WRITING ON THE FLY

Few routes match the beauty of traveling through Franconia Notch State Park amid the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Our journey took us across the park en route to Pittsburg to target the Connecticut River Trophy Stretch along with nearby streams. Passing through the notch helps any traveler unwind while building anticipation for the upcoming fishing.

Reports from Lopstick Lodge indicated elevated water levels and strong flows. Upon reaching the First Connecticut Lake Dam we saw water spilling over the crest. Streams shift character with changing conditions so anglers must adapt quickly especially during multi-day trips far from home.

I packed four fly rods and six reel combinations to handle variable situations. My son Reed noted he had studied the forecast and chose a specialized nymphing outfit. This choice stood out since Reed usually favors dry flies or an occasional dropper preferring to watch a surface pattern drift and draw rises. While some traditionalists view nymphing as less pure most agree it produces results.

Nymphing rests on a straightforward idea. Biologists note trout consume roughly ninety percent of their diet beneath the surface. Fish typically hold near the bottom behind rocks or ledges conserving energy while waiting for drifting food. The goal is to present flies close to the bottom and deliver them directly to waiting trout. Anglers often select three or four weight rods eleven to twelve feet long holding the rod extended so the line drops straight from the tip in a method called tight line nymphing.

Once mastered the approach yields strong results yet beginners often find it awkward at first. Patience proves essential during the learning phase. Author George Daniel of Dynamic Nymphing and contributor to Fly Fisherman magazine notes that new practitioners will retie many knots and sacrifice numerous flies. The process can feel discouraging but success follows with persistence.

Daniel recommends suspending two bead head nymphs twelve to twenty inches apart on the tippet then adding a short string of weights at the end. This setup lets the patterns ride just off the bottom where trout wait while the weights help reach the strike zone without frequent snags.

Dry fly fishing brings its own thrill when a trout accepts the offering confirming the pattern choice and the skill of drawing the fish upward. Reed balances both styles though his preference for surface action remains clear.

We started below the dam. I chose a green Hornburg recommended by writer Lou Zambello for larger trout while Reed used a dry dropper with a small tan caddis and size twenty Pheasant Tail. We worked the riffles that had produced well on earlier visits.

Results came quickly as I landed a fourteen inch brook trout and Reed followed with a solid rainbow. After several hours predicted storms approached. Forecasts showed a brief cell followed by a stronger front so we moved downstream to wait out the first band.

The new stretch ran deeper and faster in the narrower channel. Reed switched to his nymphing rod while I kept the Hornburg on a sink tip. Reed began hooking fish steadily. My surface fly struggled to reach the right depth until I shifted to a slower seam and connected with several good trout. Once the main storms arrived we returned to the vehicle and cabin.

Over dinner at the Buck Rub Pub we discussed Reed's effective nymphing presentation. I noted that George Daniel would approve. Reed grinned and suggested he might need a dedicated nymphing rod. I laughed and offered to claim his dry fly outfit. We both laughed knowing that exchange would never occur.

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.