ADK Fishing Report: “Undisclosed” Pond 6-9-18

[beartooth91]

Got up at 1:30 am and made the drive to my favorite ADK pond. Started hiking at 8:15 am, exactly 6 hours after leaving Bloomsburg, PA.

As usual, I was the only one fishing.

• Upon arrival, noted several leeches in the shallows at my put in area. One stretched out to be quite long….about 4-5 inches. They are smoky-olive with orange on the belly.
  
  
• Started with my usual rig: an intermediate line with 3 flies. Trolled offshore down to about 8-10 feet with no success. This is how I caught all the fish on my last trip, nearly 4 weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised on how cool the pond was…..very similar to my last trip.
• After about 1-1/2 hours, I switch over to a Type III fast sinking line and 2 flies: a Denny’s olive Peacock Callibaetis Nymph on a dropper with a sz. 14 micro olive/orange Seal Bugger on the point. Moved out well offshore into deeper water. Caught and released 3 Brookies in the 10-11 inch range and lost one other.
• Tough fishing. One issue I had was strike detection. I did have a couple of the bite-bite-bite-bite type, but, most were short, soft, single pulls. In the case of the lost fish, I thought I’d pulled through something on the bottom started reeling in and realized the line was moving. I had several of the short, soft, single pulls. Many surprised me and I didn’t react. The wind was intermittently gusty with varying direction – uncharacteristically strong at times – and this didn’t help. Curious if this is normal pond Brookie behavior for this time of the summer or if something had put them down.
• I fished until about 3 pm then headed out for the long drive home.

[Stillhunter]

Nice report. Thought we might see the new Hornbeck but it looks like the float tube was used this time. How were the black flies on this day?
I am trying to decide if I should get in a trip now or wait until fall after insect season.

[beartooth91]

Originally Posted by Stillhunter

Nice report. Thought we might see the new Hornbeck but it looks like the float tube was used this time. How were the black flies on this day?
I am trying to decide if I should get in a trip now or wait until fall after insect season.

Hornbeck being built. He didn't have a 12' high profile in inventory. It will be 2-3 weeks before its ready. So used the tube. Thought about trying another pond I haven't yet fished but no way to determine snapper population potential.

Last weekend the black flies were terrible.....plenty of Deet required. Yesterday...none. Some of that may have to do with the intermittent gusty wind.

[vtflyfish]

Originally Posted by beartooth91

[*]Tough fishing. One issue I had was strike detection. I did have a couple of the bite-bite-bite-bite type, but, most were short, soft, single pulls. In the case of the lost fish, I thought I’d pulled through something on the bottom started reeling in and realized the line was moving. I had several of the short, soft, single pulls. Many surprised me and I didn’t react. The wind was intermittently gusty with varying direction – uncharacteristically strong at times – and this didn’t help. Curious if this is normal pond Brookie behavior for this time of the summer or if something had put them down.[*]I fished until about 3 pm then headed out for the long drive home.[/LIST]

When you get a strike like that what is happening is you are feeling the fish flare its gills to try to suck your fly into its mouth. This works for real food but not so much for a fly constrained by a tight line. The remedy for this is to freeze. Just stop all motion and count to four. Then make a couple of slow strips. Often the fish will be right there and pounce on the fly. Not always, but often enough.