I've Been Mac'd

So shortly after my last post, we had some technical difficulties that took us out of the blogging game for a bit...

With a new Mac, we're looking at a brand new 2012 full of blogging and pictures like non other. Beginning in January, we will be coming in with a brand new line up of fish tales...

Hang tight...TMT isn't dead yet...

OK, Sign Me Up!

from Moldy Chum...some good shit!

Weekly Update x 2

Well it’s been a bit of a frantic two weeks. I’ve been traveling back and forth to Ohio, to Connecticut twice, and then trying to maintain a life up North here…not a lot of fun…

However, we have been able to manage some time to focus on fishing, which is slowly starting to turn here…

A few highlights from the last few weeks…

Connecticut trout are starting to turn. Managed a few fish on April 10th – 11th…both on nymphs and streamers. No pictures unfortunately due to weather…

Ohio was pretty much fishless…

I did manage to get out with Conklin for a few casts on a bass pond, and caught up on life…no fish to hand though. Also, with a few hours to explore, I made my way up to the Chagrin River to check out a few of the changes that we saw over the last few months with rain/snow melt off, and wow, does it look like a new river. Having spent most of my time in Ohio exploring that river, I’m now looking forward to learning it all over again.

As for Ohio fishing, the rains have kept many people off the streams. Boz is actually back in his home town in Ohio, and has said the rivers are way too swollen to even fish, and with rain every day, things aren’t looking good.

After landing back in ME from Ohio, Boz, myself, and another friend went out for some exploratory fishing and scouting. After spending a few hours in the car jumping around and casting in a few places, we finally decided to hike into a spot Greg knew about. After about 3 casts, I tied into my first Salmon of the year. There were a few jumps, and a few good runs, but finally I managed to coax the fresh fish into shore for a few pictures and video (pics below).

After the release, we went fishless for the rest of the day…though feeling good, as it was the fist salmon of the year for any of us.

After a few errands the next day, I did some more exploring alone and bagged a nice big smallie, another first of the year! Again, weather kept the camera in the bag, but it was great to lip a 4lb smallie.

Since then, it’s been pretty quiet. I did some exploring today around Southern Maine, but only had one missed take. The weather kicked up a bit as the day went on, so I skipped around to a few places. There’s precipitation in the forecast for the next few days, so I may focus on some tying instead…we’ll see where the winds bring us…

Anyways, here are some of the pics…nothing you couldn’t imagine, but it’s at least some film…hoping to get back on the photographs moving forward…

First Salmon

Sammy The Salmon

Lily Keeping Watch



Weekly Update...

Sorry for the tardiness…a busy last week here…

Funerals, eulogies, job interviews…you get the idea…

Regardless, it was a fairly fishy week. Managed my first two trout of the year, turned a Pike (or two), and managed to get into some pan fish.

Pike was with Boz this past Wednesday. We had a great paddle down some new water, and he even managed to pull a frisky 6lb fish out from some shelf ice. We got his new pup some water time, and it was a great day to learn and explore.

Funeral on Sunday/Monday brought us back to CT. We left on Saturday, and I managed an evening run on a local stream near the in laws place. Sunday AM was spent paddling around a small bass pond looking for some early signs of life. While we spooked several carp, no bass were up from the deep yet. I did manage a few small ‘gills, and the surprise of the trip was a nice small brown trout. I’m fairly certain that it was a drop back stocker that was foraging around, but none the less, it was a first for me.

This next week is kinda shot with travel back to Cleveland, but I’m hoping to be back on the water starting next week.

I’ll see if I can wiggle up some of the pictures from the trips this week. It’s been a bit tough to get the lens out for all the excitement, but I’m hoping that all changes really soon.

Also, as Spring approaches, and with more time on the water, (and this being the last trek into Cleveland for a while), I should have time to start getting up more posts and pictures. I know this boring blog is getting kinda old...

Till next time!

Weekly Update

Well, almost everything is right with the world…

We did manage to get through the first opening day here in Maine with a rod in our hand! However, the journey was not tough. Snow blanketed the state, and made it rather difficult to get anywhere you needed to in order to fish. But I did manage to hit a few open water spots and make a few casts to no avail.

With most of the snow from the storm gone, I’m hoping to get out again this week and begin to really dive into some water. There was an unplanned trip to CT this past week for some personal stuff, and we had family here all weekend, so now it’s time to get back to business…

In sad news, Didymo (Didymosphenia Geminate), has finally found it’s way into Connecticut’s Farmington River. Here’s the FULL ARTICLE (via CT's Government Site). Please read it, and familiarize yourself with the ways in which we can stop the spread of this awful menace…

Picture From Article

Home Sweet Home!

Well another week of travel in the books…but we’re almost done! I’m actually here in Portland for a few weeks doing the work from home gig…which means theres lots of tying and fishing in the schedule!

With the opener only a week away, we’re busy at the vice. Stay tuned for some patterns and updates in the next few days!

In the meantime, we’ll enjoy a little of PA’s “culture”…from the lay over in Phili…

Weekly Update...

Well, another week goes by fishless, though I will say that I’m starting to get geared up for some spring fun. I was in Cleveland for the week, and we had a large thaw in Southern Maine. Not all the snow is gone, but a decent chunk…

After a horrible travel day on Friday (14 hours, 5 of which were on a bus and NOT planned), I sat down to the bench on Saturday, and started tying for the first time in months. Since the house has been on the market (a year ago), and really even before that, I hadn’t had much time to really tie flies. Sure I had a few eggs here, and some sucker spawn there, but no real tests. I finally came to the conclusion that I NEED to practice. I spent the last 2 days pushing out some black ghosts, and a few Montreal whores…Nothing too complex, but enough to help me get a bit of an edge back…I have been playing around with a few experimentals but I’m not too sure where they’ll end up…in a box or under a razor…

So on the fishing front…Maine is ice…Boz is being ambitious with a predicted day of April 10th for ice out, so we’ll see. The 10 day has some decent temps in it, so fingers are crossed…
In Ohio, warm weather, wet snow, and rain have kept the rivers HIGH! Some of the smaller tribs have been fishing, but I would definitely say we haven’t had a chance to really get out and see what the fishing will be like after the flood. Fish are being caught, and they are beginning to get a bit more active with some of the run off. Fingers are crossed for a decent spring run there…
Here’s a few pics of the bench over the last few days…

Marabou

Black Ghost

The Whore

Finn Excited About Tying

Back in Cleveland this week...see you all in a week!

MAINE, THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE...

I’ll apologize in advance for the book you’re about to read…

So as many of you know, I’ve always had a soft spot for the state of Maine. I grew up vacationing there, and many of my best childhood memories and adventures (along with mishaps) have occurred in the easternmost state of our nation.

Having grown up in Connecticut and lived in Ohio for the last few years, I’ve found myself wondering what I want to do with my life…what do I want to do? Who do I want to be? Where do I want to be?

About 2 years ago my lovely wife and I came up with a really nutty plan. We decided we should move from the house we had just purchased, and start migrating back to the East Coast. Having already lived in Connecticut, I knew that the hustle and bustle of Southern New England wasn’t going to keep me sane. I needed space…lots of space…and fish…

As I’m sure you’ve already guessed, here I am, in my new apartment just outside of Portland, ME, typing to you in a room full of boxes. We’ve made it, and just in time for the fishing season…

So where does this leave me, and the blog…

Well, I’m positive that this is the beginning of perhaps one of the best chapters in my life. Not only am I in an area I love, but I’m so close to some of the best fishing, hiking, and camping in the world! Brook trout that can exceed 6lbs. Landlocked Salmon that are measured in feet rather then inches. Striped Bass and Bluefin Tuna that visit our coasts…

We’re still going to keep pace with the Midwest gang. Having learned to cast a long rod in Ohio, it will always hold a special place in my heart and soul.

This is going to be the adventure of my lifetime! I’m looking forward to sharing it with you and changing the face of the blog.

The Caravan...A 24' Budget Truck, An Expedition With A 15' Whaler Behind, And A Subaru...All Packed To The Gills...

Finn all geared up...

Finn was glad Jimmy came to help...

The view from my couch...Tidal Flats...

BIG NEWS COMING - AND A FLOOD!!!!

WE'VE GOD BIG NEWS...COMING IN A DAY OR TWO!!!

In the mean time, Steelhead Alley took a beating over the last few days...massive amounts of rain Monday melted snow that flooded nearly all the rivers of North Eastern Ohio. The flood that is being recognized as a hundred year flood took out dams, flooded houses, and covered road ways...

The flood actually has opened up SEVERAL miles of fishable water along the Chagrin! The flows that are estimated to have topped 20,000 CFS, blew out the Gates Mills Dam that was the barrier stopping all chrome from moving up river. This will make the spring run quite interesting along the river.

Below are some pictures (from Cleveland.com) we've been able to find online. It's too bad we were unable to check out the river first hand...

Dam Before...

Dam After...

Below are pics Herb Imondi from Steelheadquarters.blogspot.com was able to capture first hand...



Stay tuned for the TMT update that will surely change the way we fish!

Blog Updates, Coming News, And a Piggy...

I firstly would like to apologize for the lack of posts…it’s been a whirlwind in my personal life over the last few months, and it’s finally started to catch up with me. I guess its better that it happens during an off time in the fishing season; however it is still a drag…


Regardless, I’m working on getting through these next few weeks so that I can begin to get back on to posting, and updating you. I can’t quite let the cat out of the bag, but I can promise that there will be some changes coming around these parts soon… a NICE change of scenery, and a great agenda for the 2011 Fishing Season…

In the meantime, I’ll be checking back in on and off, but come early March, life should be quiet, and we should be back to more time on our hands for blogging…

In fishing related news, the ice here along Erie has finally broken up…at least most of the way. The rivers are running high and dirty with a lot of melt off. This is great news for us steelhead junkie who have been locked up now for most of the winter. It’s been a bad one, with very little fishing taking place since early December. Kind of a drag, but it’s allowed me the time to prepare for some other ventures this summer…

Anyways, in other news…check out this PIG of a brownie from Central Ohio picked up yesterday…fly courtesy of ACF. Great looking fish for a lot of places in the US, never mind a medium sized river in Ohio…

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Well be in touch on and off for the next week or two, but there's more coming...I promise!
 
Thanks for checking in!

Weekly Update

Rivers are frozen, and it's supposed to be 4 degrees tonight...

Heading up to the Great State Of Maine this weekend...hopefully I'll at least have some pictures to share when we get back...

Sorry for the delays lately...things have been flying around here at a good clip...and life has not not even a thought of fishing in it lately...at least not for the immediate future. Once things quiet down, I'll be sure to bring you all up to speed...till then, keep on truckin'!

Weekly Update

Rivers are frozen, and we're getting 12 - 14 inches of snow in the next 48 hours...in it for the long haul...

Sorry we've been out of touch lately...been dealing with some personal items...but should be back to normal within the next week...

Hopefully the lucky bastards with open water are catching fish!

Weekly Update

a bit late, but the same...rivers may soon be safe enough to ice fish on...

Weekly Update

Iced...with no end in sight...

Schmidt did say that the NCFF show was great this year. Great turnout, and great vendors. Unfortunately I was tied up for the day...

Hopefully we're back to normal posting this week...it's been a roller coaster since 2011 began. Looking to right the ship soon!

Have a great week and stay warm...

Let's See The Ornaments...

email themadtrouter@gmail.com

Is There Hope?

Great write up on sustainability within an islands life...

"What happens to fisheries’ productivity when large fish are removed from a coral reef?"

Not all about fish, but still a good read...

Farewell to Reefs, Salt Ponds and Milkfish - New York Times - STUART SANDIN

Wonder Dry Fly...Kiwi Style...

How Stupid A Fish Can Make You...

"Texas does it again.

In weird, wacky, and stupid news, last week a homeless man in Gavelston, Texas apparently stole a young couple's car while they were out fishing, only to return the car shortly after and scold the mother for leaving their toddler inside unattended."


Full Link - http://www.gather.com/ (Matthew Ross)

Weekly Update

Well, we’re getting back to those slow weeks again…between the short days, and the holiday/travel preparations, there wasn’t much time in the cards this week. I did manage a few hours on a quickly dropping river on Saturday, but didn’t see a single fish. The stream was lower and clearer then I would’ve preferred, but it was nice to get out and pound a few holes before dark.

With the rains this week, I figured a fresh push of fish would’ve been kicking around…I’m sure they’re there…just we’re interested in my offerings…

Warm temps should disappear this week, and then it’s really time for the games to begin.

Traveling back home this weekend for turkey, which means we’ll be flinging dry flies for some trout back home!

This camera outage is really starting to blow…hopefully we get some good news this week…

Loosing Battle?

"Prized by fishermen, Atlantic bluefin can grow to the size of a horse and fetch as much as $100,000 in markets like Japan, but their stocks have plunged by more than 80 percent since 1970s, according to western scientists."

Maybe a late game rally?

FULL LINK - (ABC News, Leigh Thomas)