Yes is time to get back into the swing of things, I have been out fishing on weekends, not many fish,  no complaints here. Time in the outdoors with any water nearby is a good thing.

A recent drive up 17N had me going to the Ramapo area until some dark clouds were up ahead. A quick exit to an empty Saddle River is always a nice surprise. I get out to the upper Saddle River a few times a year. It is more of a nostalgic thing for me. In the early eighty’s my brothers friend Dave use to take me their and let me drive his camaro up Rt17 to the river when I had my learners permit. That was cool.

On this recent visit I saw a few small bass and tried dead drafting a hare”s ear past two trout with no luck. In the distance I heard a few cracks of thunder so it was time to wrap it up.

Saddle River

I spent the morning in the rain with my 10 year old son at a local stocked pond. A few other fisherman but not to bad, compared to the more popular places in the area.

Only stayed for an hour or so before the fingers started getting cold. I saw a few trout reeled up, which seemed to keep everyone going in the cool rain.

We came up empty but with kids its always fun, he had me cracking up with the things he does. Time well spent for sure.

These days with the direction of our vanishing dollars there is no reason to stop tying. It is just time to be creative and the best place to start is your local craft store.

I paid a visit to AC Moore and picked up a few neat inexpensive items to keep me busy behind the vise. For a few bucks yarn in every image able color is available and gives a unique buggy look similar to dubbing that is hard to beat. Just be sure to break it down to a single strand or so. I also picked up a few 9″ x 12″ sheets of thin Foam Zone for terrestrials also available in lots of colors. Priced at .30 to .40 per sheet is a good deal.

Let’s face it, these days most or all of us are strapped for cash for one reason or another. A visit to a craft store is one way to stock up on a few neat materials that are easy on the wallet. Most craft stores are well stocked so be sure to ask for help in locating your so called treasures.

Today is the first day of spring!

But what was with that snow this morning?

Cruising through the aisles at the Fly Fishing Show a few weeks ago I came across one table with a few easy flies being tied.

Glenn and Andrea Benschoten were tying a few patterns with yarn and foam. All very easy simple stuff perfect for beginner.  They have a book out called Ten Flies Simple Ties available at www.reelsimpleflyfishing.com.

A few months ago I started trolling the web for a few simple patterns to work on and this worked out perfect.  The booklet goes for $8-10 dollars, how can you go wrong?  I am looking forward to trying them out this Spring on some bass and panfish.

Plus they are two very nice people!

“Fly-fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others, and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It’s not even clear if catching fish is actually the point.”

from DANCES WITH TROUT by John Gierach.

This year again I did the on line license buy without any issues, printed out a few extra copies and loaded up the car with extra clothes just in case.

A quick stop at Ramsey Outdoor for a few small nymph patterns and on my way. This season started early for me on this very cold Saturday Jan. 3rd, off to the Ramapo River.

Just walking through the snow crunching under your feet with a pole in hand is neat stuff. Water temp was a cold 38 deg. give or take.  There is something about stepping into the cold water in the Winter. The sun felt nice and warm on my back which was a nice bonus. Air temp in the 30s but no major wind to speak of.

Only spent a little over an hour or so but less than that with the line wet. Came up empty handed with no action on the strike indicator but that did not matter much. I did end up in the doctors office a few days later with a wicked cough and some type of sinus infection.

It certainly felt manly telling the doc I spent time fishing in the cold stream. I do not think she was impressed one bit.

Ramapo River Jan. 09

The NJ Fish and Wildlife Magazine is on available.

http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2009/digfsh09.pdf

I usually pick one up at the store but it is nice to check it out early.

Happy New Year!

Another round of trout stocking will be starting on November 24Th.

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/news/2008/wntrtrt08.htm

This will provide some exciting fishing opportunities over the Winter season. Just do not forget the gloves, hat, and some hot cocoa.

I did spend an hour or so on the Ramapo River Sunday afternoon but came up empty. The river was running high and fast due to the heavy overnight rain.

Ramapo River

Saddle River in Paramus, NJ

Late afternoon at the Ramapo.

Ramapo River in the Fall.

The Ramapo River was my destination the past two weeks. Last Sunday, was a warm 70 degrees,  I brought along the fly rod and worked a few Woolly Buggers of various colors but had no takers. I witnessed a few nice size trout cruise by which was pretty neat to see. Even tied on a San Juan worm for a few drifts. My original plan was to park at the Reservation for some late season bass and take in the changing leaf colors but the parking lot was packed.

Yesterday with the cooler Fall feel I was back on the River, this time with a spinning reel, just was not into fly fishing yesterday. Fan casting the water with a few small Mepps type spinner lures was different. Have not used those type lures for sometime. I also brought along night crawlers that have been in the fridge for a few weeks. I like to keep some on hand in case my kids want to come along. Well yesterday I saw my wife throw them out to get rid of them. After that they just had to come with me and I caught this fine trout on a worm.

It turned out to be a very nice day on the water. This trout was released unharmed, picked up a bag of bottles, cans and plastic on my journey. Most importantly the worms are back in the fridge.