GOT BASS????

and for all of you that think ice fishing is COLD....I got one word for you= SISSY

Hard water

With 18 inches of hard water....ice fishing will continue to be the activity here in my world. Yesterday was a great day! Weather was superb, and the fish were responding very well to one of my ice flies. The olive pumpkin ice ant was the ticket yesterday.

Top fish from this last weekend

TOP FISH MALE TOP FISH FEMALE Both of these Northern Pike are respectable in the low 30 inch range.... TOP FISH YOUTH Some of you followers we recognize this young girl...she is a regular with her father I have fished with for many years...Abby clearly has the touch and maybe a little fish whisper in her...Thanks for following, back walking on the water again today with a group.

NYMPHS ARE US

I am tying nymphs and stocked up on my inventory. Hide a beads, prince, copper johns, hendricksons, march browns and black hares ear....80% of the time trout feed subsurface...NYMPHS-R-US

Vermont Fishing

"OK....you see it....the hole right there....right next to the funny looking piece of ice...cast right there....GOOD SHOT!

:)))))))))))))))) If we have fished together you understand

GOT FLIES?

Shushan Postmaster streamer with Jungle cock eyes... Creator: Lew Oatman of Shushan NY 1953 Lew and his fishing buddy “Al Prindle” (the Shushan Postmaster) used this fly to imitate little Brown Trout on the Battenkill. This fly is a great pattern and is one of my favorite guide flies.

Spirit of Pittsford Mills Dryfly Creator: Stephen P Belcher 1930’s This is one of the very few flies exclusively from Vermont. In 1955 while visiting, President Dwight D. Eisenhauer, a dryfly fisherman used this fly on Furance Brook in Pittsford, Vt. Later, Elsie Darbee, another fan of the pattern submitted her version to be published in the “Mc Clane’s Fishing Encyclopedia”. When tied true to recipe this fly floats like a cork in fast water.

GOT FLIES???

Blue Ghost Tandems and casting singles

Orange Ghost tandem and casting singles

Yellow Ghost tandem and casting singles

Thanks for the view and please stay tuned!

My fly box from this last fall

Some time this winter I will switch out some of the fall (specific) flies and plug in spring stuff....

Alaskan Mouse Fly Pattern

The folks who live or go fishing in Alaska like to dryfly fish with these....I got an order for some today. So, if you would like to try some please contact me and I'll add you to the working order to be delivered sometime this winter...

Tying Trolling Flies

Gray Ghost Tandem both with and without beads

Green Ghost Tandems

Purple Smelt Tandem and a Purple Winni Bomber

Call or email when you want to stock your box....Tandems, lake, saltwater, bonefish or trout....if its a hook with stuff attached with thread I can make it for you... I do try to keep an inventory of stuff in house

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope you all have a Happy New Year. Stay safe and find ample time to do the things you enjoy! Thank you very much for following my blogs, booking trips and buying flies. Here on the hill, I am making fishing tackle, tying flies and prepping ice fishing gear. Ice fishing is a little delayed but so far this winter has been pretty normal. I hope the snow kills the deer ticks and I am excited to try a bunch of new jigging gear....

with 4 lb test, on 27 inch ultra light rods, using micro jigs and ice flies....if you haven't tried it...you might want to give it a chance...Modern day ice fishing is alot of fun and all the hard things:)I do! Go on the right side bar to the tip up picture to go to a re direct to my ice fishing blog!

Vermont Grouse Season Closes Monday Dec 31st

The Vermont fish and game department is now selling 2013 licenses online.

Brittany Puppies

John Hayes, the breeder I use at : Kirby Mountain Kennels just had a nice litter of Brits. This is the guy I got my young dog from. These puppies were born on Thanksgiving and will be ready mid to end of January. There is one spoken for and the litter is 5 males and 5 females....these are NICE dogs! Kirby Mountain Kennels 240 Locust Ridge Road, East Burke, Vt (802) 626-5282

Contact John on facebook key words Kirby Mountain Kennels or at http://kirbymountainkennels.com/

Off season

I am tying flies and preparing ice fishing gear! New toys are arriving daily as well as tying material. A major part of off season is booking trips and getting the right people into the right dates. With that in mind, I'll nut shell to you the basic seasonal plan: Jan to March: Ice fishing, tying flies and stocking your fly box with custom orders

April: Trout season opens the second Saturday and small water for wild Brook Trout are the target. Primary method nymphing but there are afternoon hatches. I like to book afternoon half day trips. The upper Battenkill fishes very well!

May: Vermont Trophy Trout Program is in high gear. Target areas are the Black River near Ludlow, East Creek in Rutland and Otter Creek in Danby. These are very popular trips, prime dates are limited....these are really nice fish averaging from 14 to 20 inches.

June: What a GREAT month! Everything is fishing but the top choice are: the Walloomsac, Otter Creek and the Battenkill. I like to run either three quarter or full day trips.

July and August: Trout fishing is a morning affair. Targets are the Walloomsac, Battenkill and Mettawee. I also start running mountain brook trips and LAKE TRIPS for warm water species...(the DARK SIDE)...you have to try it sometime....it is common on the lake to catch 8 or 9 different species!

September: Is the time to fish the BATTENKILL...she is not for everyone but she is a gorgeous river. Lake fishing is an option too!

October: BIRD HUNTING! and Trout fishing

November: full circle

Thanks for the view, please call me to book a trip. The 2013 booking season has begun!

The Vermont regular trout season closes this coming Wednesday, October 31st 2012. I hope everyone had a great season and please check back as I will continue to post updates. Woodcock season overlaps with deer season this year. Then its looking forward to ice fishing. The 2013 booking season for prime dates and repeaters has begun... but will really get started next month. Thanks for the view!

American Woodcock back feather are really good soft hackle material!