We had a fly fishing schools this weekend and conducted the on-stream portion of the school today. The water is cold, low 40s, good clarity, and the flow is still a little high - and from what we’re hearing from the weatherman, it’s going to get much higher. I hope Mother Nature is saving some of this rain for the summer. A fish was hooked by one of our students, Greg, while fishing a Chartreuse Clouser Deep Minnow, a few fish tapped a big sculpin pattern lightly while I was demostrating streamer techniques but no good grabs. A few small BWOs(#18) hatched sporadically as we fished but no rises were seen and no subsurface feeding was seen. It would be nice if we could get a few days with reasonable flows and some warm temps but it doesn’t seem likely soon. We’ll be having a guide school next week so expect some Lehigh and possibly Delaware reports soon.

Today Jim came to the shop for the on-stream portion of the two day fly fishing school that started yesterday. The water was high but Jim was up to it and while the dry fly fishing was for naught, the nymph fishing wasn’t bad. While instructing various nymphing techniques, I landed three nice rainbows. Jim missed a few fish and fought one for a bit before it performed some acrobatics and got rid of the fly. Action came on a caddis larva patterns, prince nymphs, and glo bugs. The water was off color with about two feet of visibility and cold. Flow was about 150cfs during the day, it continues to drop. I spotted a few Quill Gordons(#14) and Blue Winged Olives(#16), as well as some good waves of Early Brown Stones(#12) and black midges. Indicator rigs did not produce but bounce rigs and Czech rigs produced fish. Streamer fishing did not produce any strikes but it’s only a matter of time before they become productive.

I was tying flies on the deck in front of the shop and watching people fish and stoneflies zipping around and I just couldn’t take it anymore. The water was 48 degrees and moving pretty good at 148cfs with some color and about a foot and a half visibility. I worked a Czech rig for an hour and ended up catching a few trout and a ton of chubs in water that had been pounded and tromped up all day. Definitely Chubfest 2010 today. Most fish took a #10 cranefly larva but a few too a #12 Prince. The takes were subtle and a sighter came in handy. Non Czech nymphers would probably do better with a strike indicator and long leader as opposed to swinging, which is what I’m seeing most people doing with limited success. A few guys picked up a fish here and there with streamers but the fish don’t seem to be actively chasing very much right now. Not as many midges as yesterday but lots of #12 Early Brown Stoneflies. One angler had a strike skating a stimulator but reported no other activity on top. A few more degrees warmer and some more clarity and the river will be hopping.

The 9th Annual Little Schuylkill One Fly Tourney was held today and was an excellent event. Lots of ear to ear grins and handshakes as friends met once again to have some fun and see who gets to brag the most. With anglers coming from as far as New Jersey, six teams competed in somewhat high water for the title of One Fly Champions. The first beat was slow, but fishing picked up during the second beat for several teams with Geoff and Ryan coming in first with 77 inches of fish. Dan and Dave checked in with 55 inches of fish. The water was 47 degrees so it’s rising slowly and it was still a little high and off color from the rains last weekend. Midges hatched in high numbers with the occasional rise from a hungry trout. It seems like they were rising to eat the early brown stoneflies(#12-14) and not the midges. Contrary to popular belief, some stoneflies will actually hatch on submerged rocks from time to time and swim/float to the surface - a phenomenon which occurs more frequently in high water conditions. Ron B. also saw a good number of stonies in a tree while judging the Mill Race. With the early start and trying to get everything ready I forgot my camcorder at home so no vids or pics today.