Winter fly fishing in the Adirondacks

Got one!

 It has been an unusual winter here in the northeast.  I have never seen a winter in the Adirondacks with so little snow. I haven't had to plow my driveway a single time and only shoveled my porch once!  The warmer temperatures have helped save on fuel and firewood consumption, but seem strange in northern New York.  Lake Champlain is almost entirely free of ice and spring is just around the corner.  Will this be the year winter never comes?   I have been able to fly fish and catch trout or salmon every month this "winter" without leaving the Adirondacks!  I haven't done much land-locked salmon fishing in the middle of February, but the last few times I have gone out we were able to locate some fish in the rivers. Here are a few pictures of our past two outings:

This salmon was hiding just under the ice

This one took an unweighted White Zoo Cougar

This guy was fooled by a Governor Aiken streamer and was quickly released after I snapped this picture

Tom Conway 

This land-locked salmon put up a good fight; look at the size of that tail fin.

Fall in the Adirondacks

As the seasons change so do our fishing opportunities and tactics.  Fishing streamers slow and deep and weighted nymphs have produced the most action over the past couple of weeks.   I have enticed a few good trout on big dries, blue winged olives, and have witnessed trout selectively feeding on tiny size #22-#26 rusty spinners.  We have had more than our fair share of rainy weather and off-colored water this fall.  My most productive nymph has been a rubber legged prince tied with a silver bead head.  Fall is not the season for epic hatches or consistent dry fly action, but for many folks it's the greatest time to be on the water.  The crisp days, dramatic fall colors, hungry fish, and the impending snow seem to add extra intensity to every outing.

 Rubber leg prince nymphs ready for action

Tom Conway caught this one on a rubber legged prince

another one on a rubber leg

Hopper

The Salmon are starting to show up in the Lake Champlain tributaries; I caught this nice fish on October 2nd using a grey matuka.

I am going to be offering special deals on flies via the Ruff Waters Fly Fishing Facebook page click on the like button to your right so you can take advantage.