NY Fishing
perhaps. i have heard that scouring of the bottom creates better habitat for stonefly nymphs. the flood in 2005 in alberta scoured the bottom of the bow river and i've heard from long-time bow people that the stoneflies have been getting better and better since (makes sense because of the 3 year maturation time).Salar wrote:I have also heard that the trophy section downstream of the Trenton Falls dam isn't as productive since the higher flows have cause some scouring of the bottom and has reduced the aquatic insect life.
if it's below a dam, then i'd probably suspect rapidly changing water levels/flows to decrease aquatic life. the kananaskis river in alberta is the same way. the most beautiful river you could ever fish but no fish in the pockets. it's almost scary. i believe the water levels change on a daily basis. that and perhaps increased sedimentation.
anyone have research or articles on dams and their impact on aquatic life?
I hope this will not prevent responses to wongrs question. However, in light of another fellow's "current conditions" request, although I cannot provide any such website (but would like to know of one), I thought I would post yesterday's [Sunday 7 September 2008] conditions.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. near where the firemen practice by the Salmon, the water temperature was 64.8F and the flow was only slightly lower than what I came to think of as normal earlier this year. I now understand what Mr. Lennox was telling me about a big tree down. Anyone familiar with the area who has not seen it for a while may be in for a surprise, although I do not think it is altering the place much in terms of fishing. I caught a couple in a reasonable time and moved on. It was about what I expected.
At about 2:30 p.m. up in the Chasm Falls area, the water temperature was 62F. I do not know enough about the flows there to say much, but they looked fairly normal to me. In terms of numbers, the fishing was modest, but I was very happy to be in the area. I tried variations on something that Ganman had told me about last year. I want to devote more attention to the area.
I wrote last year about how Sam Cook's trout over on the Chateaugay were driving me to distraction, rising all around me but not taking anything I had to offer. I drove over there in the hopes of having another go at them about 6:30 p.m. yesterday. The water seemed rather low. I watched for a while and saw no rises at all. There were a very few insects that seemed to be rising. Although the drop in water level did not seem all that dramatic, it seemed to me that it had dropped below something of a threshold, which permitted me to see a lot of the bottom while standing on the bridge wearing polaroids. I did not fish there but went back to the Salmon.
In my opinion, Sam's trout get pounded more than any other place that I know in the region, at least in relation to the size of the prime fishing area. I would like very much to lose my compulsion to go there so often, but I have not found any other places on the Salmon or Chateaugay where there are the same quantity of hatches, in such proliferation, on a run as conducive to floating a dry fly. I have found a couple of places that might have some promise, but I have never seen a similar proliferation of insects on them. [Any PMs telling me otherwise would be greatly appreciated!] I will keep looking.
There were very few fishermen anywhere.
Earlier on this thread, I posted about my preference for the Chateaugay and the Salmon over the Au Sable. I should add that the hatching activity does generally seem to favour the Au Sable. (I also like visiting Jone's Outfitters).
I am hoping for the opportunity to go back to NNY this week. I will probably spend as much advance time trying to decide where as the time I will spend on the water.
I hope others will be able to get down there a few more times this season, too.
Manfred
At approximately 12:30 p.m. near where the firemen practice by the Salmon, the water temperature was 64.8F and the flow was only slightly lower than what I came to think of as normal earlier this year. I now understand what Mr. Lennox was telling me about a big tree down. Anyone familiar with the area who has not seen it for a while may be in for a surprise, although I do not think it is altering the place much in terms of fishing. I caught a couple in a reasonable time and moved on. It was about what I expected.
At about 2:30 p.m. up in the Chasm Falls area, the water temperature was 62F. I do not know enough about the flows there to say much, but they looked fairly normal to me. In terms of numbers, the fishing was modest, but I was very happy to be in the area. I tried variations on something that Ganman had told me about last year. I want to devote more attention to the area.
I wrote last year about how Sam Cook's trout over on the Chateaugay were driving me to distraction, rising all around me but not taking anything I had to offer. I drove over there in the hopes of having another go at them about 6:30 p.m. yesterday. The water seemed rather low. I watched for a while and saw no rises at all. There were a very few insects that seemed to be rising. Although the drop in water level did not seem all that dramatic, it seemed to me that it had dropped below something of a threshold, which permitted me to see a lot of the bottom while standing on the bridge wearing polaroids. I did not fish there but went back to the Salmon.
In my opinion, Sam's trout get pounded more than any other place that I know in the region, at least in relation to the size of the prime fishing area. I would like very much to lose my compulsion to go there so often, but I have not found any other places on the Salmon or Chateaugay where there are the same quantity of hatches, in such proliferation, on a run as conducive to floating a dry fly. I have found a couple of places that might have some promise, but I have never seen a similar proliferation of insects on them. [Any PMs telling me otherwise would be greatly appreciated!] I will keep looking.
There were very few fishermen anywhere.
Earlier on this thread, I posted about my preference for the Chateaugay and the Salmon over the Au Sable. I should add that the hatching activity does generally seem to favour the Au Sable. (I also like visiting Jone's Outfitters).
I am hoping for the opportunity to go back to NNY this week. I will probably spend as much advance time trying to decide where as the time I will spend on the water.
I hope others will be able to get down there a few more times this season, too.
Manfred
Manfred,
While I admit that taking them on dry flies is a blast you're chances of success are far better nymphing or swinging wet flies on both the Salmon and the Chateaugay. While the riffles on the Salmon/Chateaugay may appear shallow, you'd be surprise at the number of trout you can pull out of 18" of water. We managed at least 6 browns/bows out of one such section on the Salmon.
As for other streams, my suggestion would be to give the Saranac a try. Its flows are not affected by the lack of rain like the Ausable. I've heard that the St. Regis is fishing pretty good as well.
Cheers,
Todd
While I admit that taking them on dry flies is a blast you're chances of success are far better nymphing or swinging wet flies on both the Salmon and the Chateaugay. While the riffles on the Salmon/Chateaugay may appear shallow, you'd be surprise at the number of trout you can pull out of 18" of water. We managed at least 6 browns/bows out of one such section on the Salmon.
As for other streams, my suggestion would be to give the Saranac a try. Its flows are not affected by the lack of rain like the Ausable. I've heard that the St. Regis is fishing pretty good as well.
Cheers,
Todd
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Salar
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Having fished at Sam Cook last week, I wouldn't go back there at current water levels. There didn't seem to be all that much water to fish and not many fish in the water that was fishable. My preference is for the Salmon. Lots of pools even when the water is low and fish to be had when they're biting.
It should not come as a suprise that dry flies should work well this time of the year. Generally temperatures and stream levels are perfect for dry fly fishing. Nearly all of the aquatic insects have hatched for the season. Of the few that are left is the Isonychia which actually favours a wet fly swing presentation.
Many years ago a study was done of the seasonal food sources of trout on an Adirondack river. It was found that in late summer/early autumn that terrestials made up something like 70% of the trouts diet. Instead of looking for specific hatches the trout are keying into generic bugs in the drift. Pattern now is less important than how a fly floats.
One fly I caught a great many trout on this time of the year was a Brown Hackle Peacock tied dry. For those not familiar with it, it goes like this: #14 dry fly hook, very short red floss or wool tail or tag, peacock herl body with a sparse to medium full brown dry fly hackle. Usually the red tag and peacock herl hung below the surface with the hackle in the surface film floating like a terrestial might.
Many years ago a study was done of the seasonal food sources of trout on an Adirondack river. It was found that in late summer/early autumn that terrestials made up something like 70% of the trouts diet. Instead of looking for specific hatches the trout are keying into generic bugs in the drift. Pattern now is less important than how a fly floats.
One fly I caught a great many trout on this time of the year was a Brown Hackle Peacock tied dry. For those not familiar with it, it goes like this: #14 dry fly hook, very short red floss or wool tail or tag, peacock herl body with a sparse to medium full brown dry fly hackle. Usually the red tag and peacock herl hung below the surface with the hackle in the surface film floating like a terrestial might.
ganman, would you happen to have a copy of this article that i can read?ganman wrote:It should not come as a suprise that dry flies should work well this time of the year. Generally temperatures and stream levels are perfect for dry fly fishing. Nearly all of the aquatic insects have hatched for the season. Of the few that are left is the Isonychia which actually favours a wet fly swing presentation.
Many years ago a study was done of the seasonal food sources of trout on an Adirondack river. It was found that in late summer/early autumn that terrestials made up something like 70% of the trouts diet. Instead of looking for specific hatches the trout are keying into generic bugs in the drift. Pattern now is less important than how a fly floats.
One fly I caught a great many trout on this time of the year was a Brown Hackle Peacock tied dry. For those not familiar with it, it goes like this: #14 dry fly hook, very short red floss or wool tail or tag, peacock herl body with a sparse to medium full brown dry fly hackle. Usually the red tag and peacock herl hung below the surface with the hackle in the surface film floating like a terrestial might.