Well it has been quite an end to fall here at HCG. We had our busiest November to date. Fishing in November was slower than in October but we had some great catches and some quality dry fly midging for wild rainbows.
Wild rainbow taken on a size 18 parachute midge.
We also got some time to explore with our good friend Milan who was home from guiding in Idaho.
Milan with a streamer caught brown.
We were able to explore some new water and were pleased to find some very large trout. One rainbow trout we found taped at 26" with a 19" girth...putting this fish at over 11 lbs.
It is hard to say whether this fish was bigger than the beast our client Charlie Houghton landed in the Spring. Both fish will go down as the two biggest rainbow trout we've seen caught here in NH. Hopefully we see more of these beasts next year.
Last week Tom and Nate got out on the Andro again and found fish from the start fishing one of Tom's new horizontal leech patterns. The fish hit two feet down in about 3 feet of water. It was interesting to see them come off the bottom this late in the season. From there the fishing slowed with a strong east wind blowing.
Tom with a late season wild rainbow
This time of the year fish can still be caught in the Andro but good timing and the right technique need to coincide. Slowly swinging 2-3" streamer can produce as can bouncing a streamer downstream. Nymphing bright eggs and worms can also be productive as can nymphing darker leaches, buggers and green and cream caddis.
We've found that fish have been selective about when and what they eat. The key has been targeting slower runs and deeper riffles where we know fish lie this time of the year., then being persistent and changing flies until the fish decide to bite.
After nymphing this run for over an hour this wild bow finally chose a dead drifted pink worm.
Fish can still be taken on dries in December, especially in slower back eddies and on bright calm days in the late afternoon.
We will gladly show you this challenging fishing at our late season reduced rate of $275 for a half day float, $350 for a full day float. Now is also a great time to buy gift certificates for 2017. contact us now to give the gift of a White Mountain Fly Fishing adventure this year!
Tight lines,
Nate