Cold River Trout

[wkies]

Curious to hear how others have faired on the Cold River along the Northville-Placid Trail. I spent four days last Sept. fly-fishing the Cold River between Duck Hole and Big Eddy looking for Brookies. Saw very little. Any other experiences or tales? Tight lines.

[lumberzac]

Fished that same section in early September of 2003 without any luck except at the base of Duckhole dam. The entire river looked like it should have been loaded with trout, but I didn't even get a single hit on my line.

[wkies]

Any ideas why we were skunked? I fished mostly the surface. Maybe it was the water level and temp (very warm summer?) I would like to hit it in June (fighting the black flies). Any other good backcountry brook trout opportunities? I do a good deal of brook trout fishing in northern Maine every year. Great healthy fishery up there.

[Creekwader]

Any ideas why we were skunked? I fished mostly the surface. Maybe it was the water level and temp (very warm summer?) I would like to hit it in June (fighting the black flies). Any other good backcountry brook trout opportunities? I do a good deal of brook trout fishing in northern Maine every year. Great healthy fishery up there.

This summer was extremely hot and dry. September was above normal too. Those conditions combined with fishing the surface probably resulted in the skunking. Spring should be better. I would always start with wet flies unless there is a specific hatch fish are keying on in wild brook trout streams.

[Rick]

Fished it in '91, '92 and '95 with no luck either. I always figured the water was too acidic, coming out of preston ponds and duck hole.

[Cold River Bob]

The Coldriver and Preston ponds are not acidic. The Cold is a hard place to fish at first , I have spent a couple weeks a year there fishing for quiet a few years, In June you can use dries and take quiet a lot of fish, and in Sept streamers, you can take a few on dries , I hope this helps

Bob

[serotonin]

Lack of water and high temps this year made many things more difficult.
I am not a Cold River expert.

That being said, you might be surprised what can be done w/a high floating dry.

Especially in pocket water. And especially at dawn or dusk.
Especially in water that doesn't get fished.
Even in hot ugly daytime under decent canopy; even in slower water!

It's really a fun way to fish!!!
All you gotta do is dial in their number.
I don't wanna make it sound too easy, 'cause it's not.
Some days, it's best to just sit there and never make a cast.

APPROACH and PRESENTATION is more important than the fly.
Royal Wulffs and Caddis work equally as well.

A bugger or worm might take the biggest fish, but a dry can do the same.
And it's alot more fun. (For me).
If you screw up your first cast to a good pocket, you probably won't catch the biggest one living there. He is onto you. He won't bite for another hour.
But his dumb cousin Jeff will be swallowing your hook when your looking at the trees, wondering how you're gonna bushwack your way out of this godforsaken place.

Stay Low. Watch the currents. Downstream drifts work great! Dead drift.
As long as you can. Don't be afraid to skitter it.
After the drift, lift the rod lightly, pop it back into the pocket or seam. Make a few more drifts. Put the fish back in the water. Make a couple more drifts, and move to the next beautiful pocket.

Hope this helps.

Any questions... Dial my number.

[hekki6]

Fished a bit with wet flies near Ouluska lean to in May '05, and caught a few brookies about 6-8in. Also got enough for a trout dinner for 2 of us at the base of Duck Hole dam last year on # 16 GRHE nymphs last May (04)

[Qtip]

serotonin,

I also love pocket water fishing with dries. Like the W. Branch of the Au Sable and the Esopus. Tricky footing but lots of fish and some big ones at that.

I sure hope you don't look like your avatar!!!


Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

[serotonin]

Qtip!

Let's not discuss the qualities of my photogenic-less-ness . hehheh.

Pocket water! however...
Now That really turns me on!
I merely wanted to address some Adirondack wild brook trout water.

You obviously know though...
You find Tricky footing,
You find trout!

I'm glad you mentioned the Esopus.
I love that stream. It's very unforgiving.
and thus... not very popular. Full of Wild fast-water Rainbows.

It's tribs have more brookies than you can count on ten thousand hands.

I love the way it looks. I love the way it sounds. It can be a brawler.
Not too many slow pools.
I love it's name too. E-so-pus.
From some esoteric Greek mythology if I'm not mistaken.

Did you know that it travels it's circular course due to an ancient asteroid impact...? This is no longer questioned.
Scroll down to 'A Morning to Remember'.

http://www.dreamscape.com/cnyapg/News/1997Oct.html

*

Qtip... have you been doing any recent fishing...?

S.

[serotonin]

Sorry about straying off-topic re:the cold river.

http://ottawa.rasc.ca/astronomy/earth_craters/panther_mountain/

[Qtip]

serotonin,

I hardly fished at all this year. I was out of work for 2 1/2 months and funds were VERY low. But now I have a new job and next year I'll make up for it. After deer season I'll be at the bench more too.

PS Only problem with the Esopus is if they have the "tube" open. You can't fish it from there downstream hardly at all. Way too high and roily. I used to have a phone number to call ahead of time but lost it.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

[craig D]

cold river above long lake

skunked

didn't see a trout.

plenty of huge small mouths above long lake where the cold river came in

[dano]

caught a few near cold river 3 and 4 lean to's (6-8 inches and also some at oluska...i was using live hoppers i picked up along the grassy trail....this was in 2005...you cant beat a live hopper for adirondack brook trout!!!!