Who Took the Fly Rod with Them Today (Opener)?

[Letort]

I have been exclusive fly rod for opener probably past 20 years. Did you take yours for a walk today? Two downstream from me (father and teen son) also had fly rods and had a good convo with them.

Hit a popular section of the Yellow Breeched open water this morning. Brought 3 ‘bows to the net, decent size. One on an egg and two on a wooly bugger. Water was 57*, clear and low. Last year it was bank high and unfishable.

Looking up and down the stream, would say fishing was at best average and probably closer to mediocre. Not sure if they have cut back on stocking or the mentored fishing has had a meaningful impact, but pretty low to average day. Perhaps I am not a good judge, as I only target stockies on opening day the rest of the season they will be incidental.

Good hatches coming off - saw caddis, Henricksons, BWO and am sure some Lt Cahill. Unfortunately, the pellet heads were not looking up at all.

 

[Jay_H]

I have been exclusive fly rod for opener probably past 20 years. Did you take yours for a walk today? Two downstream from me (father and teen son) also had fly rods and had a good convo with them.

Hit a popular section of the Yellow Breech3s open water this morning. Brought 3 ‘bows to the net, decent size. One on an egg and two on a wooly bugger. Water was 57*, clear and low. Last year it was bank high and unfishable.

Looking up and down the stream, would say fishing was at best average and probably closer to mediocre. Not sure if they have cut back on stocking or the mentored fishing has had a meaningful impact, but pretty low to average day. Perhaps I am not a good judge, as I only target stockies on opening day the rest of the season they will be incidental.

Good hatches coming off - saw caddis, Henricksons, BWO and am sure some Lt Cahill. Unfortunately, the pellet heads were not looking up at all.

I was half tempted to head to the Breeches this afternoon but may wait a few weeks until things calm down. When I first moved to this area around 8 years ago I was shocked at the amount of people out on Opening Day (granted I knew very little of the area or the popularity surrounding the YB).

 

[Bamboozle]

I never quite understood the belief that fly fishing is not a good option on Opening Day...

First off, those fish have been in the streams for a maybe two weeks and had a look at tons of stuff last weekend on Mentored Youth Day.

That being said, I've probably fished on less than 10 Opening Days in my life. Most were spin fishing adventures, but the most recent and two of the absolute best by a LONG shot were with fly rods over stockers.

Maybe it's me, but with the plethora of options fly fisherman have to throw at fish that keep seeing the same stuff all day, I can't imagine using anything BUT flies...

 

[3wt7X]

I took my youngest on an opening day exploration trip to Letterkenny Reservoir. I have come to appreciate the stillwaters. Especially early season when targeting stocked trout. She caught her limit on power worms on the bottom and below a float. I took the fly rod along. I did not use it much. I drifted some soft hackles under an indicator for about 15 minutes with no takers. The kid was getting cold, so we rolled out at 11 with dinner for the family.

 

[Tigereye]

I took it but it never left the tube and I never left the truck.

 

[Ewanflyfish]

I never quite understood the belief that fly fishing is not a good option on Opening Day...

First off, those fish have been in the streams for a maybe two weeks and had a look at tons of stuff last weekend on Mentored Youth Day.

That being said, I've probably fished on less than 10 Opening Days in my life. Most were spin fishing adventures, but the most recent and two of the absolute best by a LONG shot were with fly rods over stockers.

Maybe it's me, but with the plethora of options fly fisherman have to throw at fish that keep seeing the same stuff all day, I can't imagine using anything BUT flies...

100% agree with this. Stocked trout aren’t the smartest but when they’re getting pounded with the same stuff over and over by the spin guys, they can get wise. The key is just to switch it up and the fly rod is perfect for that.

 

[Tabasco-Joe]

I stopped by Tohickon Creek just to check things out. About 2:00PM. Didn't fish. I'll wait till Monday and Tuesday.
There were probably 15 guys fishing the state park area. Most with fly rods. The upper section by the old mill had another 15 to 20 guys. More kids. Only a few fly rods.

I'll be using a fly rod when I go.

 

[wildtrout2]

I never quite understood the belief that fly fishing is not a good option on Opening Day...

I'm thinking the reluctance of using a fly rod on Opening Day might be the likelyhood of spincasters snagging your line (think using spinners), or the lack of casting room due to numbers of other fisherman? It's often a lot of fishermen in a tight area. Just a guess, so I could be very wrong.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

I visited the mighty Wissahickon literally down the street with my buddy who has no time to fish. I got a couple hanging a bugger in front of their faces before we decided we were done fishing the same 10 feet of water for 90 minutes 🙂

Good to see so many kids out with parents, older kids too. Watched one young bull that chatted me up about "pallies" hook a couple trout and even wrassle one on the muddy bank for that hero shot.

There was a good Powerbait hatch around 8:30, orange about size 14.

 

[Javelin389t]

I stopped by Tohickon Creek just to check things out. About 2:00PM. Didn't fish. I'll wait till Monday and Tuesday.
There were probably 15 guys fishing the state park area. Most with fly rods. The upper section by the old mill had another 15 to 20 guys. More kids. Only a few fly rods.

I'll be using a fly rod when I go.

drove by the bridge that goes over the tohickion at point pleasant. Small lot near bridge was full around 10 this morning. Walked the dog along canal path bridge loop. S/F at Virginia forest parking area. Caddies flies all over along the river. some people shoreline shad fishing up from foot bridge. (I’m assuming they were after shad ) same lot at point pleasant bridge had a couple spots open on way back around 4 ish. Had a rod with me the whole time but never made a cast. 😑

 

[GoldenRfly]

Wasn’t going to go today (crowd avoidance), but the withdrawal was too great, so, I ran out for a bit in the late afternoon. Rewarding to land a couple browns on my own tied flies: a Grannom Caddis & Prince Nymph.

I peered up the stream’s embankment and saw a young man watching me. I asked if he wanted to come down and join me … he said “No, I’m finished. Do you mind if I just watch you fly fish?” His girlfriend gifted him a fly rod for Christmas, but he hadn’t used it yet. We engaged in a conversation about fly fishing, flies, strategy and that’s when I landed the first fish. Nice experience.

 

[Tabasco-Joe]

drove by the bridge that goes over the tohickion at point pleasant. Small lot near bridge was full around 10 this morning. Walked the dog along canal path bridge loop. S/F at Virginia forest parking area. Caddies flies all over along the river. some people shoreline shad fishing up from foot bridge. (I’m assuming they were after shad ) same lot at point pleasant bridge had a couple spots open on way back around 4 ish. Had a rod with me the whole time but never made a cast. 😑

The bulk of those at Ralp Stover were packed just below the old bridge. I asked if anyone went downstream, and they said maybe one guy.
I didn't see any insect activity, but someone said the saw some caddis earlier.

 

[NittanyBearcat]

I took the fly rod out along with a spinning rod. Even got some dry fly action!