I have been organizing mid November trips into Kenauk for several years now. 13 of us rented Sugarbush and Green Chalets for two nights. We couldn't have picked two colder days this November. On either side of our trip it was double digits on the positive side. We had double digits in the negative! And a cold wind to boot. But we managed to have some pretty good fishing in spite of it all. The only major issue was iced up guides. Early morning just before dawn and the last hour before sunset proved the best fishing again. Over at Green the fellows were all using different flies and different techniques and all were catching. Fish were all through the water column. The same was true at Sugarbush. I was using a #4 sink while others were using intermediate and one fellow was using a sink tip. I liked the #4 sink because of the thinner profile brought up much less water to freeze in the guides. Not much was seen on the scope until the last day when it warmed above freezing. For some unexplainable reason I started to see signal down 15 to 30 feet.
On that last day, I was out on the water by 0615 and by 0645 I had landed seven fish and lost four. It was common to lose more fish than hook up. The fish were lazy fighters so I'm thinking for that reason alone, we may go earlier next year.
ST was 42F. Last year at the very same days, the temp was +15 and +5 for the days and ST 46F. We were there a few years ago at the end of November and the temp was +10. It is a bit of a gamble when you have to book in advance.
Most of us were using black leech patterns. My best combo on the #4 sink was a balanced Vampire Leech as the dropper and a black Coney Leech at the point. Half of the fish were caught on a fast retrieve over 30 FOW. Casting to shore was not successful for anyone other than a couple of trout between us all. Often you would troll and for no apparent reason start a fast retrieve. I believe they were always following the fly and needed that little bit of tantalizing movement to get them to hit. Of course on that last day when you could see some signal, you would have a reason to start retrieving and most often it was successful.
One can't get too much credit as the lakes are full of trout. It reminds me of my youth in central BC 50+ years ago. Now you have to pay to get this kind of fishing. It doesn't have to be that way but as long as people insist on harvesting fish beyond sustainability for a vibrant fishery, we will have to get used to the new reality of sport fishing.
On that last day, I landed 20 fish which is not bad (and I quit at 1300). The previous days were 7, then 14. I got about four fish on the dry fly as well. Most of the fish were 14-16" with a few 18" and at least two at 20".
Many of the fish are of the McIntyre strain which are heavily spotted.....very beautiful fish. I was too cold to take more pictures.
On that last day, I was out on the water by 0615 and by 0645 I had landed seven fish and lost four. It was common to lose more fish than hook up. The fish were lazy fighters so I'm thinking for that reason alone, we may go earlier next year.
ST was 42F. Last year at the very same days, the temp was +15 and +5 for the days and ST 46F. We were there a few years ago at the end of November and the temp was +10. It is a bit of a gamble when you have to book in advance.
Most of us were using black leech patterns. My best combo on the #4 sink was a balanced Vampire Leech as the dropper and a black Coney Leech at the point. Half of the fish were caught on a fast retrieve over 30 FOW. Casting to shore was not successful for anyone other than a couple of trout between us all. Often you would troll and for no apparent reason start a fast retrieve. I believe they were always following the fly and needed that little bit of tantalizing movement to get them to hit. Of course on that last day when you could see some signal, you would have a reason to start retrieving and most often it was successful.
One can't get too much credit as the lakes are full of trout. It reminds me of my youth in central BC 50+ years ago. Now you have to pay to get this kind of fishing. It doesn't have to be that way but as long as people insist on harvesting fish beyond sustainability for a vibrant fishery, we will have to get used to the new reality of sport fishing.
On that last day, I landed 20 fish which is not bad (and I quit at 1300). The previous days were 7, then 14. I got about four fish on the dry fly as well. Most of the fish were 14-16" with a few 18" and at least two at 20".
Many of the fish are of the McIntyre strain which are heavily spotted.....very beautiful fish. I was too cold to take more pictures.
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