Chasing Daylight.

Lost all motivation to do my work, so I took a drive to the river. Almost didn't make it in time! It is getting dark so early, only had time for a couple casts. It was good enough for a quick fix. A couple more weeks!

Delaware Trip.

Some coastal plain species from a recent Delaware trip. We did not find what we were looking for, but a great trip nonetheless.

The Speckled Trout.

  

Took a couple casts with the Tenkara rod. 

Swallow Falls.

I had Swallow Falls all to myself. I don't think there are any trout here, but it is so pretty thought about fishing it anyway. 

 

Browns Are Back in Town.

Stopped by a small trib to the Yough. Last year about this time it was Brookies and Rainbows, now it is Browntown.  I love Brown Trout, but I was not thrilled to see them here. Took a couple casts with a small streamer.

Hanging On.

Fall is probably my favorite season, unfortunately, it has always been the busiest time of year for me. This year has been no exception. While Fall is still hanging on and my schedule is jam-packed, Winter is within sight!

Just About Trout.

Brook Trout

 

 

Autumn Air.

I have been super busy, hopefully, life slows down a little bit so I can sneak in more than an hour or so on the water. However, tonight was just what I needed to ease the mind. I rushed down to the river and fished a location that I usually pass over. I fished slow and tried to enjoy the evening and the Autumn air.  

 

Look at that face!

 

 

From the Bank on Big Water.

Got away from the computer for an hour and put the Tenkara rod to work on the North Branch of the Potomac River. Water was really off color but the fish did not seem to mind.

 

I don't always take pictures of Fallfish, but when I do, it is of pretty ones. This picture really does do this fish justice. Landed a bunch of Rainbows, but the little one below was the prettiest of them all. 

 

Trout Development.

The Brook Trout eggs that these alevins hatched from were fertilized in about Mid-September. 

Down the Road.

After a very long day and less than an hour's worth of daylight, I decided to sneak down to the local stream to see if I could put a bend in the Tenkara rod. As soon as the line hit the water this little local stream did not disappoint.   

 

However, this beautiful Brookie made the day. Western Maryland still has Native Brook Trout in a ton of places you would never expect! I love nothing more than coming across one in a place I don't expect them to be. 

 

Savage River Report 11/1/2017

This will be my very first report. In these reports, I am going to be sharing information about what is going on within the stream so that you can fish for trout in a way that is in-sync with what is going on. Right now, the spawn is on! Brown and Brook trout are spawning or have already spawned, so eggs and alevin are likely to be present within the stream. I usually try to limit my fishing in Oct-Nov for this reason. This time period typically, aligned with Fall migration of Striped Bass and Fall trout stockings events. I will often get my trout fix fishing for some stockers in non-reproducing streams.

However, let's think about what is occurring within our streams right now. Eggs like these are in the gravel and will slowly be growing into alevin (egg-yolk stage trout). The pictured eggs are about a month old.

As fall progresses to winter the alevin will become fry and will soon be able to get out of the way of a wading fisherman.

If you are fishing right now this is some interesting information. Fish are spending a lot of time and energy on activities other than feeding, so they are hungry! Why not imitate trout eggs and alevin? While I am not a fan of fishing "Cheater Flies," I do not mind fishing an egg pattern in the Fall/early Winter because it is a natural forage at this time of year. I like to think about how the young of the year are progressing and imitate that life stage as I am fishing. The fish are eating eggs or alevin now, will transition to eating the fry, and eventually even some very small parr stage fish.

So, 'matching the hatch' this time of year is less about bugs and more about fish. Dead drifting Egg or Alevin patterns is killer right now. Small streamers dead drifted or small streamers losing the battle with the current are a good bet as well. 

Most insect hatches occur in the Spring or early Summer. Adult forms of many of the insects that occur in the stream do not persist as adults for long, they reproduce and die. If the majority of the insect assemblage reproduced in spring or early summer, you can be certain that there is a high abundance of larval insects in the stream.  However, with few hatches on the horizon, many of those larval insects will not be readily available for trout. So, if you are imitating insects, I would be mimicking larval/nymph stages of both caddis and mayfly that have randomly lost grip with the substrate. I would focus my fishing low within the water column and try to keep my nymph rig close to the streambed. 

Localized hatches are occurring (mostly midges) on warmer days so I would be ready with some small (20+) dark color dry fly midge patterns. These little micro hatches can be a lot of fun if you are set on catching a few fish on a dry fly. 

As always, there is no wrong way to fish the river if you are catching fish, but I like to think about what is going on and fish accordingly. When I first started fishing Egg and Alevin patterns I was super excited to add, yet another, lifecycle to my fly box. Give it a go I guarantee you will not be disappointed. 

Recommended Flies: 

Eggs/Alevin, Small Streamers, PT Nymphs, Caddis larvae