Opening day

“I mean to fish in comfort, to try not only to match the hatch but also to match the weather.”

— Dr. Tom Sutcliffe

As I sit at my fly tying desk this morning, writing my column, it is April 1. This is the day the trout season opens on all the major trout streams of New York. Fly fishers who sally forth on opening day should remember that it is also known as “All Fools Day.”

I have not had the dubious pleasure of fishing on opening day for 13 years. This is because we are in Texas on that date. Have I missed not having the chance to fish in some frigid trout stream on this long awaited day? Not for a moment. My memories of opening days on New York trout streams include feet numbed by ice-cold water with hands and body chilled by air temperatures only a polar bear would consider to be balmy. Trying to change flies and tie knots with fingers rendered unable to function by the cold is a chore only a masochist enjoys. After sev.eral hours of futility, I would return home seeking a cup of hot chocolate to wash away my disappointment. I do admit to having one regret in recent years. Since I am unable to fish the Beaverkill or the Willowemoc on opening day, I cannot enjoy a steaming bowl of Agnes Van Put’s famous soup. This is the lunchtime meal that warms the souls of the chilled fly fishers who visit the Catskill Fly Fishing Center. Ah well, at noon I’ll just open a can of Campbell’s and join them in spirit.

If we can follow through with our current plans, based on what Barbara’s doctors tell her in late April, it will be the first of May when I finally wade into a Catskill trout stream. This should be a far more salubrious day for a fly fisher to tempt a trout. I will probably enjoy my opening day more than you will have enjoyed yours.

It seems there are new fly tying materials coming along for a fly tier to use every single year. There is a new material, not yet available in most fly shops, known as Stretch Magic. At this time it is sold through craft stores such as Hobby Lobby or Michael’s. These outlets only carry the item in clear or black. For the fly tier, the most useful diameter is 0.5mm, but it also comes in 0.7mm and l mm. This material is very stretchy, has fiber-optic properties and can be used to tie a number of different size flies. The company will be promoting the material in a full-page ad in an upcoming issue of Fly Tier magazine. It is also available in pearl, ruby, pink and chartreuse.

At this time, it is possible to obtain this material by calling the company at 978/433-2133. You will be connected to one of those darn automatic answering machines. Do not despair. Press the number 17 and you will reach a nice gentleman named Tom Murray. Until the product is available in fly shops, you can deal directly with the company through Mr. Murray. A more helpful gentleman would be hard to find. The few tiers who have tied and fished with flies made of this material describe their results in glowing terms. I can’t wait for my shipment to arrive.

The Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited will hold its first meeting of the year on Saturday, April 26 at 9:00 a.m. at the Long Eddy Fire House. Coffee and refreshments will be served after the meeting. As usual, all of these meetings are open to the public. If you have any questions regarding trout fishing in local streams, this is the where and when to get answers and it won’t cost you a dime.