Monday, January 2, 2017

Mill Creek Reports

Pictures Below: outing on New Year's Day and today, the second.

Beaded soft-hackle flymph, Copper John, an olive scud-bug tied over wire, heavily weighted PHN.

No-joy on the nymphing. Not surprising. I don't know the stream bottom well enough in the Sloan Preserve. I think I know the deep slow holes but I might not know the right ones. After a blown-out stocking event and a long hot summer, our trout numbers are down. I could easily see the majority of fish in one or two holes for this stretch.

I could easily see that I'm a poor nymph fisherman. I'm not moving enough covering enough water.

Anyway, pictures.

Two outings. No fish. Good conditions into the 40's.

New year's was sunny. Today was overcast. Both lovely days in the woods.

 Water temp? Cold. I broke my stream thermometer late last fall and haven't replaced it.

 Later afternoon fading sun on Mill Creek. The flow has come down following the melt-off of 11 1/4" of snow here two weeks ago.
 It looks nice but this "chute" runs current at more of a modest trot than a walk. A little shallow without holding structure for trout as well.
 A tributary branch joins from the right.
 Fresh beaver work in the Preserve. The chips are fresh and dry from last night.
 More the nature of Mill Creek: shallow rock outcroppings with mixed timber piles. This is a lone sweeper broken off and now a shallow obstruction.
Downstream showing the overhanging trees. The casting in Michigan -- overhand -- if done in the stream along the direction of travel.












Nojoy today. Nice day in the woods in both outings. I had dreams of dredging the deep slow pools and finding a few fish. No to be.

Two outings on Mill creek in the books for '17, however.
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2 comments:

  1. SteveJanuary 3, 2017 at 8:31 PM

    Here I go being the parking lot expert: But that water looks perfect for swinging & stripping a #10 Woodcutter this time of year (operate the new Search bar at the top RH column of SHJ). Floating line (promotes roll casting under them trees). 8' fluoro leader. Woodcutter weighted heavy under the body. Post-spawn brookies? Add golden pheasant tailing to make an Irish Woodcutter. Low & slow. It'll work.

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  2. spikeJanuary 4, 2017 at 5:40 AM

    Woodcutter slow sounds good too.

    We have three stoneflies in this water that get mobile in the fall leaf litter (abundant here on Mill Creek) and do their hatching in January, February and through March into early April depending on March's water temp.

    Those wriggly nymphs are usually the ticket -- well, they were last spring -- and I suspect they work here if I cover more water. Only did about 1/4 mile between the two days ... wading alone, in winter, with some steep banks.

    Fish are where they are ... not where I want them to be. Cement boots don't lead to fish. Have to move to find 'em. Did have fun fishing the pools I thought would hold. Will try again in next warm spell. 20 here now.

    Browns podding in the deeper pools. No brookies on this water, unfortunately.

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