Central NY. Last couple days were below freezing, water is high because we got quite a bit of rain before it got cold. Today was mostly overcast with occasional sun peeking through. It was windy, temps mid to high 40s.
I was mostly fishing with nymphs, strike indicator and without. Right after noon I even witnessed a hatch and bugs started floating on the surfaces. Busted out a dry fly for a few minutes, but didn't see a single fish rise so I switched back to nymphs. Tried to fish deep pools and shallow passages, bends with slow water, etc…. nothing. Not a single bite.
I don't know man….
Posted by NoProfessional428
11 Comments
Keep coming back, It works if you work it
they are not actively feeding maybe for the temperature or maybe it was the wrong time…when it is cold best bet is early morning or before dusk…
Fish a dark streamer along the banks
Make sure you’re fishing deep enough. When fishing nymphs, your indicator should be occasionally bobbing up and down, this tells you that you are hitting the bottom of the river. If your indicator is never bobbing (which kinda looks like a strike) you are going right over the fish’s head. Add some split shot and/or raise your indicator to go deeper.
do fish actually live there
I also struggle catching fish, and it’s mainly due to me sucking fat cawk (at fishing). Your mileage may vary
Change your weight before you change your flies. As others have said, get it to the bottom.
If you just had a bunch of rain san juan worms/squirmy wormies are your friend. Drag one on the bottom woth another nymph trailing 20” behind it.
Im not an amazing, die hard fisherman. I do alright. Gonna say, I do worst when the temps are stupid cold. My local tackle store owner laughed at me when I said I still do thr “first light” thing in December and January. He says he shows up about 10 when all the try hards leave and waits for the sun to hit the water and the temps to jump a couple degrees. Could be as simple as that for you.
Been there many a time, how was your depth in the nymph? Most of my struggles start with not having it deep enough so might need something to check
This is one of those streams where if you can see them, they can see you. They are going to be super spooky because they have no overhead cover. If you are standing on the bank, they see you and wont eat.
Next time you approach, make sure you arent casting a shadow, and cast further up river than normal. Stay lower to the ground too.
Not sure about there but fish in my area are already starting to spawn because of the lack of winter. They could be focusing on more important things.