Fly Fishing Report: May 14

It has been an interesting week here in our great state.  Flows were finally coming down earlier this week and bigger rivers and tribs are coming down to fishable levels.  Then with the heavy predicted rain on Mother's Day the flows went back up.  I think the best word to describe the conditions so far is inconsistent.  

In the middle of the week, Marc and I got onto a river in central Maine known for holding some good holdover browns before stocking starts.  We caught several small brown trout and a couple of suckers and creek chubs.  My afternoon was made when I had on a 4" creek chub and I'd be lying if I said I reeled him in as fast as I could.  That poor guy got engulfed by a big fish while he was vulnerable on my line and my rod bent over in a hurry.  I've heard of brown trout being predatory, but this was only the second time I've witnessed pure predation.  I had the brown on for over a minute and saw him swim by my feet.  Not as big as I had originally thought, but a solid 15" brown with a chub down his gullet.  I let him play a little too long and I should've known better to get him in quick as he wasn't really hooked.  Needless to say, the chub was no longer on my line so I think it's safe to say he was an appetizer.

On Saturday, things cleared out for once and Vince and I took advantage of the good weather.  My wife graciously let me float for "as long as I wanted" to as it was my birthday.  Flows were high and we were surprised to take on a little whitewater on the Andro.  This section doesn't usually get too choppy, but at over 10,000 cfs it made for a fun ride.  Nothing the Hyde drift boat couldn't handle.  We caught all smallmouth and nothing under 16".  Vince lost a big one that we estimated at around 20", but we'll never know.  

Hopefully the late weekend rainstorm doesn't do too much damage to the rivers.  We're ready to fish!  Time for Mother Nature to play nice.  One good thing about the rain is that hopefully we should hold onto some cooler water a little later into the summer than in years past.  Get out there, but be safe on the big rivers.  When the green fish are biting, it means we've arrived.  Here's a pic of Vince's largest smallie from Saturday.  Enjoy!