Vermont Ice Fishing has started

The icefishing season has begun!!! Please check out my other blog for updates and dwetails: www.vermonticefishing.blogspot.com

My Backyard on Endless Brook

It's winter

It's cold and there is snow....guess it's winter but not ice fishing season yet. I have been tying flies commercially, 6/0 Cod teasers for Kittery Trading Post and a small retail order of wool head Zoo Cougars Streamers. Zoo Cougars are a pretty cool streamer than imitates a Sculpin....as always customer orders are welcome!! This guy is heading to Chile next month. Next month I will be ice fishing hardcore....you can keep up with those adventures on www.vermonticefishing.blogspot.com

Deer Hunting tonight

I had a skipper doe just about step on me tonight. I watched her all the way down a small ridge that ended about 4 steps away....I was starting to think I'd have to poke her with my rifle barrel...at 4 steps away I winked at her....OMG that deer came unglued....laugh...you could have heard me laughing all the way to endless brook road...

Felt wader ban in Vermont

So its official...I've seen it in the fish and game rule book....April 1, 2011 it is illegal to wear felt bottomed waders....fine may be up to $1000.00.....IMO this is BULLSHIT!!! Looking into Korker wading sandals for a quick fix....I rotate 15 pair of waders....replacing them all at one time is out of the question unless a manufacturer helps out.....the current plan is to remove felt and use korker sandals and look for a lawyer who wants to test this in court....this whole bill slipped through the legal process without any (to my knowledge) public input....please stay tuned

We dodged a huge problem in fishing tackle.

On 11/4/10 the EPA denied the petition calling for a ban on the manufacture, use and processing of ANY lead in fishing tackle....this was HUGE!!! Some of you helped in sending emails...THANK YOU!!! We really need to keep a very close watch on our current state and federal lawmakers....this petition would have made sink tip flylines illegal....the link below spells out outcome....WE GOT LUCKY....fishermen currently do not have an NRA type lobby to my knowledge....WATCH THEM CLOSE!!!and please stay tuned

http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemtest/pubs/petitions.html

Happy Halloween

I found this cool pumpkin photo online...Its 39 degrees at 10 am.....Brook and Brown Trout are spawning....water levels are good. Woodcock flights are heavy and puppy is pointing very well.

Vermont Trout Season

Vermont regular trout fishing in rivers and streams closes this Sunday October 31st....I will continue to post throughout the winter so please stay tuned.

New blogs

I have decided to break up all my outdoor activities/passions into specific blogs. Please check them out and I hope you continue to follow them.

As always the home page continues to be www.vermontfishingtrips.com

My new bird hunting site: www.vermontbirdhunting.blogspot.com

My new spin fishing site: www.vermontspinfishing.blogspot.com

Last yrs. ice fishing site: www.vermonticefishing.blogspot.com

You can find hyperlinks below in the Chuck Kashner's website block.

I LOVE WOODCOCK and BROOK TROUT

Early Fall in Southern Vermont

It is HOT outside today!! I would bet 85 will be a new record high here in Vermont.
Tomorrow is opening day for Grouse hunting....I am still guiding fly fishermen on the Battenkill for Trout. Early in the morning, I have been training the puppy on Quail....He is becoming a nice little bird dog....HE HAS A NOSE!!!! I'm getting good points and he is finding dead birds....next week I'll be hunting/training him alot on Grouse/woodcock....Fishing has been good for some and very tough for others....Tricos look to be over....there are some BWOs around and caddis dries in a 16 are still working....size 18 nymphs on the trailer. Yesterday afternoon I had a guy who was having a hard time hooking the hits he was getting swinging nymphs....so we re-ran it with a black nose dace streamer. Third cast....BANG....bigger fish don't miss flies like average fish....after a bunch of coaching and a little tone to let line slip....we landed a beautiful 19 inch male Brown Trout....I switched my other client over to a B-N-Dace for the last minutes of the trip....he caught a 13 inch brown....tomorrow my group will be swinging Black Nose Dace!!! Forecast is for WIND.....there is going to be a ton of leaves in the water....Please stay tuned....foliage trout, woodcock & grouse, puppy updates and late season bass all to come. On a very sad note.....my old dog "Tucker" is in very good spirits but is deaf so I guess is now officially retired except to a run here and there.

Quail and dog training

Quail Call back pen was made last week....all parts were recycled....got 8 Bobwhites yesterday....2 males and 6 females....today the puppy will be on his first real gamebirds....should be a very interesting day! Might let the "OLD DOG" show "THE ROOKIE" a thing or two about this afternoon....Thanks for staying tuned....

September is a great month to Trout Fish in Vermont

Battenkill Trout Fishing

We have been in low water mode for the last several weeks. The forecast is for rain today and next couple days....and WE NEED IT!!! When low water mode is in affect... the best game in town is the main stem Battenkill in Arlington off of Rte 313. I have to admit I love the Battenkill for better or worst....its a tough river, approach needs to be stealthy, leaders need to be long and drifts have to be perfect.
We have seen improved populations of Trout especially Brook Trout with the NO KILL
regulation. Tricos, BWO, Caddis 16, 18 and Isonychia are currently hatching....My best flies have been: BH nymph 16, 18, Trico/BWO nymph 18 and a Trico Dun Thorax dry...I have openings, the horse show is over finally....Brook Trout are on the chew, lets go fishing!

The Mettawee Main stem and upper river

Last week and yesterday I spent time on the Mettawee. The fishing on the Main Stem river from North Rupert to North Pawlet continues to be challenging. Some spots are producing but the Mettawee really needs a good rain and some water. The last several rain storms have missed the Pawlet and Wells area. The upper Mettawee is a different story. Yesterday, we fished off of Peace Street in Dorset, Vt. We saw all three species but only caught Rainbows and Brown Trout. Peace Street is just north of Dorset on Rte. 30. Going north from town its on the right, go up the road until you see a bridge. On the left is a public access parking area for Cutler Memorial Forest. This is a beautiful 80 acres parcel open to hiking, cross-country skiing, FISHING, horseback riding, dog walking and picnicking. Just park, walk down the trail and enjoy.