Deerfield River Reports - 2006

[JoeOverlock]

2/16/2006

Upper C&R
Flow: 1500
Water Temp: 33 degrees
Air Temp: mid 50's

I had the chance to spend a few hours on the Deerfield today and man, what an awesome day it was. I'm willing to bet I was the only person on the entire river. I landed 2 Browns (both around 14 inches) only after missing 5 fish right in a row. I was using a Bunny Hair Leech with an extra long tail. I realized the trout kept short striking it after the 5th fish tugged on it and ran. I cut the tail short and then landed the 2.

[Mark Patenaude]

Awsome!

Good attention to detail on cutting the tail back.

What size and color were you using and did you fish it on a sinking/sink tip line or weighted WF?

Nice job!

[JoeOverlock]

I was using a WF line with about a 10 foot leader of 4x. The Leech was a #6 long 2x long shank.

Trimming that tail helped me hook 'em, but they didn't seem as interested in it with the shorter tail. That long tail looked real nice in the water and drove them crazy, to bad tandem hooks are illegal up there.

[Mark Patenaude]

Give this a try next time out.

Tie the same fly on a 6xl streamer hook but tie the body (and hence the rear termination point of the strip) equal to that of the 2xl hook. This will extend the hook back farther and still allow the tail to move nicely.

Also, if I may suggest a change to your leader.

If you want a fly that size to turn over well and keep the long leader, make your leader 70% of 20lb. butt material and then tie in your tippet at 3' with a double surgeons knot. Also, try to use flourocarbon in the Winter when the water is really clear.

Mark

[bmik]

This seems like a perfect application for an articulated leech.
I have had good success with them in Northern NH, haven't yet tried them on the Deerfiled.
I start with that same 2x long hook and cut the hook off .I tie in a piece of 12lb or 17 lb mono along with the rabbit strips on the front part of the fly. Then I tie a short hook to the mono and complete the fly. This puts the hook back in the 'tail' of the fly. It is longer, and has some movement as well. I usually weight the front part as well.
Has anyone else tried this?

[JoeOverlock]

I've never tried it that way. I've done tandem hooks on streamers though. I can't use those on the C&R area of the Deerfield though because there's a single hook rule.

I'd love to see a picture of that leetch.

[bmik]

Actually there is only one hook. I cut the 'hook' off a streamer hook and use the eye & shank to tie in the front part of the leech and the mono to which the actual hook is tied to for the rear part. It's just a way of getting the hook more towards the end of the tail.
I'm picture challenged but will try to put one up.

[jlibs]

Joe,

Good work on landing two, but what about the five?

Can we no longer call you "tight lines Joe"?

I'm concerned.

JLIBS

[JoeOverlock]

I never missed a fish until I met you, your a jinx.

[DanaC]

4/2/06

Fife Brook Dam - h2oline says the water will be up 9AM to noon today, then 125 cfs until 6PM.

Weather - supposed to be windy. I'm tempted. Any hatches? in the afternooon yet?

Dana

[JoeOverlock]

There was a small stone fly hatch Saturday afternoon.

[dragonma15]

Plenty of midge's in the upper catch and release area Saturday as well. Just not alot of action. Great day to get out though.

Thanks Joe,

-Gregg

[DanaC]

Anybody get out this past weekend? Bugs?

[JoeOverlock]

I was up on Thursday afternoon. The flow was low and there was a nice mayfly hatch begining around 4pm when I had to leave. The water was running at 45 degrees also.