WRITING ON THE FLY
By GEORGE LISET
Fly fishing in the fall is probably my favorite time to fish. The mornings are chilly, but the days are soon warmed by the rising sun. The fishing is comfortable and occasionally successful. The highlight is the foliage which never ceases to disappoint.
I have been waiting to hear from my sources about the Landlocked Salmon heading up the rivers from Lake Winnipesaukee, but all is quiet. My son Reed had a few hours to fish, so I asked him if he wanted to meet in Ossipee and drive to North Conway. I told him I wasn’t sure how the fishing would be, but the foliage wouldn’t let us down. I mentioned we could scout out a few spots for the spring.
Reed asked what fly rods I was bringing, and I mentioned my three-weight for the Ellis and Peabody and my six-weight to throw some streamers on the Saco River. I also mentioned that I wanted to stop at the North Country Angler fly shop to see owner Steve Angers and get the latest information on what waters were fishing well.
The ride up Route 16 was relaxing. The traffic wasn’t too bad and the colors and scenery were spectacular even on a day that was slightly overcast. Driving by Chocorua Lake acts as the greeting card for Mount Washington Valley. The blood pressure starts to go down and you can begin to relax. North Conway, because of its popularity and beauty, is always busy. It is not just a winter destination anymore.
We arrived at the North Country Angler just as they opened and there was a line of customers wanting to do the same thing we wanted to do, get the inside scoop, and pick up some flies. Owner Steve Angers is as personable as he seems on the Face Book videos he posts on the latest fishing conditions in the Mount Washington Valley.
After Steve and I caught up, I told him where we were thinking of fishing. Steve mentioned that the rivers had really slowed down with the arrival of the cold weather and that the Rainbows and Brookies were heading up to the headwaters to spawn and the Browns were heading down river. Steve brought me over to the display where the flies were. Steve has clothes pins with the river’s names on them. Around the pins are flies that are fishing well and attracting some fish.
Steve also offers free fishing maps of the area, which is a bargain in itself. After we bought some flies, Reed and I headed up to the Ellis River fly fishing-only section. We strung up our three-weight rods and tied on some size 18-Caddis flies with size 20 nymph droppers and started prospecting some fishy looking pools.
The rivers in the Mount Washington Valley are classified as free stone rivers which means there are a lot of rocks to move around on to get where you are going.
I might add that if you have any experience mountain climbing that helps. I will also add that the rocks are slippery. I know that because I took a tumble. The good news is that I didn’t break my fly rod or my head, but my butt is still sore.
We weren’t having much luck, so we picked up and hit a few more spots just to check them out.
Time was running out so we hit the confluence of the Swift River and the Saco River to throw some streamers. We finished up under the Saco River covered bridge where I got to have my picture taken by some leaf peekers. Reed said I was looking pretty good. As we drove home the sun came out which just magnified the colors and was a fitting end to a wonderful morning.
George Liset of Dover is an award-winning outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares insights of his time on the water exploring New Hampshire streams and rivers as well of those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire. His column Writing on the Fly has been honored by the New England Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association.
