What's your favorite fishing situation?

billems · Post by **billems** » 01/10/21 17:38

What is your favorite fishing situation? For me, it is dry flies during a hatch of mayflies. I like wets and streamers, but the dry fly game is elevated in my eye. My favorite situation is the last week in May, or beginning of June when the sulfur hatch is on. It's an evening rise, and can often be difficult. One night it's like sunfish-off-the-dock; the next, you can't buy a fish. Same hatch, same weather, same time. The mystery is part of its appeal. i also love it when the sulfurs subside, followed by the March Brown spinner fall, which brings up the bigger trout.

novisor12 · Post by **novisor12** » 01/10/21 18:44

1.) The Hendrickson hatch
1.A) Hoppers on a stream that has large trout and gets almost no pressure.

Eric Peper · Post by **Eric Peper** » 01/10/21 19:10

flat water, tiny flies and an aggressive feeding situation that is a conundrum . . .as close to heaven as I'm likely to get

Oxbow · Post by **Oxbow** » 01/10/21 19:13

I also love the hatches, especially looking for the largest fish sipping and then targeting that fish. But my favorite situation is when on a small stream with nothing going on. Then I see a nice trout rise, note the location and estimate where the fish settles down. Game on - it’s just me, the trout, stream and trees, nobody else. Then studying the current for the best place to land my fly and moving into the best location. All the while watching for another rise in the meantime. Probably thinking I may have one shot. I usually wait for another rise to tell me I have not spooked the fish and then cast after determining what type of cast is needed. Sometimes it works and sometimes not but it’s the discovery and thinking process that excites me. Great question.

Gnome · Post by **Gnome** » 01/10/21 19:40

post-spawn pike on the flats and in the weedbeds. As visual as any dry fly fishing with the fish generally being a lot bigger. And the electricity of a pike hammering a neutrally buoyant streamer is violent and as adrenaline producing than any other style of fishing for me.

NSA PDI Gnome

twistedtippet · Post by **twistedtippet** » 01/10/21 20:05

For me it's Trico's. Mid morning spinner falls, 24 & 26 spinners on 12' 8x leader, and a 2 weight rod. Every fish in the river busy gobbling tiny spinners off the surface. Goes on for almost 6 weeks most years.
tt

PYochim · Post by **PYochim** » 01/10/21 20:12

I like fishing when the Adams or Royal Coachman are hatching. No, actually I get the most thrill when fish are feeding on flies fished in the film.

Shrimpman · Post by **Shrimpman** » 01/10/21 20:21

In recollecting, I have to say I've enjoyed myself most when the fish are just "on" and not too picky about the pattern. Just having a Humpy tied on and being able to concentrate on presentation, as opposed to having to decipher why your flies are being refused, makes for a simpler pleasure.

Flyman615 · Post by **Flyman615** » 01/10/21 20:35

What does this topic have to do with collecting bamboo fly rods? Just curious...

nativebrownie · Post by **nativebrownie** » 01/10/21 20:42

Just dreaming - smallest headwaters in an eastern forest, mid/late summer - long hike in - and then a Leonard Catskill 8' (2-3 wt)... one box of flies - #20 spider with gold floss body, #22 para ant, #18 pheasant tail, #22 olive... I seek this out... the beauty of an eastern forest leaves me quiet...

Ear4 · Post by **Ear4** » 01/10/21 21:39

Sporadic mayfly hatch over smooth water. Picking an individual fish and trying to get THAT fish to eat a fly. And the really good ones do not take on the first drift of the first fly. Few things are finer in life than getting stuck on that one fish who keeps eating naturals but I have not cracked yet. Adjusting flies, angles, etc. I loose all track of time. Hopefully I do get it in the end but I love the process.

Oh and the flies are dries or emergers

Flykuni3 · Post by **Flykuni3** » 01/11/21 02:39

Eric Peper wrote: ↑
01/10/21 19:10
flat water, tiny flies and an aggressive feeding situation that is a conundrum . . .as close to heaven as I'm likely to get

You, you...Ranch addict, you.

Flykuni3 · Post by **Flykuni3** » 01/11/21 02:42

nativebrownie wrote: ↑
01/10/21 20:42
Just dreaming - smallest headwaters in an eastern forest, mid/late summer - long hike in - and then a Leonard Catskill 8' (2-3 wt)... one box of flies - #20 spider with gold floss body, #22 para ant, #18 pheasant tail, #22 olive... I seek this out... the beauty of an eastern forest leaves me quiet...

Yes this I can relate to, to the max. I’ll add that the getting into position, then making the perfect first cast, and getting that fish to rise, ahhh. With a lite cane rod, like a Catskill.

m1911 · Post by **m1911** » 01/11/21 06:55

Later in the Fall, low clouds and rain; or snow.....and all alone.

Caneghost · Post by **Caneghost** » 01/11/21 08:30

Stalking risers alone on flat water and spying them out in those little out of the way locations on the river. Gentle bank feeders in the shade: very large wild fish, very tiny nearly imperceptible little disturbance to the surface. On the best days it takes some time to study and chose the best position and angle to thwart the current tongues that made the fish choose that lie, and then... perfection!

Shrimpman · Post by **Shrimpman** » 01/11/21 10:36

Flyman615 wrote: ↑
01/10/21 20:35
What does this topic have to do with collecting bamboo fly rods? Just curious...

Good point!

I paid no attention to the sub-forum, just the topic.

DaveNJ · Post by **DaveNJ** » 01/11/21 11:02

Always changing, but lately I've really enjoyed early season black stones up top in Jersey.

Also had a 3 days stretch on the East Branch one summer where streamers were on all day. For 3 days we slugged giant browns on them, like a ten a piece each day. I remember I pulled one through a chocolatey feeder pouring into the river and caught one that has a bunch of worms hanging out of its mouth. Amazing time.

mac7x · Post by **mac7x** » 01/11/21 11:07

I love fishing Wilson's old home pool early in the morning, early July. One of the best pools on the Miramichi. Around 9 o'clock, see fish showing above the Priceville footbridge, knowing they will soon be arriving, hopefully willing to take a fly.
Absolute favorite is being able to take the time to fish for a salmon that has shown interest in a fly but not taken it. Not always possible if rotation fishing, especially if the fish is moving.

ted patlen · Post by **ted patlen** » 01/11/21 11:21

Searching for sporadic, feeding fish in impossible lies.

cappy · Post by **cappy** » 01/11/21 11:34

Tiny deep woods NE WTS late spring, or early fall with a light rod and buggy dry fly, while everyone else is fishing larger streams.

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