A cold February Fishing Outing  

Do you know how it feels when you just need to wet a line and go fishing? On February 10th, I felt just like that. I have been working too much and doing for everyone else but me. I need a vacation. I decided to take a day off and go fishing.

I planned it ahead of time and was really looking forward to it. It has been a fairly warm winter this year. The day I decided to go fishing it was a brisk 29°, when I took my boys to school at 7 in the morning. It was supposed to go up to 40° or 42° and not be really windy. I did what I needed to do for the family, made a thermos of tea, packed my fly fishing bag and put it all in the car. I was off at 11 a.m. and it was about 35°. I went to Ridley Creek. I was pretty sure there would be fish because it was stocked this past fall and it is a catch and release area. I got there around 12 p.m. and had the place to myself. There were lots of cars, but no other fishermen.

After talking to Mary Kuss, I decided that nymphs, San Juan worms and egg patterns were the way to go. I got all rigged up and dressed in several layers. I tied my fly on before I got in the water. I knew my feet would freeze today. I first tied on a Flashback Pheasant Tail. Mary said to use # 16 or smaller, so I had #16’s and # 18’s with me. I weighted them with split shot and used an indicator. It had been a while since I fished. On the second cast, my indicator hesitated. I lifted the rod tip and had a nice brown trout. It was so satisfying to net that fish and then release it in the icy cold water. I cast that nymph a few more times and then lost it on the bottom of the stream. 

I tied on a San Juan Worm and used it with split shot to get it to the bottom. On the first cast, my indicator disappeared and I lifted the rod tip to another trout. I had been in the water for about an hour and my feet were cold. I got out to tie on another worm. I had lost a couple of them on a tree branch that hung fairly low. There was quite a collection of flies on this branch, I was not alone! I had some hot tea and that really made a difference. I had to get out 3 or 4 times to warm up during the afternoon. Next I tried a Glo-bug. That was very successful. I caught several fish on this yellow egg pattern. Again, I used split shot and an indicator. 

In the nice weather, it doesn’t matter how long I stand in the water tying on tippet or changing flies. When it is cold, I get out of the water to attend to these things. It is so cold just standing there tying knots. I caught a total of 8 fish today. It was cold, but fun. I finally had to leave because I could no longer feel my feet. I wanted one more fish, but will have to wait until another day. I fished for four hours and felt like I had a vacation! Ridley Creek is a really nice place to fish. It is close and there are lots of fish. I plan on going again, but I would like it to be a little warmer outside.

 --Judy Wilson--
Spring 2006 Issue