This last week we gut a bunch
of weather, almost 20 inches of snow, Followed up with a few days later with
around 2 inches of rain. We now got water everywhere. Starting with western New
York, Oak Orchard River area. The water flow is finally up for the Oak. Flows
are at a medium high to high flow and very money. The surrounding areas creeks
are at flood stage and appropriately muddy. This is good news, there should be
a fresh run of fish in when the water flows come down and we can get on the
water. We will need to continue monitoring waterfalls closely. I suspect
conditions to improve later this coming week.
The Salmon River watershed has
also been influenced with the recent round of heavy weather. As of writing this
update, water flows on the Salmon River are at 2600 CFS at the Pineville gauge
with an 1800 CFS release at the dam. We recently finished in this high water
flow, and did surprisingly well. There is a fresh run of steelhead in the upper
river and I suspect more fish are on the move. Hopefully this is a positive
sign for the upcoming spring fishing. Productive flies; this week, we caught
fish with a wide variety of patterns. If one fly pattern is not working, switch
it up. We caught fish with a variety of stonefly nymph size ranging from 10 to
8 we also had success fishing size 10 egg patterns concentrate your fishing
efforts with these patterns along the current seems between the slow and fast
water. For the swing, small intruders around two and a half to 3 and half
inches long is getting the job done. Keep in mind with high water flows try
fishing intruders around 4 to 6 inches long. Sometimes you need to put a big
target out for them.
Note;
A reminder, it is time to
start planning you’re up coming fishing trips. I still have prime dates for
spring steelhead fishing, open for both March and April. Feel free to give me a
call discuss dates and fishing opportunities. Cell 585-233-0436