Small Stream Ammo.

September is tomorrow and many of Maine's small streams close at the end of that month. We've responded to a few emails the last few weeks about fly patterns for smaller waters. Many of our clients tie and want to be prepared by filling boxes with the good stuff. Here is the basic small stream box we use guiding or out playing on our own.

Nymphs: Whitlock's Squirrel Nymph 14-16, Hare's Ear 14-16, Pheasant Tail 14-16, Prince CDC 12-16, Copper John 14-16 copper,black and red, Smoot's Bloody Mary 16, Green Rockworm 14-16 (a very prevalent caddis), Shop Vac 14-16. Kaufman's CDC Wired Caddis 14-16 amber and olive. We carry four to six of these patterns. Most have bead heads.

Wets: Partridge and orange, yellow, red, purple and dun 12-16. Flymphs 14-16, Bird's Nest 14-16, natural and black, Pheasant Tail and Hare's Ear Soft Hackle 14-16.

Streamers: Woolly Buggers 12 black, brown, olive, chartreuse, white and purple. Mini Muddler 14-16.

Dries: Parachute Adams 14-16, Parachute Hare's Ear 14-16, Mr. Rapidan 14, Ausable and Royal Wulffs 12-14, Ausable Bomber 12-14, X Caddis 14-16 olive and tan, Chubby Chernobyl 12 red, purple, orange and yellow, Rubber Leg Cricket 12, black, Lawson's Beetle 14-16, Steeves Firefly 12, Foam Ant 12 black, red. We carry four to eight of these.

All these flies fit into a C&F Designs 12 compartment (for dries)/eight row waterproof box. When we are fishing the really small brooks for natives we carry a sparse selection of dries in a six compartment box.

Depending on the time of season we will add patterns to the mix. Early spring supplements include Czech nymphs 12-14, San Juan Worms 14-16 and midge pupa 16-18. Fall additions are Griffith's Gnat 14-18, Rubber Leg Stimulator 12, orange and a few micro Wood's Specials and Montreal Whores 12.

Even with all of these patterns listed, one could cut the selection in half and still be very successful. Half the fun is seeing what works and what doesn't. All of these work very well, every season, every time.

Pre Irene Trips.

The last two weeks in August are traditionally the slowest guiding time for us. That's fine as we take advantage of the opportunities surrounding our home. Day hikes, swimming holes, berry picking, backyard cookouts, horse shoes, striper forays, camping trips and of course float trips.

Yesterday my family and I floated the Kennebec. Water managers raised levels due to the Irene event. Clarity was good and by late afternoon numerous browns were rising to a great flying ant hatch. Eagles, ospreys, kingfishers and numerous ducks out working for a living. It's always a great to get a kid's perspective on the outdoor world. It slows you down and makes one observe a little bit more.

Next week will be like seeing a brand new river or stream. New flows, structure, feed and most importantly temps.When the waters recede and clarity improves we are floating with the streamer rigs at the ready. This won't last long. But when it's on it can be really good.

Lake fish will move into river systems with this event. Depending on the outcome of this storm, we could be looking at a great fall season. Whatever happens, be conservative with floats and wades. Play safe out there.

Need A Boat?

Looking for a new used ride? How about a 2000 16' W-F Clackacraft drift boat? The industry standard for guides and private boaters. Includes the following; Adjustable , waterproof rower's bench with top access. Padded fold down fore and aft seats each located on a waterproof storage box. Fore and aft casting braces. Stripping deck on the bow. Motor mount. Side and bow inboard storage. Floor mats. Five embedded can holders (these could be used for beer). Four drain plugs. One spare break down oar with blade. Two carbon fiber/fiberglass Cataract oars. Brass oarlocks plus one spare. Bo's anchor system, floor anchor stomp and stern bracket pulley. One anchor. Trailer includes spare tire, new winch, boat strap and trailer tongue third wheel. Stored inside every winter we've had it.

This boat also comes full of good karma and juju. That right there is priceless. If you're interested give a shout and pull the trigger. We will even throw in a day of instruction if needed.

Far Off.

There are times when the fish are beyond a short approach and cast. Learning to control long lengths of line in the air comes down to timing and feel. Single and double hauls are great tools to have in the box. Take some time now to learn that tempo before the fall season comes.

Throwing crappy. long, loud and inaccurate casts catch zip. Tune up and get that fifty foot handshake.

Small And Smaller.

Fly sizes and rises are getting smaller. Conditions are fairly tough right now. A size sixteen is considered big and eighteens and twenties are the commonly used sizes. Ten to twelve foot leaders to 5X are standard issue. Good presentations and drifts getting the take. Obnoxious drops and "bass popper" pick ups will get you the fin. Wade quiet and take a long look at those rises before you throw. The reach cast and downstream drift are money.

Caddis: X Caddis and X2 Caddis 16-18, Olive, Black and Amber. CDC caddis 18, Black.
Mayflies: BWO 16-18, Sparkle Dun. Rusty Spinner 12-20, CDC.
Attractor Flies: H&L Variant 18, Adams 16-18, Lawson's Beetle 16, Hare's Ear Parachute 16-18.
Terrestrials: Flying ants were on this week. Sizes from 18-22. Black and Cinnamon. Tough hatch. Prepare for some snubbing.

Half day trips are the ticket. Mornings vs evenings have been about equal. Some spinner falls have been a complete bust also. It's still better than mowing the lawn or splitting wood for this winter.

Small streams are still producing well. Especially after the thunder showers we have been experiencing. The dry fly ruling the score board. Ant and beetle patterns standard. Having a small stream all to yourself is an opportunity not to miss. Take advantage of the small stream game before many close out at the end of September.

Get out there and enjoy the rest of summer!

Summer Scenes.

Summer means small streams, three weights and dries. Plunge pools, shady pockets and log jams so tight you don't have prayer in dropping your fly in the sweet spot. You do it anyway. It's just a fly. Don't be a coward, throw it!

Blackberries cause arrival delays to favorite runs. Keeping an eye and ear out for bears adds to the ritual. The first one in the patch has the right of way. This can always be negotiated.

Grab some summertime before it's gone.

18,20,22, HUT!!

Stocking of the Baetis box. Blue wings out and about these last few cloudy days. Both 16s and 18s. Great way to warm up for the smaller size due in late September through October. Stay tuned up for the fall.

We just did a half day trip that concentrated on presentation and drift. Great way to pick up some tips and fish. Find the time for this type of trip.

Learning new techniques makes you a better angler. Join the ten percent club. Membership dues require patience and observation. Evolve into the angler you want to be.

The Drift.

"You can observe a lot by watching"

Yogi Berra

After spending many seasons watching client's dry fly presentations, we know when the drift is going to get eaten and when it's not. Season after season the rules never change. Rule number one is this: A good drift will keep your rod bent and net wet. End of story. Here are a few things we have found that are important in the dry game.

• A clean line. When was the last time you cleaned your line? Can't remember? You're due, overdue. We clean our lines after every session. Especially after working a scummy eddy. A clean line will shoot and mend better. Stretching it before will help your accuracy.
  

• Use the longest leader you can turn over well and accurate. If you can't control it, the leader is of no use to you. Fix it.
  

• Learn the reach cast. Learn the reach cast. Learn the reach cast.

• Fish to downstream rises with a slack line cast. Put the groceries in the lane.

• Change your position to gain a better drift if possible.

• FALSE CAST at a minimum! At least away from the riser.

• Pick up away from your target. Farther than you think.

• Dry fly fishing means just that. Dry. Be diligent about keeping your fly floating high.

• The last step after refusals is a fly change. It usually comes down to the drift. Period.

• Keep casts to a minimum. Continually casting over a rising trout after a three second drift not only produces squat, it infuriates most guides. Known as the law of diminishing returns. It's like when you have a fresh pizza on the table. That first piece will always be the best. After that the rest are just not as good as the first. To sum it up simply, when working a rising fish : MAKE YOUR FIRST CAST YOUR BEST CAST.

• Slow down. Enjoy the process. Observe. Quiet the internal dialogue.
  

We've learned over the years what a well executed cast and drift can accomplish. We have also witnessed what all the other things can destroy. We love to make it happen for clients. Remember this is a skill dependent activity. The higher your skill, the better your outcome.

Dry Fly Addiction.

This week has been one of the toughest of the season. One large river and two small streams produced due to lower than average summer water temps. Throwing dries worked on all. What I should really say is throwing really well worked on all. Good presentation skills are your most valuable tool in box right now. Not the fly. That's right. NOT THE FLY. It's all about the drift.

Dry patterns getting the job done include: Parachute Adams 14-20, BWO 16-18, Rusty Spinners Biot/ CDC 16-20, Translucent Spinner 16, Hares Ear Parachute 16, X2 Caddis 16-18 in tan, Lawson's Beetle 16, Beefus Midge 18, Yellow Sally CDC 16, Renegade 16.

Hatches are short lived. Yesterday's trip produced a fairly strong BWO hatch. Not thick, not thin. Steady. Cover those rises fast and well. Commit to making good presentations. How good? Good enough to catch fish good.

Important Guide Skills.

I personally believe that obtaining a guide license without a field test is pretty much useless. To put it another way. Would you buy a finished bird dog without hunting over it? Didn't think so.

One "Field Test" that should be critical is the S'mores test. Fail this basic skill and you're back working at Camp Whine A Lot for the summer.

Enjoy a few this season.

Around The Corner.

The autumn season will be here before you can say "Where did the summer go"? We are already prepared and psyched. The list for September is made and October is half done. Here is why we love the fall so much.

• Baetis. Size 18-24 dry flies. Rising fish. Long leaders. Four weights. Nuff said.

• Slate Drakes. Zug Bug nymphs. Size 12 Comparaduns.
  

• Chucking streamers from the drift boat. Big dead cat size flies that do not get ignored.

• The absolute best fall colors on the planet. Period.

• Swinging wet flies with a spey rod.

• Chasing salmon with gaudy streamer flies.

• Bird hunts!

• Mushroom hunts!!

• Crisp mornings and cool evenings.

• The last shot for many small streams until next season.

• Limited autumn micro brews.

• Unreal coloration of brookies and browns. The salmon are pretty cool also.

We plan on taking full advantage of the fall. It will go by fast. Too fast. It always does. It's like those perfect days where time has no bearing. Care to join us for a fall session or two? Bookings are filling for both months at a steady pace. Grab a date before the season ends.

Rewards.

Sneaking up on small brookies has it's benefits. Like the three pictured above (sorry for the quality). You know when your moving at that quiet level and wearing the correct background color combo when you can get that close.

Throwing into the "dark side" of gorges gets the rod bent and cools you down at the same time. These places aren't easy to access but can give up some surprising large fish at times.

The walk out can be just as rewarding as the fishing. It may even take longer depending on how well the berry season is going.

Bait And Switch.

I've been doing this since I was a kid. It's a great way to learn about drifts and feeding lanes. Hoppers are our preferred protein source. Due to their large size and leg movement, hoppers are easy to spot. Chuck'em above the suspicious lie and watch for the take.

Give them the switch with some high floating rubber leg concoction. It's always amazing how confident a hopper eating fish can be. Summertime shenanigans.

Small Rivers.

Maine's smaller rivers are another option for us during the season. Cooler tributaries flowing into these smaller waters keep temps tolerable. So have the daily afternoon thundershowers. Flows are low this time of year. Although they can still hold a surprising number of salmonids. Fishing these smaller waters brings us back to a more simplified approach.

We tend to fish this type of water fairly fast. One to three good casts into fishy dwelling spots and move on. Discovering what's above that next boulder or slot is a big part of this game. That constant search. It's the hope that you'll find your next jewel.

Grab a three weight, a box of dries (heavy on the terrestrials) and pick a small river to add to the summer tick list. Explore.

Beetles.

The most underutilized pattern in most dry boxes is the simple beetle. Some folks don't even carry any! We were like that at one time. Bank sippers on western waters like the Henry's Fork tuned us in real quick. Late July and August are prime beetle time here. Working under a tree line is great place to start. That occasional rise that happens when there is no visible hatch to be seen, screams beetle. Using a beetle on small streams right now can be very productive also.

There are no "gimmes" in the beetle game. These patterns need a perfect dead drift. You'll know it when you've achieved the it. Presentations should be quiet and in the delivery lane. Remember your first throw should be your best. The take can be very subtle, so be ready.

We use a small variety of patterns and sizes. The most used is the Lawson's Foam Beetle pattern. Others include Steeve's U.F.O., Japanese Beetle and the Fire Fly. Sizes 10-18. Foam seems a perfect material for float ability. Peacock for the body is hard to beat. Rubber legs occasionally.

Keeping sight of that low rider can prove trying at times. Use a pattern with a Hi Vis sight on the top for close work. We like to drop one off the back (sixteen inches) of a Parachute Adams, H&L Variant or such for easier tracking. Better yet have a buddy spot for you if possible. Great fun for all who play.

"He's coming." "SET"!!!