Rigging for deeper fish

The Vortex Reel pictured to the left is so versatile. I can chose a spool of Type 7 full-sinking line or like I did today, I can add my spool with the Type 6 30-foot Sinking Head. (Spools loaded with Wonderline Tarpon, Bonefish, and Red Fish tapers are ready for Florida.) There's no fooling around with light rods when it comes to sinking the fly down where the fish are. The rod I'll choose for high water Maine streamer fishing will be either a seven, eight, or nine-weight.

The leader itself is short; 4 feet, and ends in 2X or 3X Fluorocarbon tippet. Because the water is cold (around 50-degrees) The cast is cross-current, letting the line belly. The retrieve is slow and with small jerks. 

I took Diane to a local pond in search of Brook Trout. Not any to be found feeding in the morning, but the Mayflies are said to hatch in the afternoon here.  The streams and rivers all over Maine are slowly receding.

The thoroughfares between ponds where waters are clear and Trout lie in edges and seams. There are few places like this here in Central Maine, fortunately I know of several and May 26, I absolutely needed to cast, if only to wet some flies.



My old friend, Rory ties on a fly at a pool below Shawmut Dam on Sunday, June 5, '05. Usually at this date the action is frantic with multi-Mayfly hatches and rising Trout. We saw a few Rainbows....or maybe they were suckers....rolling. There were some Mayflies, mostly Blue Winged Olives hatching and drifting, but the fish have not begun to take up stations and really feed.   

High water from 17 days of rain has kept the wading anglers at home. Even in the drift boat, the guides all report spotty rises, no real consistently feeding fish.