putting laquer onto the finished head.

What sort of hooks should you use? My advice is to not fall for the trap of using any old hook. Buy proper fly hooks. These have a tapered shank and are usually hollow ground. These are lighter than normal hooks, a real advantage in dry flies.

The tapered shank lets the head, especially the eye of the fly be tied tighter and smaller. When you consider the work involved in tying a fly, why waste effort on the wrong hook. If you make a mistake, all you need to do is cut the fly off the hook and start again.

Something you could consider these days is the opportunity of actually buying a complete fly tying set. These sets cost only around $50 or so. They have vices, scissors, pliers, hooks and all the feathers and fur you need to get started. Some even come with videos or DVD's.

Whichever way you go, it is a cheap way to spend many an hour, in preparation of catching your next bag of fish. The satisfaction of catching your next trout on a fly you tied yourself is imeasureable.

Author Bio

Staff writer at fly-fishing-library.com Fly fishing site strictly for enthusiasts, with informative articles updated regularly.
Article Source: www.ArticleGeek.com

Public-Trust Ownership of Rivers

2006-11-02T22:21:00.000-05:00

There is still much confusion regarding ownership of thousand of miles of rivers in the United States, and about the types of activities that are legal on that river, under the "Public Trust Doctrine" of law.

The only organization that I know of whose focus is on achieving public-trust ownership of rivers, conserving rivers through public-trust ownership, and ensuring the public's legal rights to enjoy rivers is the National Organization for Rivers (NORS).

The mission of the National Organization for Rivers is to confirm public-trust ownership of rivers, by getting river navigability law applied in actual practice, on rivers both large and small. NORS is working to conserve natural rivers, and to confirm your legal rights to canoe, kayak, raft, fish, walk along, and otherwise visit rivers, in non-consumptive ways.

Check them out and, if you'd like to continue fishing the public places where you currently do, please consider joining them.

Fall Smallmouth Bass Action Ready to Begin

2006-08-30T19:45:00.000-04:00

The cooling temperatures and shorter days of September and October signal the height of the smallmouth bass fishing on New York and Pennsylvania's Upper Delaware River.

Well known as a wild trout fishery, the Upper Delaware is also an excellent smallmouth bass fishery. All spring, fly fishermen from throughout the East travel to the Upper Delaware River hoping to catch a few of the hard fighting wild rainbows or browns that make the river their home. On their way, many fishermen drive by another stretch of the river that has its own challenging wild fishery. The area is between Narrowsburg and Port Jervis, NY.

This stretch of the Delaware encompasses over thirty miles of prime smallmouth habitat and is part of the nearly seventy-five mile long Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. The most use this part of the river sees is by recreational canoes and rafters who enjoy its swifter currents and relative remoteness from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The greatest fishing pressure this part of river sees is during May when fishermen are chasing American shad.

Joe Demalderis of Cross Current Guide Service is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide who enjoys the challenge of light tackle and fly fishing for smallmouth on the Upper Delaware. Floating the river in a sixteen-foot ClackaCraft drift boat is the perfect way to experience the fun and excitement of smallmouth fishing.

Cross Current Guide Service prides itself with always having premium tackle available for their clients to use, or of course, anglers are always welcome to bring their own. The same tackle you use for trout is suitable for smallmouth. In fly rods, nine foot six and seven weights are ideal. But anything from a five to eight weight will do the job.

So, grab your fly or spinning rod and enjoy a day in the autumn foliage catching some feisty smallmouth bass.