Late April Fly Fishing Report

Spring is taking its sweet time showing up. It snowed this morning, just like it has snowed every few days for most of April. According to the weather almanac, it hasn’t been much warmer in late April than it was in late February.

Mid-April snowstorm (4)

This has been the scene too often in April around my house. And yes, I am growing early spinach, lettuce, radishes, etc. under low hoop houses. That way I don’t have to go to the grocery store as much.

Up country they have had a number of wet snow storms including yesterday and there is still snowpack, especially on north-facing slopes. Rivers have been running high and in the Rangeley area at least, ice is still locked in tight on the lakes except for coves with incoming water. Ice out looks to be the first week of May if we get some warm rain or sunny days.

In southern Maine, the smaller rivers and streams have been fishable although still cold. i took the water temperature of Collyer Brook Sunday morning, April 26th and it was only 42 degrees. My family and I have been exploring local waters together because given social distancing constraints and Maine shelter-in-place suggestions, outside fishing is one activity we can do together. I just moved to the Windham area in the last year, so much new water to explore more thoroughly.

This is an interesting time to fish area rivers, streams, and lakes because you never know whether you will catch small stockers, brood stock, holdovers, or wild fish. I have caught all of the above in the same stretch of a small stream. It has been too cold for much to be in the way of emerging other than midges and early stones, so most of the action is on streamers and nymphs.

One beautiful weekend, my entire family, except my daughter in Florida, spend the day exploring the Presumpscot River watershed. We found a number of brown and brook trout that included stockers, broodstock, holdovers, and wild fish. See the following video:


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Of course, every spring I have to go back to Collyer Brook in Gray at least once. When I first started fly fishing in my 20’s, it was my local stream that I learned on. I have fished it every year since for over 35 years and I have only been skunked a few times. Last week was no exception, but catching a few recent stocked fish wasn’t the point. Collyer Brook is like an old friend, and I like to check in and make sure she is all right and to share a few memories. I have fished all over the world including most recently in Chile for ridiculously big fish, but I don’t think I had more fun than I did for a few hours on my former home water.

I have fished this same run for over 35 years.

                                         I have fished this same run for over 35 years.

Collyer Brook success. Hot fly this spring has been a fly tied by my daughter's boyfriend, Will. We call it Will's Redwood Special. (It is a variation of a Wood Special pattern)

Collyer Brook success. Hot fly this spring has been a fly tied by my daughter’s boyfriend, Will. We call it Will’s Redwood Special. (It is a variation of a Wood Special pattern)

Enjoy the fishing everyone. Stay safe. Lou