Articles in the Category Fishing Reports

. . . When the act of fishing becomes something I can really put my finger on to say “Here’s how they’re eating,” I can take that experience into the future, pulling it out to solve a mystery a decade later. The trout hit where they should and how they should, until it became nearly predictable. The casting felt effortless . . . and it felt like home. Anyone who thinks nymphing is inelegant or clunky has not fished this way.

At the top of the flat, my time is up, and I chuckle at the absurdity of two things while breaking down my rod: First, tight line dry-dropper drop-shot as a thing. And second, why had I never considered it before?

Nymphs and streamers, dead drifts and animation. I settled into a rhythm and covered water, without thinking too much, just enjoying the best winter fishing day of the year.

By that, I mean that things seemed normal, for a change. The weather was cold and windy, creating ice at the edges of the river. The river had its characteristic limestone-green in the deeper parts. And the fish responded well enough to keep things interesting. It was good, hard winter fishing.

Small nymphs, light split shot and a yarn indy won the day. Some dedicated streamer work got little attention. Trout were mostly shallow.