Saucon Mar 8

[jim k]

OK, I'd been looking forward to fishing more of the limestone streams. And I've been told that the way to fish these streams is midge, midge, midge. Now I haven't done much of that before, but what the heck. So I tied a bunch of midge patterns (that's the easy part) and headed out yesterday to Saucon Ck. (which I scouted on Sun. when I forgot my fishing reels...). Nothing rising, and no hatches worthy of note, so I weighted the flies and fished deep. No problem getting fish on. Hooked probably a half dozen nice size fish. Every single blasted one got away. One brute broke my ultra - lite tippet (come on, how do you actually land any wild fish over 8 inches on 8x tippet!), the rest all pulled the hook after some spirited fights and acrobatic leaps. (at that point I had already reverted to 6x, so no more break offs) So it was a decent day - but how the hell do you land trout on these tiny hooks??? Is it supposed to be such an exercise in frustration? I fought these fish as gently as I know how. Maybe it just wasn't my day!

[NJAngler]

Use a treble hook

i thought scud patterns were the #1 limestone fly pattern? i know most limestone waters are loaded with 'em and the hooks are larger.

jim you do any bassin' yet this year? ponds up here are melting fast and some are completely clear after just a week of warm temps. i'll be largemouthing(not sure thats a word) very soon - maybe this coming weekend which would have been unthinkable two weeks ago with 8-10"" of ice and 20" of snow on top.

Mark

[jim k]

I don't fish largemouth too often. Trout, smallmouth, and saltwater keeps me pretty busy. Although the kind of backwater small pond thing you do is appealing - I just don't have time to explore and learn new waters until the kids are out of the house.

As for scuds, I dunno. According to the proprietor at LL fly shop, you only need one pattern to fish area limestoners - Als Rat. That's a little boring for me, but you would think the guy knows what he's talking about. His other piece of wisdom is "the difference between fish and no fish is 7x and 6x. The difference between fish and a lot of fish is 7x and 8x." OK, maybe. But the difference between having fun and screaming obscentities in frustration as a large trout parts your leader may be the difference between 7x and 8x as well.

[fly14]

i fish small flies alot and these are some things ive learned

1) when nymphing, set the hook to the side rather then up it definetely makes a difference with hooking up
2) once hooked, dont move the rod from one side to the other, just keep it bent at the angle to keep the hook lodged
3) never use 8x, 7x will always do the job if the presentation is decent
4) try using a slightly larger midge/nymph as the lead fly (20ish) you will get takes on that alot of times if the smaller midge accompanies it as a dropper
5) short line drifts

[jim k]

thanks, good tips, much appreciated. Oh, and I guess - never never never let the fish get downstream of you in a heavy current.

[BiggerThomas]

Jim, I agree about the 8x being too light but I'd also want to know how new/sharp your hooks are. I was losing an unusually high number of fish one season and someone suggested I have dull hooks. Wouldn't you know, that was the problem. They were so old that they didn't do their job any longer. Sometimes you overlook the most obvious stuff...

[joepanella]

If i have to use 8x i am not fishing. they told me that years ago in that same fly shop, most likely to sell me 8x. I heard the same stuff on the Tully, and did fine with 6x fluoro. I also met a guy on the Tully who did very well and he told me he will not go below 5x and he does not use fluoro. I just don't see how thier can be that much of a difference.

[fly14]

yea 6x is all ill do, unless tricos and midges are tough on the spring creeks. I almost enjoy the challenge of getting the take on slightly heavier tippet a properly presented fly with 6x will always take fish, if its not working its fly selection or poor presentation

[jim k]

Yeah, they sell a lot more flies when they sell 8x tippet too, lol.

[BiggerThomas]

Speaking of all this tippet stuff, what's the rule of thumb on selecting it? Divide the fly size by 3?

[joepanella]

Speaking of all this tippet stuff, what's the rule of thumb on selecting it? Divide the fly size by 3?

If you can't get 6x through the eye, your fly is too small.

[NJflyman]

Speaking of all this tippet stuff, what's the rule of thumb on selecting it? Divide the fly size by 3?

I personally like divide the fly size by 3. However some will tell you divide the fly size by 4..

[Ryan R]

Yes, scuds AND midges are both usually highly abundant in limestoners.

[Twism86]

Speaking of all this tippet stuff, what's the rule of thumb on selecting it? Divide the fly size by 3?

Use 5x. I keep it simple.

[JeffK]

George Harvey theory - biggest tippet you can fit through the eye - he used 5x on tricos and he invented that game. I go no lower than 6X fluoro and have not had cause to blame the tippet. Loop knots allow a little more freedom between a tiny fly and the tippet.

I have found midges to hold well when the fish are hooked - but getting them hooked is the problem. Sweep your rod towards the bank to get as much side force as possible.

Last time I was at the Saucon the hot fly was a 14 Prince. I guess those limestone fish don't always go tiny.