335 makes for a very slow and low winter flow, but the fishing was on excellent if you found the deeper seams. I fished the LFZ in the morning and the trek up the north side was pretty rugged in the deep snow. Most people had walked right up the river with the low flows, but Nancy's wading boots have worn studs, so I broke trail so she wouldn't slip in the water. A few guys were already fishing when we got there, but I fished around them and pretty much had steady action. I constantly changed flies until I found the right one. Blue eggs , caddis larvae, and a large hare's ear with an orange beadhead were the main producers. Not every spot produced from my observation. The Kiddie Pool was near empty by lunch. Apparently it was very dead. We didn't have enough time in my estimation to snowshoe in very far for the afternoon session, so we walked down from the Pineville Bridge. The far seam on the curve was on fire, but well taken. Broke Trail all the way to the Ace, but the low flows made for lousy drifts in shallow water. I went back upriver and played with a few in the seam above the bridge to end the day. The crowds weren't really there, but if you wanted a prime seam/hole, you had best have gotten there first.
Lots and lots of unproductive water. I saw and heard of only dark and darker fish, so no new movements with this low water. That'll change I bet. The snow in the woods had very high water content. Some of the densest snow I've waded through in recent memory. 3' of snow would let me sink only about 20" but trying to swing your leg forward to bust trail took a lot of effort.
I finally figured out the right drag settings and how to put on the brakes on with my new St. Croix switch. It has an odd taper , much like the Orvis mid-flexs that were almost their signature for years. By using the middle portion of the rod, you can wear fish and let the long, flat flex of the tip protect the tippet. Only problem with the longer arc of this rod, is you can't quite reach fish with a short handled net. I'm gonna make a handle extension for the Frabill I have and like. My feet after many hours in the water stayed warm the majority of the time. I put some reflective insoles inside my stocking foots and they made a BIG difference. It was nice to stay in the water and not have that numb , clubbed feet feeling. I had some good conversations and interactions with guys on the river, some of whom even remembered my name from earlier this year or past years. It's great to run into people that love the winter fishery and value it as much as I do. People are far more relaxed and friendly when they're not crowded and harassed. I saw zero garbage, zero people doing anything other than legally fishing. Maybe a few guys with a little too much weight in the zone, but nothing they probably would even got a ticket for. All in all, one of the best days I've had this year. Nothing big, nothing bright, but lots of action, lots of fight. Can't wait til the next time. New Year's , I think.
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