We’re close to our favorite time of the year, when the annual Hexagenia hatch begins on Back Lake, but we’re not quite there yet. According to one of my more credible sources, there were a couple of hex sightings yesterday evening on the lake, but that was the extent of the action, and with our upcoming weather pattern, the hatch might be a little delayed this year.
It’s not a stretch now to say that floating a river in a drift boat may be my favorite way to spend time in pursuit of fish, or just to reset the “spirit meter”. Whether it’s in New England or out West (Montana), there is no substitute for seeing a river in this leisurely way.
Early days of June are usually good ones on the Upper Connecticut River in Pittsburg, NH, and this has generally been the case this week. Copious amounts of rain from Sunday through Tuesday brought the lake levels up, requiring slightly higher river flows out of the dams.
That’s Angus Boezeman, Tall Timber’s Head Fishing Guide, with his happy client, Andrew Upton, and a beauty of a Connecticut River rainbow.
Is Amaya a little excited? Damn right she is! That’s Amaya Bell with a gorgeous brookie caught on a UV Czech nymph on the Trophy Stretch this morning. I was able to fish today with my friends the Bells and we had a great day. We got a few fish but it was the fall foliage that was so spectacular. I would say the foliage is peak in Pittsburg right now. The water flow on the Trophy and below Murphy dam have been on the low side this week but we have heard that possibly this Friday, Trans Canada will be increasing the flows a bit. That will help the fishing and the fish.
OMR drifted the Andro on Tuesday and reported back that his clients did very well on BH Pheasant Tails with a olive Hatching Pupa dropper bringing 15 + trout to the boat. Not bad for a half day drift.
Dave Poole guided on Coon Brook Bog today and reported back that his people also did well and picked up a bunch of nice brook trout. I also heard good things about Terrill Pond. Dave also did the lower Connecticut River on Tuesday and did well on Black Ants.
Back Lake was boiling tonight with rising fish. There’s not much time left to the season. Only three weeks. Get up here before it’s over.
I know … another fish in the net picture, but believe me, it was tough to manage a 2+ lb. Connecticut River brook trout in my net, my rod, my camera phone, and a cigar sticking out of my mouth all at the same time – this is the best I could do. This one (and the one before it) took a soft hackle hatching pupa trailing an olive woolybugger on a sinking leader on my switch rod.