Believe it- Trout Still Hitting

I hadn't fished for trout since the Friday before Memorial Day in Massachusetts ( the day I got number 100). I figured I had a great spring and since I hope to get to New Hampshire a few times I'd give it up for other species.

Yesterday I felt like casting my fly rod so I drove down Wild Acre Road for a few casts. I really only planned on catching some sunfish to kill time. While I was there a boat came trolling by. I asked the guy if he caught any. To my surprise he said he got a couple rainbows but they were not biting like the day before. He said he got a bunch on Sunday. This surprised me because Falls Pond is a put and take fishery. I thought most of the trout were hiding in what few cool spots were left. So I thought I'd give trout at least one more chance for the year.

I went to the fly fishing only pond later that night. I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew there are enough sunfish and crappie there. So if the trout were all gone or dead, at least I'd have some action. I got to the lake at the same time as two other guys. They were fishing from the shore roll casting. There were some rainbows actively feeding on insects at the surface. It wasn't fast and furious, but enough were there I knew I wasn't wasting my time. Within five minutes I got my first trout.

The two guys on shore didn't catch any last night. However they told me that the night before they caught almost a dozen on wooly buggers. Most of the fish were out towards the middle tonight. They were doing nothing wrong. They just couldn't reach the feeding fish. I ended up catching five rainbows from the kayak and about 10 sunfish. All in the two and a half hours before dark. I couldn't believe how good it was.

The next three days are going to be hot. The temperatures are going to be 85, 91,96. If the trout can make it through this hot spell its supposed to cool off. Friday night, Saturday and Sunday are not going to be above seventy. Fishing might be good until after that. Obviously in the deeper ponds that trout do carry over the trout will survive the next few days, but they will be in deeper water and harder to catch. The smaller shallower ponds that don't thermocline are the ones to worry about. In places like Falls Pond and the warmer creeks trout fishing might be over by Friday but it wasn't as of yesterday!

Oh by the way my streak of consecutive times catching a trout ended while up in New Hampshire. It ended at thirty one. I can definately live with a streak ending after a month of consecutively catching fish every time out. I guess all I can do now is try to beat 31!

100th Trout of the Year

Caught trout number 100. I never thought I'd reach this number. I did blow off striper fishing. Not to reach 100 but because the trout fishing last week and week before was so good in the fly fishing only pond I was fishing at. After saying yesterday the fishing slowed down, I went back to Whitings Pond. The trout were stacked up in a deep hole I caught 7 in less than an hour. Fittingly they were all rainbows.

Here is a quick breakdown

Types of trout

92 rainbows

4 tigers

3 browns

1 brookie

Caught from 5 different lakes

Ways they were caught

Roostertail 10

Powerbait 37

Spoon 3

Casting Bubble/ Fly 21

Fly Fishing 27

Unknown 2

Caught the most out of Falls Pond 44

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend. I will see you on the other side of it.

Nick

Changing tactics leads to a good day Fishing

A quote from an old St Croix catalog "There is nothing more annoying than good weather"

Although I have been complaining about the north wind for a couple weeks, you will never here me complain about rainy days. Rainy days mean my favorite spots will be quite lonesome ( in a good way) places to fish. Today in little old North Attleboro, MA it was a rainy day. Although the temperature barely hit 49 degrees, dressed properly, it wasn't to bad. Trout fishing was slow today. The fish were around but they were not particularly aggressive.

I started with the brown Roostertail from a couple days ago on one pole and powerbait nuggets on the other. I didn't have any luck on the Roostertail, so I switched it up with a casting bubble and and a fly ( wooly bugger). Within minutes I caught a 14 inch rainbow. I also managed to catch a 7 inch yellow perch. Both fish were caught within 10 minutes. An important note to the story, the wooly bugger that I caught the trout on was a fly that made myself. This is the first fish I've ever caught on a fly that I made not bought. After that I couldn't buy a bite with the set up. The wind picked up and the water got a little rough. I guessed that with the rough water the trout could not find the fly. So, I switched back to the spinner and picked up another 14 incher.

So you ask, what about the rod with powerbait. well I'm glad you asked. I got 5 hits on that rod. Unfortunately, the trout did not hold on long enough for me to catch them. Twice I was next to the rod when I got a hit. Both times the fish just hit the nugget and bolted without taking it. I have a suprise for the trout next time they do this. I bought some mealworms at the pet store tonight. I am going to tip the hook with them. I doubt any trout will be able to resist a struggling mealworm and nugget. I hope my theory is correct. Only time will tell.