Greetings! Get here this weekend if you are able! The daytime highs Friday through Tuesday, accompanied by actual sun, are supposed to be 50, 59, 67, 63, and 49 - looks like a great chance for more activity before temperatures drop again. And, water level is beautiful. There are so many trout, and some very big ones as the video above shows. The video in the next picture shows Scott Yoder and his successful fly - he also talks about one of his fall trips to Pine. Watch the video after Scott as Tom Finkbiner discusses successful late fall patterns. Our incredible year is moving forward with the late fall and winter seasons which should go down as the best ever. With fly fishing and numbers of trout so good, we are planning a clinic here at the shop, around Christmas, on winter trout fishing on freestone water. We will be back to you soon with a date. Many have said they will give it a try, come and join us, - includes a campfire and free (warm) drinks - the trout will be here! Trout are being caught from the mouth of Slate Run and Little Slate to the Naval Run Pool. Tactics need to be changed as the water temperatures drop after a cold night, or, rise during a sunny afternoon - come by the shop and let us help!
 | | Scott Yoder, his fly, and Pine Creek Trout |
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TIPS
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Slate Run's Tom Finkbiner on the flies that are working now on Pine
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Keep in contact with the shop website and watch for the newsletter. We will be updating stream conditions almost daily so you are aware of conditions and what the trout are taking. We hope you can schedule some fine late fall and winter fly fishing on Pine into your schedule. We'd love to share it with you! Below are a few flies that continue to hatch and some of their imitations.
Hatches are dwindling and subsurface activity is more the rule than the exception. A few anglers are still using the flies below with success (even on the runs and occasionally on the surface) - Slate Drake in a size 10-12; sulphurs; Light Cahills in size 12-16; a heptagenia (pale yellow) in a 16-18; BWO's in sizes 16-18; Brown Caddis in a 14-16; dark moddled stone fly in a 12-14; Tricos in 18 (16 if you're lucky) and down to a 22; a white midge in 20-28; the brown-mottled October Caddis in 10-12 (Orvis' Yak); the Yellow Crane Fly in a 12 (Pine Creek Special); and corresponding nymphs, wets, and emergers to go with the dries. Add to these the ever-needed Stimulator in 8-10, occasional grasshopper, cricket, green weenie, and a few buggers, muddlers, and sculpins. Small nymphs are working well (Prince, Pheasant Tail).
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Hatches and Methods
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11-7 nymphing at the top of Naval Run Pool
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Late fall trout fishing is different from earlier fall and requires a little change of thought. Water temperatures are hovering in the lower 40s on Pine. Trout are in their normal feeding stations where food is funneled to them, although they won't be in current which will demand a greater metabolism to function than they have with the present current water temperature. They won't pass up a meal, even at 34 0r 35 degrees but instinct dictates conservation of energy - typically, the lower the temperature, the more the fly must be presented close to them rather than just in the vicinity. The water is colder, but clear and the trout can see well...remain stealthy even at this time of the year. The main point to remember when trying to offer your fly as close as possible to the fish, cast with a plan each time you present - have your drift begin closer to your position, make many casts there, then alter the presentation 18 inches and try drifts there. You are prospecting and this will increase your chances of hooking up.
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Just a few more casts.
When the air turns a bit colder, water temperatures drop, and we dress a bit warmer when we head out to the creek, my mind goes back to the day when I got the greatest fly fishing lesson of my life. It was somewhere around 1970 and Christmas was approaching. My parents hosted a child from an orphanage for the two weeks around the holidays. David, was 8 and had a great smile and really appreciated being a part of the family - a wonderful kid.
Mom called me at my apartment, "Dave, little David said that if he had one wish this Christmas, it would be to go fishing with you." "Mom," I responded, "he's only 8 and there is a foot of snow outside - nobody is fishing now!" Mom never gave up and knew how to get what she wanted..."That's all he wants this Christmas - it is so important!" "OK, I'll pick him up tomorrow, 11 o'clock. That way we can fish in the afternoon when it is a little warmer - hopefully."
The next day was freezing, more snow, the wind was blowing and the sky was the color of frigid, grey steel. He had so many questions on the way, and mom had dressed him with so many layers I didn't know how he'd move, and boots?...only the low ankle boots with the metal fasteners. But, no one could have been happier!
We got there, parked near the road so we could get back out, and walked to the creek. I rigged the Fenwick ff79 fiberglass rod with a grey and peacock mayfly nymph (Mausteller May fly), one split-shot, and pulled out 10 feet of line with the leader. He was positioned near a four-foot run of water that was beyond the 4 feet of flat water in front of him. He knew what to do, or, at least on the drive there he was told many times what to do, and why to do it. As I walked to the next good run I looked back, and little David was flipping the nymph upstream. I turned to cast, actually with little enthusiasm to fish myself and...
"I got one, I got one!!" he shouted. He did have one. His rod was bent and bouncing as the trout fought hard. His little hands were so tight on the rod - he held on with all the life he had in him. David backed up the bank a little further and the beautiful winter-colored brownie slid onto the snow. He held the trout with a smile that seemed as big as the fish itself. I twisted the hook and, without a word David stepped to the creek. One long last look, and he bent to the surface and set the fish free. I gave him a big hug, then...
"How did you do it?" I asked. He looked at me with total amazement, "I did exactly what you told me to do. I flipped the fly upstream and watched the line as it drifted downstream. It stopped, so I picked the rod tip up and had the trout on." I was the one who had told him what to do so he couldn't understand why I would ask the question. I just responded with "Great job!"
What a lesson. I've never forgotten little David, or that day, or David's trout. The little boy with the big smile was a believer. He only did what we all know to be winter trout facts. I think that the greatest tip anyone could have as the water turns colder and the snow covers the ground...believe. Certainly on Pine we know the trout are here, they would like a meal, and we only have to give it to them in a way consistent with their expectancy. David believed, and that 8 year old changed the rest of my life.
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Thanks again for joining us; we'll be back again in two weeks as November trout fishing continues, hatches evolve, and we have more stories, pictures of catches, and videos of some of the fish and the streams we love. Please call us or drop us an email to let us know what is on your mind - we want to hear from you... Remember stay in touch with Pine and Slate and Cedar by going to our website slaterun.com and clicking on stream conditions - we plan on updating daily (or close to it).
Thanks again for your time!
Sincerely,
The Tackle Shop Team
Tom & Deb Finkbiner - Proprietors, etc.
Jed Grove - Sales Manager, etc.
Dave Wonderlich - Website, Newsletter, etc.
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Big
Sale
Free shipping and gift wrapping on all Orvis products now until Christmas!
call to order
gift cards
available
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This is a time of equipment changes at Orvis which allows us to pass along severe cuts and close-out prices on certain items. Some of the waders with Close Out Pricing include: Silver Label 3 Convertible Stockingfoot Wader reg. $295, now $195; Pro Guide Stockingfoot Wader reg. $395, now $225; Silver Label Bootfoot Wader with Eco Trax soles reg. $475, now $299; Sonic Weld Pack & Travel Wader Pant (x-large), now $198. Wading boots with Close Out deals include: River Guard Ultralight Boot with Eco Trax soles reg. $198, now $148; River Guard Easy-On Brogue Boot with Eco Trax soles $198, now $148. Also on sale are Orvis Trout Bum Shirts in burnt red, light blue, and olive reg. $65, now $43; very limited numbers of the Under Wader Fleece Suit reg. $129, now $99.
Fly Line close out Wonder Line fly Line & Orvis Silver Label - floating, sinking, sink-tip, various tapers and weights reg. $69, now $29.95.
Helios
25% off
all Helios
fly rods
Helios, the power presentation taper
and the most decorated rod in history.
free shipping and gift wraping
Take advantage while supplies last!
Bring your fly reel into the shop and we will inspect the line and clean and lube the reel free of charge.
Take advantage keep your reel in top shape
The New Silver Sonic Convertible Top Waders are in!
$259...
Convert to waiste high without removing suspenders - fully waterproof double-airlock interior pocket - new gravel guard makes on/off even easier - anatomically shaped feet - flexible - comfortable - breatheable - a pleasure to wear!
Come in and try a pair on...
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