Fall Opening Day Report

With multiple cups of mediocre coffee in their belly's and the reward of a breakfast feast just 90 minutes away, members lined the banks of the pond at 7:30am. The previous days wind had been kind and the main area of the pond was mostly free of last weeks fall foliage.

On the stroke of half past the hour, dedicated club campanologist Jeff Boutin got proceedings under way with an expert swish of his wrist. Fly lines zipped through the cool fall air as a squad of wooly buggers were sent on their trout seeking mission.

Members partaking in the traditional "First Fish Pool" cast their lines with noticeable haste, their usual, sound mechanics temporarily abandoned as they chased the winner-takes-all purse. Some of the fresh and wily Oncorhynchus Mykiss gave false hope to a few anglers but momentarily tight lines went limp as hooks were shed.

Former club president and current board member Dennis Martin was second (see correction below) to get a fish to the net and took home the Fish Pool winners check. Dennis will be available at the next members meeting to sign autographs and offer tips and advice for the Spring 2025 Opener.

BLOG CORRECTION - Former club president, current board member and trout pond stalwart Michael Herman was the first to hook and land a trout on Opening Day. "Modest Mikey" lived up to his moniker by opting out of the Fish Pool to give the other, mere mortal fly fishers (his words, not mine) a chance at the prize. You're a good'un Mikey!!!

More fish were caught, and lost, over the next hour but the fishing wasn't frantic enough to keep rumbling tummies at bay and most members made their way into the warm clubhouse as feeding time neared.

At exactly 9:00am the resident club chefs began serving breakfast plates and sandwiches to the hungry masses. An eerie hush fell over the club, for all of 10 minutes, as a cornucopia of breakfast fare was devoured. Great job fella's, the Phantom Gourmet is looking to feature that breakfast sandwich next season.

Fishing continued for the rest of the day with trout being picked up on a variety of flies. The go-to olive and chartreuse buggers seemed to be on the menu early in the day. Smaller flies, prince nymphs, hares ear's and copper johns, picked up trout in the early afternoon and white streamers were taking fish in the last few hours of the day. Members report hard striking fish so fishing looks like it should get even better over the coming weeks and months. Fingers crossed for some rain and cold weather to keep things fresh and for some favorable winds to open up fishing all around the pond.

This 18" rainbow trout hammered a yellow dancer a few feet under the surface late in the afternoon.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this a fun and successful opening day.

More Opening Day photos and videos can be seen on the Gallery page of the club website.

Next club event is Fly Tying on Tuesday 12th November

(Fly instructions and materials will be posted next week)