Got a new job, quit the old one, had some time and made the drive to the Catskills. Considering the rain we got, I went with the intent to poke around some old spots I used to fish when I was younger.
First up, at 7am, I hit fisherman's lane on the beaverkill, above junction pool. It's got great pocket water and interesting holes and structure on the sides, but it used to, half a mile up from the lot, have a really dynamic, windy stretch around two island, complete with one of the nicest holes I've ever come across. It's all gone, islands an all, just plowed through and straightened by the river. Really sad, but it makes me wonder what new obstacles may arise elsewhere. That transformation is a two way street. Anyhow, picked up a nice, ten inch wild brown on a caddis pupa and then quit that spot.
Headed over to the EB, scoped out a spot that once taught me a great lesson. Tell you what, in not normally this candid, but it was those islands above jaws. I feel funny speaking specifically about a spot on the Internet, but navigating it on foot is a real son of a *****, so get yours if you're feeling masochistic. It's a beautiful spot, but the runs that look real nice from the roadway are really shallow, basically making half of the visible water unfishable. There's one substantial run in the middle, but to fish it right you have to really work hard for position. There's another run on the farthest side that's interesting, but it's too demanding to reach for what it is.
So, I went beneath jaws and immediately hit a bow in a riffle and then the rains came again and the fishing shut down to my surprise. I walked a lot and figured out some new approaches to some older spots, which is always rewarding... Until the river swells and blows that spot away. Then, at the end, I switched out the regular line for the old sinking line and nailed a bastard on a streamer I tried to submit for a contest but was rejected for because it strayed a little too much from a woolly bugger, so that ruled, haha.
No rises. Period. I left at around five as cahills began to fill up the air, but I was wiped as had to pull myself up the slope my car was parked on top of.
It's funny, my fishing pal ripped me off last year ad I told him to #censor# off, so now I fish alone.... But I've never consistently caught so many big fish up there until now. Classic double edged sword of life, I guess.
First up, at 7am, I hit fisherman's lane on the beaverkill, above junction pool. It's got great pocket water and interesting holes and structure on the sides, but it used to, half a mile up from the lot, have a really dynamic, windy stretch around two island, complete with one of the nicest holes I've ever come across. It's all gone, islands an all, just plowed through and straightened by the river. Really sad, but it makes me wonder what new obstacles may arise elsewhere. That transformation is a two way street. Anyhow, picked up a nice, ten inch wild brown on a caddis pupa and then quit that spot.
Headed over to the EB, scoped out a spot that once taught me a great lesson. Tell you what, in not normally this candid, but it was those islands above jaws. I feel funny speaking specifically about a spot on the Internet, but navigating it on foot is a real son of a *****, so get yours if you're feeling masochistic. It's a beautiful spot, but the runs that look real nice from the roadway are really shallow, basically making half of the visible water unfishable. There's one substantial run in the middle, but to fish it right you have to really work hard for position. There's another run on the farthest side that's interesting, but it's too demanding to reach for what it is.
So, I went beneath jaws and immediately hit a bow in a riffle and then the rains came again and the fishing shut down to my surprise. I walked a lot and figured out some new approaches to some older spots, which is always rewarding... Until the river swells and blows that spot away. Then, at the end, I switched out the regular line for the old sinking line and nailed a bastard on a streamer I tried to submit for a contest but was rejected for because it strayed a little too much from a woolly bugger, so that ruled, haha.
No rises. Period. I left at around five as cahills began to fill up the air, but I was wiped as had to pull myself up the slope my car was parked on top of.
It's funny, my fishing pal ripped me off last year ad I told him to #censor# off, so now I fish alone.... But I've never consistently caught so many big fish up there until now. Classic double edged sword of life, I guess.
