Foot feeling better

My foot is much improved. I'm thinking I may sneak out for an evening on a stream over the weekend. Then, in a week, I'm heading to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, an area I really enjoy.

Green Drake time

The green drakes will be coming off the Credit any time now. In recent years, the drakes have taken a drastic decline on the main branch, but are still doing well on the West Branch. If those studying the problem have figured out what is killing these insects, I haven't heard yet. The regulars on the river will be participating in a green drake survey again this year. My foot problem is going to keep me away, likely at least until the hatch is over, but I sure hope there is some improvement in the drake population.

Injured foot...no fishin until it's a bit better

I need to look after a foot problem so it is in good shape for my trip to the Upper Michigan Peninsula in a couple weeks...so I'm staying off the streams for at least a week. I think the problem is planter fasciitis (I've had it off and on for years) that got extra irritated when I spent a week building a patio.

Cold afternoon on the Grand River

The Grand was low and clear yesterday. I accessed a stretch of the 'middle river' section on a cold and overcast afternoon (which later turned to a colder but clear early evening). There was a good hatch of olives when I arrived, and the swallows were swooping, grabbing the duns from the air. At a certain point, I saw no more olives, but the swallows continued to feed. I wouldn't have seen the tiny light-coloured midges if a couple hadn't landed on me.

That said, I did not see a large trout move in several hours on the river. I did catch a few small browns, mostly on little soft-hackles. None of the guys I talked to had seen large trout.

An evening at the Forks

I was tired after moving a lot of stone for some landscaping in my backyard, but I couldn't resist driving up to the Credit for a couple hours this evening. I had planned to fish the stretch above Grange Rd. but there were 4 cars there when I arrived, so I continued on to the Forks where I knew I could find some water to myself. I walked a little way, and fished the stretch between the second parking lot and the first house at Brimstone. There are two runs there where good trout rose to my fly last time out. Nothing doing in the first stretch, but in the second, I caught a lovely 15 inch brown right where it was rising before. Downstream, I caught another brown, but this fish was only about 9 inches.

There were a few small spinners (baetis) and a small number of hendrickson spinners in the air, and quite a few no-see-ems, and the only trout I saw rising were to my flies. There were no other fishermen anywhere near me, which is the way I prefer it.

Box of flies

Yesterday morning, I tied up 7 Hendricksons to take with me - 2 Catskill ties, 3 Usuals, and 2 Comparaduns. I put them in a little container and put the container in my pocket. When I reached the river, they were no longer in my pocket. I searched the car to no avail. Fortunately, I still have enough flies to get me through the day, although I will say the new ties, after having a fresh look at the actual bugs the day before, were better imitations.

The fly box was waiting for me when I returned home, on the kitchen table, right where I left it.

A slow day on the Credit

After a good day yesterday, I drove back to the same spot and fished more or less the same water. When I arrived, it was slightly overcast. There were no bugs. I caught a trout right away on an attractor, and watched a few larger fish come up for a look. It was the same deal all day. The bigger trout would come up and not take. The Hendrickson hatch did not really come off - there were a few bugs in the air, but not enough to interest the fish. It was a hot day, and by the time I reached the meadows, I was tired. Although I brought along two bottles of water, it wasn't enough. Good thing I had plenty in a cooler in my trunk, which I really needed by the time I got back to the car.

It's interesting how the river can be so generous one day, and next day be so frugal. Still, it was good to be fishing.

above Forks of the Credit

Beautiful day above the Forks of the Credit... Hendricksons were emerging most of the afternoon - not a heavy hatch but a steady one. I caught 6, all browns, broke off an alligator, and cast for ages at two large risers that came up several times only to refuse my flies. Fished from noon until 7:00 and did lots of walking and wading. The water level has settled nicely and the river showed lots of trout today.

There is construction on Forks of the Credit Road. You can still drive to and park at the Forks though, but don't expect to drive through to Bellfountain because you can't do it. Hardly anyone out today - Mondays are great days to fish!

Sorry I didn't get a better shot of that nice trout. After I netted it, I remembered I had my camera with me. I wanted to release the trout quickly and safely, so I only allowed myself a quick shot of the fish in the net.

Monday and Tuesday

I'm taking a couple days off work to do a little trout fishing. I'll decide what rivers to fish while I'm packing my lunch. Look for reports Monday and Tuesday nights