Dry flies and downriggers catching fish

Fishing has been a bit spotty the last couple of weeks, when a few hours of casting could be enjoyed between rain showers, that is. Brooks and streams remain fairly low despite the incessant rain, and trout have begun to school up near cold springs, creek inlets and large seeps.
In the lakes, trout and salmon have departed the surface layer for deeper, cooler water as well. From all reports, as well as personal endeavors, fishing the two extremes; right on the river surface with dry flies or at least 30 feet deep with downriggers on area lakes, are the only two sure ways to enjoy steady action.        Hopscotching from one brook mouth to the next along the Aroostook River, especially at daybreak and dusk, and floating certain dry fly patterns will yield consistent strikes until the fish get nervous. I’ve taken 10 trout in 10 minutes at the Little Madawaska River inlet into the Aroostook, and then the fish get lockjaw until that evening.
A fishing friend of mine who haunts the Prestile spent some time casting and catching 8- to 14-inch, brightly speckled beauties below the Robinson Dam a couple weeks ago. Technique and tactics were tough since a size 20, all black dry fly was the only thing the trout would take. Using only a two-pound test leader, he hooked and lost a lot of fish and several flies, but a number of bragging size brook trout came to his net when other angler’s offerings were ignored.
Dry flies other than the tiny black midge that are producing fish on the Aroostook, Prestile, St. Croix, Little Black, Little Madawaska and Fish River include a gray slim Jim, mosquito, quill Gordon and March brown. Use plenty of floatant on the fly to keep it high on the surface, and after a few fish, when the pattern tends to get waterlogged, change to another fly. Trout are very selective about how realistically a dry fly moves on the water surface without a bit of drag. Often a high floating presentation is more important than the exact size and color when fishing over spring seeps and deep holes
If you care to venture to the Meduxnekeag River near Littleton, it’s possible to cast over pools with brook trout, brown trout and even a few smallmouth bass.
Early morning offers good results on the brookies, but for larger fish, especially browns, be on hand from dusk until two hours after dark. On moonlit nights, it’s possible to see fish rise and present a dry fly to them until midnight; if you can stay awake. Knowing that there are plenty of 14- to 20-inch browns, some over three pounds, cruising in search of a meal should help most angler keep their eyes open during late night fishing forays.
Big brown trout prefer larger insects to feast on and using big flies also helps anglers see them better at night. Another trick to keeping a floating dry fly in sight after dark is to use patterns that have light colors and float high in the water. Proven patterns on the Meduxnekeag include a white Wulff, a royal Wulff, a fluorescent green humpy a white irresistible, and sometimes a large yellow grasshopper imitation.
Local sportsmen who are into lake fishing or prefer to do battle with large, leaping chrome-sided salmon need to utilize lead core or downriggers. Trolling heavy lead core line requires a sturdy rod and the combination dampens the enjoyment of playing moderate size fish. With downriggers, it’s possible to fish with fly rods or even light spinning rods and once a salmon strikes, dislodging the line from the downrigger weight, it’s just like playing a fish while spring surface trolling.
A fishfinder/depthfinder is necessary to locate the depth and location of smelt schools and therefore the game fish usually lurking nearby, and a GPS will help the boat driver to maintain a slow steady trolling speed. When dragging downriggers and baits the best boat speed is between 1.3 and 2 miles per hour. With the proper set up, two different size, shape and color of baits can be trolled from each downrigger at the same time.
Veteran deep trolling anglers often put out a selection of lures, plugs and streamer flies to begin with, and switch around, when and if one particular offering gets more attention. Hooking a long reflective attractor rig to the lead ball will often bring fish from a distance to investigate, and then they will spot the lures. I like a silver or bronze Dave Davis rig with red reflectors.
Currently, the deep fishing is moderately fast, but when a salmon strikes the chances are good it will be over three pounds and some hefty trout are being boated as well. During the last two weeks game fish have been staying between 28 and 40 feet, shadowing the bait fish, and thanks to recent cool, rainy and overcast days, the fish shouldn’t go deeper for awhile. Good starting baits include silver Sutton spoons; pearl, green or red DB Smelt, Mooselook Wobblers or Thinfish in white with red dots or stripes, and silver and black Rapalas.
I wouldn’t say the fishing is fast right now, but it is steady and some nice size trout and salmon are being taken. The trick is to get out between the showers and inconvenient winds and take advantage of the surface feeders and those deep lake dwellers. We are halfway through July so grab a rod and get out there – time’s a wastin.’