Fishing Forum

Hit the South Fork of a couple hours today. I arrived at the river around 11am and already there were a few fish starting to rise....to something so small I could not see it....and I assumed they were rising to really tiny midges. Using the Redington CT 863, I began picking up fish right away. I caught and landed around a dozen little cutts like the one in the photo below, along with a couple browns about the same size. and some small whitefish. I hooked and lost a gob of fish including one big brown that took a #24 black midge, jumped a few times then was able to spit the tiny hook out. The rest were pretty small....but very fun. Temps were in the mid 30's and the snow was lightly falling...straight down...no breeze to speak of. A very pleasant day on the river and only one other fisherman....and I out lasted him in the weather.








[signature]

Thanks for the report and photos. Makes me want to hit the river and give it a try.
[signature]

Nice report. I have enjoyed the times I get out on the rivers in the winter. It seems especially quiet. My problem is getting up the gumption to go when it is cold out. Once I am dressed for it and on the river it is fun.

Midges the bane of the blind!
I can't see those little buggers on the water. How do you tell where your fly is? Do you use another dry on your line with your midge???
[signature]

Midge fishing is an exercise in mild madness. The only way I would see a #24 midge on the water would be if it was sitting in a drinking glass on the table in front of me....then I would have to look really close. All midge fishermen approach the hatch in their own way.....Personally, I like to put a tiny foam indicator right at the end of the fly line and watch it like a hawk. Some takes are so light, there is nothing more than a couple inch bump or movement with the indicator signifying a take. You might also use a dry fly...but I don't like using up dry flies on hatches that are not happening, so I use those tiny foam indicators that are about 1/3"...and fold in half around the line. The alter the cast very little if at all.

I also find some success in really calm waters, to 'walk' the fly in....very slow, I mean very slow, then feel the take.

Still, midges are my favorite aquatic insect hatch to fish.
[signature]