Greetings! January 18th, and there continues to be a lot happening on Pine. Of course it is possible there always was a lot happening on the delayed harvest stretch but no one was on the creek almost daily to see and record it. As I'm on the creek or one of the runs, it amazes me to see how many different anglers I've bumped into and spoken to. All have stories of favorite winter haunts, flies, and the trout they catch. One thing they all have in common is a fire for winter trout fishing and Pine, Slate, and Cedar. Another commonality are the flies they use - most use the same nymphs and a few are "buggering." We hope you enjoy this newsletter and its videos. Please, keep the feedback coming. And, if you get time, come and visit us and the stretch on Pine this winter.
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What's working... The flies in the picture above pretty well tell the story. Add to the above a green weenie, a sili skin caddis, a gold-ribbed hare's ear, a prince, and a few green or black buggers and you are set. Although, the nymphs above work just fine when dropped off the bend of the hook of a Slate Drake dry for a strike indicator. As to what else is working, midge hatches are definitely present, and occasionally caddis flies of differing patterns can be seen above the water. This week I saw a few size 12 or 14 dries above the water that looked just like a Quill Gordon (since I didn't catch one I'm not saying they were, but...) On the Little Slate Pool before the latest snow, I also saw five different trout take dries off the surface in very delicate and precise feeds. I'm wondering if I'll see the flies and occasional surface feeds all winter in the late afternoon! What additional flies would we suggest carrying? - A cream or white midge 18-22; BWO's in sizes 16-22; Brown Caddis in a 14-16; Tricos in 18-22. For the forseeable future I'll probably start with my trusty Slate Drake as a strike indicator with a bead-head caddis as a dropper, and a micro hot-wire stone off the bead-head caddis... It works! |
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March Demonstration coming to Slate Run Tackle Shop
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Frank Swarner Double Spey & Snake Roll
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Tight-line nymphing on Pine.
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An excellent short video of tight-line nymphing - although many anglers prefer to use a strike indicator.
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Just a few more casts.
It seems I write a lot about Schoolhouse Riffle and the Little Slate Pool. That's because I think about those areas a whole lot and because, when I have time, I want to be there - watching when time is short, and fishing them when time is more generous. One afternoon last week I was in the shop late and only had a few minutes to take a look. The approach was slow and careful to the area before the bend of Naval Run Road. The big trout was there, in the shallows on the road side as the current lazily drifted along. The camera came up quickly, and just as fast the fish dashed cross current and disappeared into the olive depths. With the trees bare and the sky and creek banks white, trout are much more wary and sensitive to stream-side and overhead movement. Anyway, it was great seeing the fish, good knowing he still frequented his haunts, and that wintertime had not changed his habits. Further along Little Slate Pool, the scene above came into focus.
Little Slate Pool is always picturesque. I leaned against the stone wall and immediately two trout took careful, sipping feeds from the surface. I just stared, it was the middle of January... I backed up to get a better view of the current along the opposite bank just above the pool. One... two... three... unbelievable... real feeds - not the splashing or chasing of wets or emergers, not the tails of bottom feeders as if something on the creek floor was being rooted up, not like something was after minnows... real looked-at, decided-upon, carefully-consumed feeds. And, I saw a few dries above the surface that looked just like Quill Gordons! The next afternoon could not come fast enough...
Tom was great, I told him I'd like to get out by 2:30 and it was fine. The walk was warmer than I expected, anticipation helps a lot. The flies were tied on along the stream to allow for a close watch for naturals. A few midges, no Quill Gordons. So, how about a yellow bead-head stone and a micro hot-wire golden stone fished below a dry Slate Drake. The water was 37 degrees and I stood only six or seven feet off shore. It was an easy cast of about fifteen feet to set the flies drifting through the slower, gliding water - well away from the faster current. What a joy it was to watch a dry make its journey on the surface, even on a freestone stream in January. But, it was even better a few casts later when the Drake was pulled under broken water and the rod bent to the afternoon's first trout. I saw the fish flash as it fought and was amazed at its silver sides. It was a rainbow with an incredibly pale pink streak along its flanks. He disappeared as soon as he was released. It was an amazing afternoon with many takes, the Drake for an indicator doesn't miss many tricks and makes nymphing so much easier. January? Who would have known. I didn't see any surface action although I hadn't made it past Schoolhouse Riffle. And, I had the stream and its feeding trout to myself. Little Slate Pool would have to wait for another afternoon, but, it will be very soon!
 | | January Brown Trout Release on Pine Creek's Schoolhouse Riffle. |
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Thanks for being with us again; we'll have a new newsletter in a few weeks as January nears February. We hope to bring you more pictures and videos as Pine continues to offer us its surprises and its treasures. Please call us or drop us an email to let us know what is on your mind - or call to find up-to-the-minute details on stream conditions and what is happening on the water. Please, stay in touch with Pine, Slate, and Cedar by going to our website slaterun.com - we'll update as often as possible.
Thanks again for joining us!
Sincerely,
The Tackle Shop Team
Tom & Deb Finkbiner - Proprietors, etc.
Jed Grove - Sales Manager, etc.
Dave Wonderlich - Website, Newsletter, etc.
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NEW SALE
Shop rod closeouts now available on
Ebay!
The Tackle Shop price is the "buy it now" price on ebay... Also, many of the items can be purchased for less on Ebay auction.
Follow these steps...
1/ Go to Ebay,
2/ to the right of the search button
click on advanced search,
3/ On left of the page
click on the blue
words "by seller,"
4/ enter seller's
user ID -
slateruntackleshop.
all of The Shop's "buy it now" and auction products will be displayed...
To be able to return to the listing later, simply "save search."
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Shop Closeout Sale
continues until products are gone...
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
40% off Helios Rods with the purchase of reel and line.
(free backing and
mounting with purchase of line)
Helios, the power presentation taper
and the most decorated rod in history.
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!
Convert to waist 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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