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Post by trailmix on Sept 19, 2006 12:16:14 GMT -5
Hello, I am new to the sport and the area. Aside from looking sharp, I don't know where to start. I have only fished at my uncle's trout club in cleveland and am now living in Albany, NY.
I have heard tales of the batten kill and hoosic rivers and was hoping someone could point out where I could park and do a little fishing. Anyone care to share some good new-guy spots? I fished the eagleville bridge last weekend and got skunked.
Thanks!
~Brian
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Post by JoeOverlock on Sept 19, 2006 14:57:56 GMT -5
I've never fished the NY section of the Hoosic before. I've been spoiled by the Deerfield and Hoosic the past few years and have never felt the urge to cross the border. I buy a NY licence every year but it's more for Pulaski then anywhere else. If you want to cross the boarder I can point you at some fish on the Deerfield for sure. Or if you're just looking for a few pointers then we can get together in Hoosic Falls some time, I've been wanting to fish that stretch for a while but just haven't.
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Post by AgMD on Sept 19, 2006 16:42:22 GMT -5
Hey Trailmix,
Welcome to the area. I know most of the Battenkill's fish-able water between the state line and the Rexley Bridge. Mostly I fish the Shushan area, and the special regs area between the state line and the Eagleville bridge. From the Eagleville bridge head East till you come to County rd 61 on your left. !/4 or 1/2 mile and you come to the green bridge and "the Springhole" . Good fishing both up and down stream. To fish upstream you need to either wade it from the bank on the 313 side , or walk the ridge on that side and get yourself upstream to a place where you can drop in. The Battenkill has always had a reputation of being a "Hard" stream to fish. Each of these fish has been educated and probably knows more about fly fishing than you or me. Still, for my money I think it is one of the prettiest bits of water anywhere.
The next two weekends I have an appointment with some Atlantic Salmon in Maine, but after that maybe we could meet on stream and I'll show you some water.
AgMD
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Post by AgMD on Sept 19, 2006 16:43:53 GMT -5
Oh yea, Remember that your NY license expires end of Sept.
AgMD
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Post by trailmix on Sept 20, 2006 9:06:23 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies! I don't mind heading east, the drive to VT or MA is pretty short and if there were fish at the end of the road it would be well worth the time. I was talking to a guy at the fly-fishing shop here and he was telling me how picky the battenkill trout are, needless to say I haven't caught anything! I am a true novice and wouldn't mind meeting up for some pointers. Thanks for the heads up on the fishing license... luckily I get free fishing/hunting licenses in NY! ;D
~Brian
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Post by trailmix on Sept 21, 2006 17:39:06 GMT -5
OK so i finally wised up and got some #24 blue winged olives on a 7x leader and caught a few 8" rainbows out of the Hoosic today! It was great to finally catch something...
Now for my next question: Where are the BIG fish? You know, something in the 12-18" range that you can take home and filet.
Thanks again,
Brian
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Post by AgMD on Sept 21, 2006 21:14:11 GMT -5
Trailmix,
Congrats on the fish. Catching fish on #24 flies is a hard thing to do but more fun than I should be allowed. I would caution you on eating ANYTHING from the Hoosic. That poor river is the victim of over 200 years of industrial pollution. Up until just 20 years or so there was Sprague Electric -- PCB's, heavy metals and every solvent known to man, Cloth dying mills -- solvents and heavy metals, three tanneries -- heavy metals and a witches brew of hydrocarbon solvents. There is still an anodising plant which has a WHOOPS every now and then.
Both rivers do have big fish, tho fewer in the Battenkill due to fishing pressure. For the most part , the big fish are caught on streamers, woolly buggers, and bait. At that size these fish are meat eaters. The biggest Battenkill trout I ever saw fell to a local lads Rapala and I swear the Rapala was over 6 inches long and metallic blue. Go figure!
In either river , only a small percentage of the fish survive/grow to be BIG FISH, and they don't get to be big fish by being dumb or brave.
AgMD
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Post by JoeOverlock on Sept 21, 2006 22:30:38 GMT -5
Congratulations, Trailmix! They also say that the big browns only come out at night too.  |
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Post by trailmix on Sept 22, 2006 7:11:01 GMT -5
Uhoh, the wife isn't going to like that! ;D
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Post by JoeOverlock on Sept 23, 2006 7:09:24 GMT -5
Uhoh, the wife isn't going to like that! ;D Who needs women when we've got fishing!  |
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Post by DanaC on Sept 23, 2006 7:20:30 GMT -5
Sometimes they ain't bitin'...
(the fish, I mean)
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Post by flyfishinchef on Jan 6, 2010 14:42:27 GMT -5
they are always "biting" you"re just not throwing what they're biting. I have yet to encounter a trout with the mental capacity to "fast".
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