Pelletheads Saved My Soul

[hooker-of-men]

I've had a rough, rough fishing year, especially locally. High water, high heat, low water... Even a handful of my non-trout travel trips sucked for whatever reason. I've been starting to think I need another hobby between fishing, parenting, and beer drinking.

Luckily, NY got a little bump in flows this week (and more to come Monday, it seems). I got out this morning on a stream that has stockies in NY and wild fish in VT and fished both sides.

Unfortunately, I only found the pellet pigs, but I think I had the most fun I've had trout fishing this year. Things were slow for awhile because water is still insanely low, but I eventually saw a rise in a long slow pool. I waded super slowly up through water with basically no current and then got positioned to watch what now appeared to be a small pod of risers.

There were sparse caddis coming off, but I couldn't get a look on any caddis patterns. Then, from way upstream, I watched a miniscule flying ant slowly twitch right to me and into my hand. It looked like a pretty good match for a sz 20 Griffith's.

Got two out of the pod. I usually avoid stocked fish, but a couple pretty holdover bows eating selectively made my day.

Fishing, parenting, and drinking it is.

 

[keirns4]

I've had a rough, rough fishing year, especially locally. High water, high heat, low water... Even a handful of my non-trout travel trips sucked for whatever reason. I've been starting to think I need another hobby between fishing, parenting, and beer drinking.

Luckily, NY got a little bump in flows this week (and more to come Monday, it seems). I got out this morning on a stream that has stockies in NY and wild fish in VT and fished both sides.

Unfortunately, I only found the pellet pigs, but I think I had the most fun I've had trout fishing this year. Things were slow for awhile because water is still insanely low, but I eventually saw a rise in a long slow pool. I waded super slowly up through water with basically no current and then got positioned to watch what now appeared to be a small pod of risers.
View attachment 1641245635

There were sparse caddis coming off, but I couldn't get a look on any caddis patterns. Then, from way upstream, I watched a miniscule flying ant slowly twitch right to me and into my hand. It looked like a pretty good match for a sz 20 Griffith's.

View attachment 1641245636View attachment 1641245638

Got two out of the pod. I usually avoid stocked fish, but a couple pretty holdover bows eating selectively made my day.

Fishing, parenting, and drinking it is.

Not necessarily in that order!😆

 

[tjsingle]

Sometimes that's all it takes is a few willing risers, regardless of origin.

One pattern I like for smaller caddis is the hemingway caddis, for whatever reason using a sz 16 has worked for me even when others like elk hairs don't: https://bigyflyco.com/products/hemi...oN0dZXztmntovwoAi5DFxqpxOw8WGsuWHKsdwDpA1emJV

Also sometimes I'll tie a small CDC caddis emerger off the back of a more visible caddis adult pattern. That's usually my go to for picky trout. Works very well on caddis heavy streams