The trout season approaches

“The flyfishers year has but two seasons, the fishing season and the rest of the year. A sort of night and day.”

Fred Everett “Fun With Trout” 1952

There is a line in a Johnny Cash song, “I hear that train acomin’, it’s comin’ down the track.” Is there now a flyfisher in the Catskill-Delaware area that does not feel the opening day of the trout season, “a comin’ down the track?” The buds on the trees have not yet begun to swell, but on a warm day, that faint smell of spring drifts through the air. If you have delayed the job of preparing your fishing tackle, that time is now. Your reels need to be taken apart and cleaned, then carefully lubricated.

Best not depend on those old leaders in your fly-fishing vest. Tie up some fresh ones, being sure to moisten each knot with some saliva before seating it tight. Remember Lefty Kreh’s old dictum, “Knots break first when they are able to slip.” If you are one who uses those store-bought knotless leaders, you have nothing but my sympathy. Why anyone would want to use this one-type-fits-all sort of gear is beyond my understanding. The ability to customize a leader will both improve your casting and enhance the presentation of your fly. By tying your leaders to suit you, you will gain an important edge. The knots involved are so simple and easy to tie that even the Tangler ties them with ease.

Remember that feeling last September, when a trickle of cold water was infiltrating your waders? Now is the time to find that leak and seal it. First, cut a piece of cotton sheeting to size. Then apply either Barge cement or Shoe Goo to one side of the patch and the waders. Affix the patch. When dry, coat the patch with a thin film of adhesive. A leak that was merely annoying in September can chill you thoroughly come April. Inspect the felt soles of your waders or wading shoes. Re-glue any loose areas. If the felt or carpet is quite worn, replace both the sole and the heel. The same glue used to apply the patch will suffice here.

Use a cotton pipe cleaner to remove any line dressing from the snake guides on the rod. A light coating of beeswax or paraffin on the male ferrule of your glass or graphite rod will help to reduce wear. If you are an old- timer like me who still fishes bamboo on occasion, simply clean the ferrules. Do not apply any wax or oils. Use a Q-tip swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol to clean out the female ferrule. In a pinch, Jim Beam will work. However, that is a terrible waste. If the male ferrule on a bamboo rod is a bit green, wet it and apply a tiny bit of Bon Ami, then rub it very lightly. No Comet or Ajax, please.

Inspect your fly boxes. After a season’s, use some of those flies will surely resemble something the cat coughed up. Get thee to your fly tying vice, or if you do not tie, head for the local fly shop. The boys there will be glad to see you after the disastrous season of last year.

Take a close look at your fly line. If it appears to be checked and cracked you will need to replace it. You may need to take a part-time job to cover this cost. Since Barb and I have been fishing with silk lines for the last four years, we do not have this problem. Silk lines last for a long time. Your friendly banker might be willing to loan you enough to afford a silk line. There, I have given you your marching orders. Get to work.

I hope to see you all on Saturday morning, April 22. The Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited will meet at the newly refurbished Depot on Main Street in Callicoon at 9:30 a.m.