Thread: Fly-Fishing for Bass

Loved the story and the pics! I especially love the idea of finding those hidden and sometimes even not so hidden gem of a spot if you're willing to trek through the brambles and briars.

Originally Posted by Wirm

I beg to differ ! The majority of streams in WV are so called,freestone streams with limited soil acid buffering attributes,not limestone fed spring creeks which can mitigate much of the acid rain effects. The loss of habitat,denuded stream cover,bad farming practices,overfishing and primarily acid rain and coal mine drainage are far more harmful to our native trout. The thoughtful flyfisherman will use barbless hooks,land his fish quickly and practice good catch a release methods. http://easternbrooktrout.org/reports...to-restoration

I am happy to differ but there's a lot of evidence that fish do suffer more than we think form being caught. Fish populations already under threat from environmental problems can do without the damage of being caught again and again. Fish weren't created to be toys of grown-up men.
Like a Fish Out of Water | Outside Bozeman

Fly-fishing, tying, and guitar are my therapy. Couldn't do without any of them.

Unscientific but based on my own personal experience of fishing both warm water lakes and ponds to cold / cool water streams/creeks and rivers...most if not all warm fresh water species that I'm familiar with are quite hardy and seem to do fine if fishing is done responsibly and ethically. As Wirm already stated, quick release/not overly tiring out the fish, always barbless hooks, not over fishing a particular area, etc. Trout, which I'm most familiar with, are indeed more fragile and condition dependent. Almost all fly-fishermen, at least every one that I've ever met, talked/chatted with are keenly aware of stream and other environmental conditions and how it and their fishing may affect trout. For instance, once stream temps climb to 68 degrees F fishing stops. I usually don't trout fish from early-mid June until late September or early October.

Been a while since I visited this site, but this dormant thread caught my attention. I live on the Susquehanna River above Dauphin, PA and fish it 4 or more times a week. What a year! From late July the dry fly fishing has been very productve, if but only for the hour before sunset. Little nothing sips can yield a 20 inch monster but most fall in the 11 to 15 inch range. The smallest are plentiful. The river is low and wadeable though I can push my Jon boat through some skinny water (my prop is caged). Happy to offer info or even time on the water if anyone is up for it. Not sure where colder weather will chill the fishing but the risers remain plentiful and picky.