Yellow Breeches, Cumberland Co., 8/25/2010

PaulG

PaulG

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Sep 10, 2006
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Fished form 11😱o to 2:30. at Allenberry. Good day for fishing Cloudy, cool and a nice breeze blowing, was crowded when I first got there, did clear out. W/T was 64, a few midges in the air, only saw a few rising fish.

It wasn't a good day hooking and landing fish for me, diid have plenty of action, just couldn't hook them or keep them on. I did manage to land three, My hot fly was the orange ant!

PaulG
 
Those fish at Allenberry become VERY hard to hook by July most years. I've never seen any trout population where this is so pronounced. They'll rise but just bump the fly or swirl on it. I remember one particular fish some years ago that rose to my dry 19 times and I could not hook him!
Usually when it gets like this. I'll throw nymphs or sinking terrestrials at fish I can see. They seem to be much easier to hook when they eat subsurface.
 
fishidoit

I know what you mean, they do it on Clarks alot too...I call it the bump and run!

PaulG
 
Paul,
Had some luck at Allenberry last week using Gene Giza’s ‘money fly’ (http://www.fourseasonsflyfishing.com/page8.htm)
it’s easy to tie and there was little hesitation/refusals.
Funny I don't do well with your orange ant ... guessing I'm doing something wrong there.

Tight lines
Buffalo
 
PaulG wrote:
fishidoit

I know what you mean, they do it on Clarks alot too...I call it the bump and run!

PaulG
Click to expand...

Yup. Was at Clarks last week and you're right. I don't think it's as pronounced as Allenberry but I'd say my hookup percentage at Clarks last week was only about 1 in 4 strikes on beetles etc.
Very small orange fire ants have saved many days for me with selective sippers in summer but even these tiny (smaller than #22) ants still miss a lot of fish at A-berry.
 
Fishidiot/PaulG:

I've fished both Clarks and Yellow Breeches within the past two months and had similar expriences. I was able to catch fish on both, but I feel I could have done better with improved presentation technique.

How did you both handle presentation, as far as leader setup, tippet size, wading/casting position, etc.? On the other hand, was it just a matter of fishing flies smaller than the naturals, because of the wariness of the fish?

Any feedback will help; I hope you don't mind me asking...

Fishidiot wrote:
PaulG wrote:
fishidoit

I know what you mean, they do it on Clarks alot too...I call it the bump and run!

PaulG
Click to expand...

Yup. Was at Clarks last week and you're right. I don't think it's as pronounced as Allenberry but I'd say my hookup percentage at Clarks last week was only about 1 in 4 strikes on beetles etc.
Very small orange fire ants have saved many days for me with selective sippers in summer but even these tiny (smaller than #22) ants still miss a lot of fish at A-berry.
Click to expand...
 
Tie your own leaders
 
Goodfortune,
I don't know the secret to catching these fish. The bottom line is, if you can get enough rises, you'll eventually stick some of them but it can be really hard on Yellow B this time of year. Usually, when I encounter these hesitant fish that rise but can't be hooked, I'll keep the same presentation, leader etc - but switch to a smaller fly (usually #20 or less). If this fails - and it usually does - I'll just switch to nymphing or move outside the FF only water where the fish actually eat the fly and can be hooked.
 
Or sucker spawn. 🙂
Really good to see your gettin' out Paul.
 
Goodfortune

I don't usually change anything. I stay with my 9ft leader, 5X tippet, I like to use a longer tippet then most. I try to fish up stream on a angle, if I can. Most of my luck on YB was under the bushes on the left side heading up stream.

For me it doesn't bother me that much if I keep missig fish, as long as I getting the action, I do like to land some every not and then. Like i said I only landed 3 but had many more changes

Like Fishidiot said, I don't think theirs any secret to catching those fish, except keep trying, and be happy your getting action and having fun.

Buffalo

I have found that the fish like the OJ high in the water, So I keep planty of floatin on it, give that a try.

PaulG
 
I once met a guy fishing the slow water above the Allenberry Dam sticking one fish after another while those around went fishless. He was using a size 26 dry that was nothing more than tiny hackle wrapped around the hook. To each their own.
 
Squaretail wrote:
Or sucker spawn. 🙂
Really good to see your gettin' out Paul.
Click to expand...

It felt good to get fishin again, been a long time, let me know the next time your heading out.

PaulG
 
This time of year I dont carry any flies larger then a size 20. I have been using my 2 wt Bamboo Rod with a 6' furled leader and about 3' of 7x tippet. I have even dropped down to 8x when the sun gets up and bright. Still have many lookers and short strikes but was able to land a dozen or so this morning.
Bill A
 
Not THE orange ant........YOUR orange ant.

To be clear.
 
I had not been on the board for a few years, too much tying...The site looks great and a lot of good warmwater discussion as well. Good to be back.
 
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