3 successful trips in january...

OK, disregard the first post. i finally figured out how to upload and resize... thanks salt and over... out of three trips my father and myself landed around 20 fish.  hooked some where around 80.  there were a few days where we stopped counting at around hookup # 10 for each of us.  the lower fly zone was the hotspot for us with #8 nymphs that i tied with a custom touch...dead drifted or high sticked with little weigth.  although there were some below zero mornings and highs sometimes only 16,  i was using either a 14 ft. spey, or a 10'6'' switch, both with an eight weight floating weight forward line,so little line was ever stripped in, so guide icing was never really an issue.  some days fish were almost breaking water on the strike, others they were just sipping.  there were a few days that reached forty right before the water came up, and man, was i glad i was there then.  hope you guys enjoy the pics... hope to get up again soon...

fat hen...

believe it or not, htis was the second week in january and this hens belly was already a little soft...  by the way it was 40 this day...

16 inches in less than 24 hrs... and each day after produced 12 or more inches.  this was first week in jan...

Looks cold.

Looks like a good trip with your dad. I'm having some issues with pics also.Cute little,(dude) kid you have, lucky to be in a family that fish.

yeah winter's the best i'd say...

yeah, they can get that way... but that's what makes you come back

Heres a bump for two Bob... there was a time when winter fishing was common for me, but the recent fish kill has stopped me from wasting my time :)

No, in all seriousness two kids growing up coupled with life in general can put a damper on fun time at times... I have to say I almost enjoy getting my kids in to fish more than fishing myself these days.

2B - by self admission "MY" TRUE WINTER steelhead days are behind me..  I been there and done that for a very long time and now moved on to another winter fishing activity.. I may still get the urge now and again to go out as a once in a while weekend warrior but not a true die hard for sure any longer..
Many things have caused the change and these days I'm pretty happy hanging out in a warm shanty catching fish as long as my rod or at least trying..lol

2B-
 
I believe that was last year.  This has not been a friendly winter for open water fishers, and with the variety of ailments going around, even sometimes when the gear is all ready to go, the body won't cooperate.  If we had the 20's to bring the flows down and then the long stretches of 35 daytime 25 night time, many more flyswatters and float doggers would have been seen on the bigger flows.  Around here, please remember, we also used to be able to go to Russell Station when it was ultra cold, and find trout, and white bass,  but that hole has closed up.  Great winter for going out on the lakes and cutting power auger holes, but word from along LO is that the perch fishing has nearly collapsed, and places like Honeoye also sound pretty fished out.
 
L13

In the words of the wonderful Emily Latella, " Never mind...."
 
L13

Had 4 sick calls Sun  Mon.
Everyone seems to be suffering something right now.
 
Those will be spring pics not winter in my mind.
Anything after mid Feb is spring run (at least round here where 4/1 is the very end of the rust season.
After the first real cold snap in Nov til end Jan to early Feb is winter fishing.
 
No real water here has been fishable and I just haven't been able to make myself drive the 104 corridor the the SR so no winter pics coming from OldFattyFatterton I'm afraid.
Boy over today squelched any plan for the drive today.
The home trickle better open up this warm up or I may scratch my skin off from jonesing.
 
Why didn't I ever think of taking hero pics.
Dam my pretty face would brighten this place up.
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NOT!
 
 

Well, the local ditch has not jumped today.  I am home with the same thing Tuna describes, 4th day, and lost a long weekend to it, must be able to transmit more than computer virus over the net!  But the water temp jumped to 37° F, so the shore ice has to be starting to go, and with the way the ice is going on my driveway, it should start going up pretty quick now.  But if it really gets going and we get the rain, it will be chocolate soup for about a week.  But when that coaster reaches the top and then starts the long downhill, be watching, because there should be some dandy action for a few days before it bottoms out again.  I know I'll start watching  for bowling balls at the bottom of the hill once I see the turn!  And as of now the GR is 686 with a turbidity of 5.5, and that does not get better, although I expect with the warmth and rain, it will blow out about one day before I can get down there.
 
I thought when our kids grew up, they were supposed to come over and take us fishing, help out with the broken wing and all, for all we did for them growing up?   Oh, and, look, there goes another pig, time to swing the 12 for some fresh bacon!
 
L13

I'm hoping for perfect timing to get a couiple hours as the rock creek is going out for fish that have been under the ice and ready to move.
Of course work release timing has to coincide for that to happen.
 
I have found that with 5 inch prom dresses and such you can fish some pretty gnarly water.
All flash for maximum visibility with tons of motion for the lateral line to zero in.