Opening day. High noon. Cold but tolerable. There was little doubt I would be there, in this exact spot. A group of mallards appear, drifting with the currents towards me. Soon they notice me, shocked to see someone for the first time in months, they make a quick exit. I fish a scud pattern upstream through a few riffles and small pools, nothing. I exit the water and walk upstream to a new location. I slip in at the top of a riffle and change flies, choosing a small olive leech. The swing game begins. Nothing strikes in the first five minutes but I continue. I’m confident in my fly choice and this run. I know there is a slight drop in depth at the tail out. If it’s going to happen it should be there. It does. Not once but twice, then a third time. Three Browns to hand. It feels good, it feels right. So it all begins. 

The streams I’ve seen are in great shape. Good flows and not too low. The weather has been decent for January and only the real cold shots have kept me home filling the fly boxes. I tell myself it will only get better, knowing that a weakened, expanding polar vortex can be right around the corner. I do know, based on an Opening Day experience, that this is not the time of year to have water go over the top of your hip boots. ( Good thing I was only ten minutes from home). 

Based on experience I’m going to be fishing two different styles. The water I’m on will determine which one. If it’s a small stream with more of a riffle/pool ratio I tend to do a lot more of the upstream nymph game, usually with a scud pattern of some type. If it’s a larger stream with deep outside bends and troughs sitting to the inside of riffles I more than likely will be fishing streamers. Fish streamers any way you like but at this time of year, because of lower water temps, I recommend slowing things down. I tend to swing streamers ninety percent of the time. The hooking percentage can be lower than other methods but I feel it allows me to show my fly to a lot of fish and cover a lot of water. 

So, as of now, and I expect for the next several weeks, I will be fishing streamers and occasionally nymphing with scuds. My best fishing has been between 12:30 and 2:30 pm. My best fly pattern has been a leech, black and olive/brown taking the most fish, other colors picking up a few. The crowds are thin, the fish are there and they’re willing to eat. 

Stay warm, (and dry) 

Carry on.