Posted on June 16 2025
Got off to a slow start this morning, and didn't get on the road until almost 11:30. There hasn't been much but activity where I've been able to fish until at least 7:00 pm so there was no need to rush. Got down to Deposit and rode along the river from Stilesville to the Men's Club. The lack of fishermen could have been do to it being father's day, or because there were neither bugs, nor risers and everyone knew it. Never saw a bug on the water or a trout rise. Continued on down to the Lordville Estate, unpacked, put things away, looked at the water levels and decided to wait another day before fishing some of the BR and WB pools that have been off limits for the past six weeks due to the high water. Drove instead to the Bk which is at an ideal level for fishing.
Decided to fish a pool that I have fished twice before, once about ten years ago when march browns, gray foxes and green drakes were hatching but no fish were rising, and once a year or two ago when there were fish rising everywhere eating tiny little black caddis and I couldn't get a fish to even look at my flies. Tonight's fishing fell somewhere in between my prior two experiences there.
The bugs - There was a HUGE spinner fall of tiny little mayflies, maybe half the size of Tricos, (none of the fish were impressed), saw one iso, a very few black caddis and a few light yellow flies, (Invaria / Cahill?).
The fishing - Started about 5:30, saw a few iso husks on streamside rocks, fished an iso dun, iso flymph, and an iso spinner. In two hours I rose six fish, three said no and three ate, one broke me off and I landed two nice rainbows. At 7:30 I sat down on a rock and waited. Finally saw a couple of fish start rising and waded into casting range. Both a cahill and a black caddis were ignored before both fish ate an olive hangy downy. Landed two small mouth bass (11" and 14" unmeasured). In the last fifteen minutes of daylight a few fish did rise and I hooked two trout on spinners. The first fish broke me off when the line wrapped around the reel, the second was a nice 18 inch brown.
Saw several little puddles along the shore that were teeming with tiny tadpoles / polliwogs, which reminded me that I forgot to mention that the toads sang for about a week late May/early June. They were up in the grass because of the high water, but it seems that the eggs ended up in the right place.
WB is climbing. Hopefully not too much. Really cant catch a break
Dennis and Dennis- I hear you. I change flies at 5 times the rate of my fishing buddies. Usually works. However, I’m also a fan of adjusting what you have. A clip here, and a splay there or a little bit of marker can make all the difference with the same fly.
Dennis, I had a similar experience 2 years ago near the Men’s club. I had 15 refusals the first day on a bunny dun and a CDC dun. A trip to trothunters lead me to buy some CDC bubble emmergers. On the next day I caught 6 fish top an18 inch brown, and fewer refusals. Sometimes it’s the fly not you.
Angler119’- Sounds like a great day. An18”brown on the BK is a wonderful fish. Dennis- Could be frustrating,but you did have 14 refusals so you’re getting good drifts over the fish. Bravo. Ed
I fished yesterday a bit above the mens club and it was great not having any people around. The fish started to rise around 4 and were sporadic at best. Lots of one and done.
I ended up with 14 refusals and 1 12in brown in the net. To say I was frustrated is an understatement. I left at 8 with no rising fish. Not sure why so many refusals. Maybe floating pressure???