Water Temp?

So I've been out twice on two local rivers in here in Upstate NY. No fish.
No big deal because it was good to get back into the cast and get my
efficiency back. However the first day (2 weeks ago) the air temp was
almost 50 and the water 35. Today on different water, the air temp (at 3:30
PM) was 40ish and the water 34. There are trout in these rivers, I catch
them in warmer weather and water conditions regularly (before they get
stocked). Read somewhere water has to be in 40's and 50's for ideal trout
fishing. So if there's fish, and forgiving the fact that I am not an
accomplished streamer fisherman. What would you all suggest to get a
strike?

Thanks!

--
Al Hammel
http://groups.msn.com/FlyFishingWorl...ritecasts.msnw

"just al" wrote in message
...
So if there's fish, and forgiving the fact that I am not an
accomplished streamer fisherman. What would you all suggest to get a
strike?


Find the deep holes or areas where the sun is shining near deep holes and
drift a nymph and hope you manage to drift one within a few inches of a
holding fish. @ 35 degrees, they probably ain't gonna move far to chase a
streamer or anything else for that matter.
--
Al Hammel
http://groups.msn.com/FlyFishingWorl...ritecasts.msnw

just al wrote:

So I've been out twice on two local rivers in here in Upstate NY. No fish.
No big deal because it was good to get back into the cast and get my
efficiency back. However the first day (2 weeks ago) the air temp was
almost 50 and the water 35. Today on different water, the air temp (at 3:30
PM) was 40ish and the water 34. There are trout in these rivers, I catch
them in warmer weather and water conditions regularly (before they get
stocked). Read somewhere water has to be in 40's and 50's for ideal trout
fishing. So if there's fish, and forgiving the fact that I am not an
accomplished streamer fisherman. What would you all suggest to get a
strike?

During low water temps, fish "hole up". The most common places are the
bottoms of the deepest pools. Some fish "hole up" under rocks, logs etc.
in somewhat shallower areas. With temps just above freezing, they are
going to feed very little. If something is put right in front of their
nose and it is easy to capture, they MIGHT eat it. A nymph deep drifted
across the bottom of the deepest pools would probably be your best
choice. When you catch a fish in water that cold, usually there is VERY
little fight. I call them "ice cube" trout and don't find them much fun.

If you can find an area that has a bit higher temps from something like
a spring coming in or a tall rock wall that gets alot of sun, or ??? you
might find some more active fish.

Willi

Wayne knight wrote:

@ 35 degrees, they probably ain't gonna move far to chase a
streamer or anything else for that matter.


Willi wrote:

or a tall rock wall that gets alot of sun,

Yeah, one "pool" is 100+ feet across, fed by two runs off an island under a
large two lane bridge (you gotta dodge traffic and slide over the side for a
10 foot down-climb to the island), is said to be 60+ feet deep, and gets
little sun. The other water is narrow and has one deep pool with small
cliffs on either side, but again gets little sun.

I was fishing a type three line both down and across and well as standing at
the two heads of the first "pool" mentioned and letting the current take the
line down to my backing, waiting for it to sink in the middle of the "pool"
and "jigging" or jerking the line with short strips.

Some old-timer (around 70) was there earlier this week with a rooster tail
and pulled out a nice brown and land-locked salmon (heard the story, saw the
pictures--I gotta believe it's legit). So I figured being the young buck I
am...do it with a fly, yo. Word up. Shoot!

Al said:

I was fishing a type three line both down and across and well as standing
at
the two heads of the first "pool" mentioned and letting the current take
the
line down to my backing, waiting for it to sink in the middle of the
"pool"

Are you sure your fly was actually getting down onto the bottom? With line
out to the backing current will usually make your fly line "belly" in the
middle and the fly rise up toward the surface particularly at the end of
your cast as the line swings toward shore. With a small nymph pattern this
is desireable because it's what nymphs do. Add a weight or a sinking tip to
force your fly down deep to bottom-bounce then rise at the end of your cast.
You want that weighted fly to go quickly to the bottom depending upon
current strength.

It this still does not work for you, tie on a bigger weighted nymph like a
damsel or dragon fly nymph and bottom-bounce them until the end of the
swing.

If this still does not work for you try a weighted minnow-imitating long
streamer pattern. Bottom-bounce it through the pool and see what happens.

If this still does not work for you try a weighted wolly bugger with a
flashing front propeller or similar flashing streamer to get in their face.

You can keep this up until something works. Give the pools a 30 minute rest
and try another approach until they hit - you know they are down there.

and "jigging" or jerking the line with short strips.

Not necessary. Let the current do this for you. Your jerks may be pulling
your fly out of their face!


Good luck!
John

bassrecord wrote:

Are you sure your fly was actually getting down onto the bottom?

not sure if I got it to the bottom, never got hung up...

used a SA type III full sink with tandems white, black or green conehead
zonkers and a mickey fin, black beaded mohair leech, #8 hare's ear, double
bead head prince, and joe's smelt combos.

"just al" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
So I've been out twice on two local rivers in here in Upstate NY. No
fish.


Fish the deep holes, and pull a few leeches off the fish before you return
them,

TL
MC

Hi Al,

I think it does vary a bit from stream to stream but ideal water temp for
trout is around 60 degrees. They are more active then and are feeding more
aggressively.

In water under 50 degrees it not easy to catch trout even on nymphs for most
fly fishers because the takes a so subtle. Bait or "protein" works better
with the smell for a trigger in this colder water.

Another idea is that if the water is too cold for happy trout then sometime
the sunny afternoons are better with a little rise in water temps. At this
time when water is too cold early AM and after the sun leaves the water in
the PM, things can be real tough. We usually eat a good breakfast and fish
late mooring through the afternoon in cold water times and then quite as
soon as the sun leaves the water.

I personally like to fish a stream as it is just getting passed about 56
degrees in the spring and then it should be good for a month or so.

When some streams reach 70+ degrees in mid-summer the trout can again get
harder to catch because they become sluggish.

AM and PM can be best in high temps in the late summer and early fall.

This is general info for a basic guideline but there are always exceptions
to these rules.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"just al" wrote in message
...

So I've been out twice on two local rivers in here in Upstate NY. No
fish.
No big deal because it was good to get back into the cast and get my
efficiency back. However the first day (2 weeks ago) the air temp was
almost 50 and the water 35. Today on different water, the air temp (at
3:30
PM) was 40ish and the water 34. There are trout in these rivers, I catch
them in warmer weather and water conditions regularly (before they get
stocked). Read somewhere water has to be in 40's and 50's for ideal trout
fishing. So if there's fish, and forgiving the fact that I am not an
accomplished streamer fisherman. What would you all suggest to get a
strike?

Thanks!

--
Al Hammel
http://groups.msn.com/FlyFishingWorl...ritecasts.msnw