Swinging on the Croton

After a long winter and high water, the log remained where is
was supposed to be, carving a nice deep channel.

Yesterday started at 5:30 a.m. I was in the office by 7, meetings, meetings, meetings and by 4 p.m. I figured I had put in my time, especially given the 8:30 p.m. conference call that loomed. A short distance away, courtesy of the City of New York, a delightful trout stream beckoned. I answered the call.

I figured about ninety minutes was all I had but with a rod already strung with a Mickey Finn I could get on the water quickly. I resisted the temptation to switch to dries mostly because there were no bugs, no rises (okay, I did see one half-hearted rise) and, more importantly, the water didn't look like dry water. A bit high. A bit cold (50 degrees). The Mickey Finn just seemed the right choice.

I fished the first couple of casts quickly. Yielding no joy, so I switched to a slower retrieve. A tug. Next cast. Another tug in the same place. Next cast, just swung the fly through the lane. Fish on! This Brown looked stocked (or maybe abused by his neighbors) but the ones I took on subsequent casts were all bright, crisply finned wild trout. Very rewarding.

I moved up to a spot where I thought I might find fish rising to the sporadic caddis and Hendrickson hatch but it was not to be. In this run the fish ignored the Mickey Finn and then a variety of nymphs. I fished it for the duration of one cigar and then called it a day.

As I walked out I was spoke with a few fisherman. None were fishing but they had all come down to watch the water. One old guy clued me in. May 15th is the traditional time when this river turns on. These were dry fly guys waiting for a good hatch. And, apparently, fishing nothing else.

Splendid evening.