Summer doldrums and lack of interest

[rustbeltwilds]

Fall fishing has rarely impressed me. Occasionally for bass.

ITs my fav far and away fall is big brown time

 

[wildtrout2]

Hard to describe fishing Letort and Big Spring as "enjoyable", but it is sometimes a reasonable facsimile.

Is the Letort really as difficult to fish as many folks portray it to be? And, what are the main things that make it that way?

 

[JimNovo]

@bdhoover77
Your post has given me faith that I'm not headed to a dark place where my gear ends up in the street corner. Thanks for your openness.
I'm n the same boat as you!

 

[TimMurphy]

Is the Letort really as difficult to fish as many folks portray it to be? And, what are the main things that make it that way?

Dear wildtrout2,

From my experience its essentially unwadable, the banks are filled with muskrat holes so walking can be a challenge, and 95% of the stream is within the noise of a Jake Brake from I-81.

Bob Clouser told me 30 years ago that the Letort will be a great stream in another million years once it carves a path through the swamp.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[wildtrout2]

Dear wildtrout2,

From my experience its essentially unwadable, the banks are filled with muskrat holes so walking can be a challenge, and 95% of the stream is within the noise of a Jake Brake from I-81.

Bob Clouser told me 30 years ago that the Letort will be a great stream in another million years once it carves a path through the swamp.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Then, since the stream has to be fished mostly from the banks, the trout are tough to approach and spook very easily?

 

[TimMurphy]

Then, since the stream has to be fished mostly from the banks, the trout are tough to approach and spook very easily?

Dear wildtrout2,

Think of it as a stream running through Jello. When I was a kid my Mom called Jello "shiver pudding," because it jiggled and wiggled when you moved the bowl.

That's the Letort in a nutshell.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Letort]

Is the Letort really as difficult to fish as many folks portray it to be? And, what are the main things that make it that way?

Yes.

Why?

1. Complex currents due to weed beds in stream make it difficult to get drag free drifts.
2. Very wary trout that see lots of pressure due to the stream's reputation
3. Soft mud around banks that can swallow you up to your knees
4. High foliage around banks along with tree lined banks in many spots make casting difficult
5. Soft stream bottom makes wading virtually impossible, making a bank approach the only option
6. Lack of consistent hatches to bring the fish to the surface
7. Weed beds throughout most of the stream most of the year make nymphing a challenge

Fishing the Letort is to fun as Rosie O'Donnell is to pretty.

 

[wildtrout2]

Yes.

Why?

1. Complex currents due to weed beds in stream make it difficult to get drag free drifts.
2. Very wary trout that see lots of pressure due to the stream's reputation
3. Soft mud around banks that can swallow you up to your knees
4. High foliage around banks along with tree lined banks in many spots make casting difficult
5. Soft stream bottom makes wading virtually impossible, making a bank approach the only option
6. Lack of consistent hatches to bring the fish to the surface
7. Weed beds throughout most of the stream most of the year make nymphing a challenge

Fishing the Letort is to fun as Rosie O'Donnell is to pretty.

Thanks for the details, that's what I was after.

 

[dudemanspecial]

I’m exactly the same jifigz
Everyone else loves it
I don’t.

Summer is also my least favorite season. Humidity, and gnats (or whatever the little bugs that constantly bounce off your face when you try to walk in your yard are) are my top 2 reasons. I've fished 1 time since the end of June. Like csoult said, gives time to do other stuff, keep it fresh. That other stuff being drinking beer.

 

[goose54cdd]

When trout water gets too warm and low in the summer I take my fly rod on a river for smallmouths. Give it a shot if you haven't. It's a lot of fun.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Also......I can't get into the whole "go fish for smallies" thing. I've tried. I think it's because I spent so much time bass fishing in my younger pre fly fishing years. I still do take my kids out warm water and pond fishing but this summer has been devoid of that as they are at the age they are spending more time hanging out with friends than dad.I only seem to have interest in trout fishing anymore, and only with flies that are more imitative than attractive. I'd rather catch 1 fish on a brown or yellow dry fly or a plain unbeaded PT nymph than 10 on a squirmy worm. Nothing wrong with however anyone wants to fish, just sharing where I am on the spectrum. I think it's because I have so much to learn in that regard and find it challenging. I hope I never become that guy that can vacuum fish out of a river at will with a fly rod, I'd probably hang it up.

 

[hooker-of-men]

Smallies can keep me going for a short window, but I agree that they just don't get me pumped up, especially if it's hot as balls. I have probably 8ish days on the water in July and August so far, and most of those were smallie-tangential trips where I thought I might see carp. I have not caught a carp this year - that DOES get me motivated to go out

Other than that, I've hit some small streams on mornings when the temps dipped and got tiny trout. Nothing to write home about.

I think 3 years ago August was wet and mild here in the Adirondacks. I'm praying for that again this year, but it's not showing up.

 

[Esoxbum]

Remember folks, a bad day of fishing will always beat a good day of work!

 

[kbobb]

Dear wildtrout2,

Think of it as a stream running through Jello. When I was a kid my Mom called Jello "shiver pudding," because it jiggled and wiggled when you moved the bowl.

That's the Letort in a nutshell.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

My dad used to say the LeTort is like fishing on a wet lawn.

 

[Kms]

I hate the heat and try to mix it up, though it’s much better with the right company🙂. Nockamixon earlier today with my 19yo:

We’ll be going night fishing later this evening.

She has spinning and bait casting gear but never showed interest in fly fishing until this summer (she hasn’t picked up a rod yet - trying to schedule some casting lessons this week so she can start off properly rather than pick up my bad habits).

Later in August we’ll find some cold water in the Poconos for fly fishing, but next weekend will be rigs and jigs for tog at Barnegat bay. After that I’ll probably send her back to college with a fly rod or three 🙂.

 

[Cougarbaby]

Last evening on an abandoned golf course,not thrilling but fun on a 10ft 3wt, better than not fishing at all

 

[wildtrout2]

Last evening on an abandoned golf course,...

Is there really such a thing? 🤔

 

[Cougarbaby]

Yes the old Rose Ridge golf course on 910 in West deer ,now on its way to a hundred houses

 

[wildtrout2]

Yes the old Rose Ridge golf course on 910 in West deer ,now on its way to a hundred houses

That sounds about right.

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

I tore down a 35 year old 16x12 deck a couple weeks ago. The lumber to rebuild is delivered on Tuesday. Working on it during the evenings when the sun is on the opposite side of the house should get me to the cooler months of fall. Other than that, I finally figured out the garden situation so when I'm not building a deck, I'll be picking and putting up a large haul of tomatoes with the Mrs.