​I can’t say I look forward to December as it marks the end of the fall fishing and hunting frenzy that many of us enjoy. But I can say that I embrace it. While it represents a transition to the coldest months of the year, windows of opportunity pop up that are similar to what we experienced earlier in the season. So with the doldrums of winter right around the corner I have learned the importance of pursuing some of the year’s remaining outdoor experiences.
 
Since the prime fishing is now past and weather conditions uncertain, competition for water is significantly decreased. The ease in finding solitude adds greatly to the attraction of fishing at this time of year.
 
December is about slowing down – no need to be in a hurry. It may take a little longer to get to the water and move between pools. December fishing may require breaking ice from the guides or waiting for the slush to clear. And slowing down the presentation is often the key recognizing that a fish may not move as aggressively for a fly in the colder water.
 
December is also a month for big fish yielding a number of top steelhead, brown trout and even musky over the years. With the holidays, December moves fast. Its time to get out there before it’s gone. 

​This Wednesday September 26th I'll presenting be presenting a discussion on fly fishing for steelhead in the Great Lakes region at the monthly meeting for the Delaware Valley Fly Fishers in Yardley, Pennsylvania. The meeting starts at 7:30. If you are in the southeastern PA area stop by to say hello. I'll also have my books available and there will be time for a book signing after the presentation. Hope to see you there.

Here in the northeast the first hatches of the year are just around the corner. With warming air and water temperatures combined with a forecasted period of low precipitation, things could heat up quickly.

At this time of year it is important to be patient. Most hatches won’t occur until the afternoon or even early evening. And with spring hatches the bug activity does not necessarily need to be heavy to bring fish to the surface so always be on the search for risers. 

The Hendrickson hatch is the first major occurrence of the year and can get some of the largest trout in the river or stream looking up and feeding aggressively. A trout’s senses are not as finely honed at this time of year as compared to later in the season. This provides a great opportunity to fool the fish of your dreams. But it will still require a careful approach, accurate casts, and a drag-free presentation.
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I carry a variety of patterns to represent every stage of the insect cycle and even a few alternatives of each stage for some variety. For me the thrill of going one-on-one with a large feeding trout seems to embody the very essence of fly fishing.

​For anyone interested in a personalized copy of my latest book ​Hunting Musky with a Fly please send me a Facebook message.

It is also available at a number of fly shops including Orvis - Buffalo, Schultz Outfitters, TCO Fly Shops, and Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company.

Musky fly fishing occasionally reminds me of my baseball playing days. Hitting a baseball was always a rather streaky proposition. When things were going well it was easy - a pitched ball appeared to come in big and slow. But it could easily all be lost. A couple games go by without a hit and there it was - a slump. And some slumps were tough to break - the shortstop makes a diving catch on a line drive or a well hit long ball goes directly to an outfielder. 

I have felt the same frustration recently with musky. Things seemed to be going well and then a few unsuccessful outings later you begin to wonder when the next one will be brought to  the net. And in true slump fashion on an outing last week I experienced two very close calls including one that was already counted in my mind making disappointment even more vivid.

But the only way to break a slump is to keep on swinging or in this case keep on casting. The prime of the year is here which means spending as much time on the water as possible. With enough time on the water good things always happen.
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Check out two recent podcasts that feature discussion of hunting musky on the fly between myself and Justin Hanson - ToFlyFish.com and Roger Maves - AskAboutFlyFishing.com. Both pod casts are available at the links below.

http://toflyfish.com/musky-fly-fishing/

http://www.askaboutflyfishing.com/speakers/rick-kustich/hunting-musky-with-a-fly.cfm

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In just over a week Spey Nation will celebrate its 10th anniversary - June 24th at the Pineville boat launch on the Salmon River. I am honored to be presenting along side an all star up lineup to celebrate this great event's 10th year. 

There will also be special screenings of Our Two Hands on Friday evening June 23rd and Spey Daze on Saturday after the event. Both screenings will take place at the Tailwater Lodge in Altmar, NY.

I hope to see you there. For more information check the Spey Nation website - ​http://speynation.com

Much of the northeast has experienced above average rainfall throughout the spring. As for western New York April saw record levels of rain keeping our steelhead streams in an un-fishable state for a good portion of the month. But for many April is also trout time. The high water has created perfect streamer and large nymph conditions on many streams as the higher water allows fish to feel more comfortable away from tight cover.

High water can have a significant impact on dry fly fishing. The heavier surface tensions of higher flows can deter trout from feeding on the surface even during a solid hatch. Fish may be positioned in different areas of a pool or run than under normal flows. Trout will often search out softer flows along seam lines or tail outs. Collection points where multiple seams converge can create a concentration of bugs that allow a trout to feed heavily balancing the extra energy required to counteract the substantial flows.