Steve Wascher: Bass Bug Spinning Guru, Chautauqua Lake Guide, Musky on the Fly Expert, spent the evening floating the Allegheny Last Night with his son and we managed a few Smallmouth on our way down the river.

Fly Fishing Presque Isle with Steve Brugger, Lake Erie Ultimate
Angler............................ Damon Newpher www.pa-flyfishing.com

Ultimat Angler Bass

Lake Erie Ultimate Angler Owner

Steve Brugger with and Ultimate

Smallmouth Caught Last Week

on Lake Erie.

Tricos are Coming

With nice weather in North Western PA the Allegheny Tailwater has been flowing at a very Fly Fishable level around 1200 CFS. 1200 makes it easy to wade and read the water allowing anglers enjoyable access to most of the river. Starting Monday of this week we saw the first signs of a significant Trico Hatch and Spinner fall starting to take place with a few fish already starting to turn their attentions to the surface for them. Nymphing and Streamer fishing still is the proven method for catching fish on the river consistently. The smallmouth bass fishing is beginning to get good from mid-day through the middle to later parts of the afternoon in the runs below the rifles into the upper sections of the pools using various streamer patterns. Poppers are not yet producing many smallies on the surface, with warmer temperatures we should start getting some popper action. Hoppers and other terrestrials have produced a few trout on bright sunny, hot, low water days. Keep your attention towards the tricos as the action from early morning to mid day will be at its best as the spinners begin to fall. Standard Trico Spinners along with a variety of smaller black parachute patterns are the typical producers for this hatch. Good Luck out there and say hi when you see us on the water.

Best Fishes,

Damon

Shane Does it again with the two handed rod. When fishing the big water like the Allegheny Tailwater longer rods classified in the Spey and Switch series have their advantages. When caught in the hatch situation with the two handed rod the lines tend to not present dry flies as nice as standard WF lines. Using the long rods for trout it would be best to carry an extra spool with a floating steelhead taper line, matched to the rod, and a 12ft leader to fish the magic hour. Besides dry fly fishing I can't imagine fishing the big water with a 9 ft. rod again. To learn more about switch and spey fishing for trout on the Allegheny or Steelhead on the tributaries of Lake Erie email me at newpherd@gmail.com I look forward to meeting you on the water. Nice fish Shane!!!!!

Now that the release on the Allegheny River has been cut back the fishing has vastly improved. With a week of high water it made for difficult fly fishing even with the drift boat. The evening hatches have returned with the low water conditions. The fish have turned on to the Blizzard of caddis flies. Various pupae and adult patterns have been working in different colors and sizes. The above fish were caught using a pupae that I tie especially for the Allegheny with a black tungsten bead.

This years stocking of fingerling's is starting to show some results just like the "class of 07" fish these fingerling's are making themselves at home in the river. The ones that aren't settling into the trout areas are getting blitzed by pike, musky and bass. They are about 6-8 inches now and like all fish in the Allegheny as thick as they are long.

Good luck and I'll see you on the water.