MAINE - Life in the Slow Lane
Hmm so your casting from the dam down stream , what I do is let a few yards of line out and let the fly float down stream . When I want another drift to that location instead of a cast I lift my rod back and pull up some line at the same time then stop with the fly just a few feet in front of me. I lower the rod letting the current bring the fly back down stream sort of like nymph fish but with a dry. Not all conditions require a pretty drift but it does help. What makes it difficult in your cirumstance is you don't see fish rising. Brookies are known to do that. So it makes it hard for you to drift a fly over areas without knowing if there are fish there. I think Lee will be able to help you on this type of fishing sense he does fish allot of small streams . Do you fish the Beaver pond behind the dam ? Sometimes these ponds are loaded with nice Brook trout . I will give this question more thought and I will try to provide you with a better answer. Dave V
PS be carefull around the front of that beaver dam sometimes the water is pretty deep there. I found myslef underwater with chest waders on and that is really bad feeling. Try nymph fishing right in front of the dam find a pocket or two and you wil be surprised what you might find tucked up close to the dam. Some of the biggest brookies I have ever caught were caught right up against the dam.
Thanks for the help. I do fish the area behind me only to give the water down stream time to calm down. Off this dam it is not uncommon, worm dunking, to catch and release 20 +/- trout in an hour or two. I think what helps me is the oxygen level and cooler water temps in this seciton of stream and the fact that you need to put a little bit of work in to get to it. Less pressure more fish, right? I'm bound and determined this May to go down there with only the fly rod and see what I can do.
Scott
What I would do is a little short cast and let the fly land just below you and then let it drift down through the run. I love fishing dry's down stream. It will be much harder to fish a nymph from the beaver dam but give it a try anyway, you may just supprise yourself. Small streamers may also work well.
Lee
Yes exactlly what Lee said . Short cast let it drift down stream . Once you get that down try a short roll cast. You might want to tie on a small grey ghost , mickeyfinn a streamer pattern. Rip it up stream mix up your retrieve. Dave V
So Dave, with the streamer patterns I should be letting it drift for a while and then be stripping line back up?
Correct Scott just make a shot cast let out some more line and begin your retrieve. Sometimes I will let it swing thru the currnet and then start my strip Some people will fish a Mudller Minow this way or a Wooly Bugger. I like the old Mickeyfinn Dave V
Thanks, I will be anxious to try these techniques. I was also wondering if you could provide me with some small pond tactics. Heading out Sunday with a John boat to fish some small bodies of water that produce well after ice out. I was thinking of using a larger streamer or nymph with some split shot. What do you think? I hope to get some pictures to create an album with. Again, all this information you folks are providing me with is fantastic.
Scott
I streamer in small ponds work awesome, Grey Ghost , Mickeyfinns, Now you might want to read up on the regs some places and I think Maine is one of them ,, it is illegal to add weight to a fly line. I could be worng but you might want to thow that one by Lee. If it is illegal then you can get what they call a sinking fly line or sinking tip . Post the question is it illegal to add weight to a fly line I am sure Lee would know ? Dave V
Great point on the regs. I recall recently in the Maine Sportsman Journal they had a write up about that. I'll look it over and hopefully will have some news to share with all of you Sunday evening.
There is a great spot that I fish from mid May through August and later if the rain helps out with water levels. I have fished this stream for ten plus years and have always had great success. The particular spot that I fish the most is far from where most park there vehicle. It ends up at a dead water with a good size beaver dam. From the dam I have about 50 yards of back casting room. The problem: I have read a fly needs a drag free presentation. How do I get this fishing down stream on top of a beaver dam?
The edges down stream are choked by alders and the water level does not permit wading. I estimate the down stream drop to be five plus feet. The other observation I have made at this site is that I have NEVER seen a trout surface for any feed.
Should I cast with plenty of slack and let the current take the line? Without seeing any top water feeding should I be using a nymph, Copper John for example?
Thanks for any advise that can be provided,
Scott
scott