AuSable Winter Blog
Many, if not most, fly fishers hang up their fishing gear when the weather turns cold and winter winds blow. Fly fishing during the "off season" of winter can be very productive and is invariably a beautiful time of year to wet a fly. Although the Riverhouse is buttoned up tight and hibernating for a few months, I watch the weather and make the pilgrimage a few times when the air temp is going to hit 30 degrees or higher. I'm not a big fan of icy guides.
It is the perfect time to break out the long undies, the heavy socks, gloves and hat. Make sure that you pack your favorite box of streamers... A few of my favorites are the Peacock Bugger, Fry Bugger (the next fly coming to the web site), and a Ram's Wool Clouser or variations thereof. Oh, and let's not forget the nymphs or in my case, "the nymph". I reach for the Rubber Leg Lightning Bug every time. It's a gaudy little bead-head and the fish love it. Hang it below a bobber, oops, I mean Strike Indicator, about 1-1/2 times the depth of the water. If you work it right, you can cast the rig thirty feet upstream and get a fifty or sixty foot total drift. It's an "up and across" (not too far across) presentation. Be ready for some aggressive mending. So spend the extra money (if budget allows) and use Tungsten Beads. They sink the fly like... well, like...tungsten.
Now for the tasteless merchandising part. Check out the artwork for the back of the "Pathological Tyers" T-shirt. Be one of the Few, the Proud, the PATHOLOGICAL! Head to the estore and check it out. A fabulous young artist by the name of Benji Andrews came up with the design. The shirts are roomy and very comfortable. I'll be your friend forever if you buy one. Or even better; when you order one, I will include few flies tied just for you. Best deal in the known cosmos.
Yippee Tie One On!
Dennis Potter, Your Rivergodlyness