New York's Spring Steelhead Re-Cap
The spring steelhead season is near a close now, but what a very good season we had.
Right at the start in early April, fishing was a bit spotty but as we entered mid month it picked up nicely and we had continued success right until May 10th, our last guided day, then the water raised to 750 cfs on May 11th which most likely triggered the fish to return to the lake for the summer. Many steelhead in the 10 to 12 pound class with a few in the mid to high teens with the largest silver bullet post spawner measuring in at 39 inches and 16 pounds.
These fish will be back starting in late September and so will the Salmon!
Now Lake Ontario is offering up plenty of large Salmon up in the 26 pound class.
These fish are averaging nearly 4 pounds heavier then last year at this time.
Looks like our fall season is shaping up as predicted with plenty of fish with heavier weight and a meaner attitude.
Reserve now for your fall salmon season trip!
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Western Mass's Spring & Summer Outlook
The much needed rains have arrived, but we fishermen are never satisified, now there's too much and the water ways that were near or at flood levels are now receding nicely. River stockings should resume shortly once the better flows return.
Looks again like the 3rd week of May for fly fishing should be a good start!
With the below program, Western Mass Rivers should again offer great fly fishing opportunities.
2006 SPRING TROUT ALLOCATIONS
courtesy of Mass Fish and Wildlife
Bay State anglers can look forward to over 636,000 feisty brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout being stocked this spring according to figures released by Mass Wildlife. Weather and water conditions permitting, stocking will begin the week of February 27. "We'll be putting out over 287,000 rainbow trout that will average over a foot long," observes Chief Fish Culturists Dr. Ken Simmons. "They'll be distributed statewide throughout the stocking season by our five regional Wildlife District offices." Another 88,000 rainbows in the 9 -11 inch class will also be stocked. 51,500 brown trout in the 12-inch class will be stocked along with over 119,000 browns in the 6 - 11 inch range.
The larger water bodies will receive the larger fish with the smaller brooks and streams receiving the younger fish. Brook trout will be stocked in a similar fashion with 7,900 fish measuring a foot or better, and 77,000 in the 6 - 11 inch class. Anglers can also anticipate trying to tame some of the 5,000 tiger trout to be released, all topping the 14 inch mark. These handsome fish, a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout, have become popular with folks lucky enough to hook and land one. Stocking will begin if ice, snow and mud conditions allow the 2-ton District tank trucks access to the waterways.
Don't forget to Take A Kid Fishing!
Promote Ethical Angling while Practicing Catch & Release
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New Fishing Additions
Learn ways to lessen the amount of weight currently used with running line
Understand the advantages of traditional floating and sink tip lines while fly casting using minimal and smaller split shot
Advance your skills and forget "chuck and duck"
Hook up and land more fish while becoming a better fly fisher
Practice and promote ethical angling
My Services
are for all who wish to become a fly fisher or improve their current fishing skills, no matter what your experience level is!
For beginners to well accomplished dry fly and sub-surface fly fishermen.
Learn the beginning basics of nymph fishing
using minimal split shots with floating and sink tip lines.
Advance your skills while fishing over and catching trophy fish.
Understand
the presentations and techniques required
to take fresh water trophy fish
while dry and sub-surface traditional fly fishing.
Walt will assist you with any of your fishing related questions,
like equipment and line choices, tactics and techniques and lodging.
You can also review archived Neff-News Letters for more information.
"Always Leave the Water a Better Fly Fisher"
FYI:
"Sometimes to get the right presentation,
you must do a lot of mending with as little mends as possible."
SOON TO BE A FLOAT
The new Hog Island Drift Boat has finally arrived and will be ready for use by early June!
Drift Boat Trips, offering more then fly fishing, in both New York and Mass.
LINKS TO SAVE
Salmon River New York Flow Forecasts
Deerfield River Massachusetts Flow Forecasts
each page includes Waterline, USGS Real Time and Weather
one page for all related water info
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