Lopstick Lodge

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Ed Mitchell

Lopstick Lodge

Just got back from the upper Connecticut River. Man it was fun. Where specifically was I?  The Connecticut Lakes area up in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, by the Canadian line. It’s a haul from my home, about 300 miles. But hey, I love the Great North Woods. Loons calling across the lake, majestic moose alongside the road, ringed by mountains, blessed with shining lakes, and that wonderful smell of balsam. Beautiful country.

So how was the fishing? Glad you asked. There are plenty of fine trout ponds in the area, but I prefer fishing the Connecticut River itself.  The “Trophy Stretch”, which runs between First Connecticut Lake and Lake Francis, is likely the most popular water. Nice riffles and runs holding beaucoup fish. Rainbows and brookies for the most part. Hell, sometime on the “Trophy Stretch”, you’ll think it’s raining trout.

Raining Trout

This trip the rainbows were about 11″ on average and brookies upwards of 15″. Not bad. Still, bigger fish are around; in the past I’ve caught brookies up to 3 pounds. And the “Trophy Stretch” has landlocked salmon too, although spring and fall offer your best bet at hooking those high-flying rockets.

I make this trip nearly every year, and I always stay at Lopstick Lodge on the shores of First Connecticut Lake. Owners, Tim & Lisa Savard, run a first class operation, believe me. Great accomodations, a fly shop, rental boats, terrific guides, and drift boat trips too. And yes, if you want to roll your own adventure, Tim and Lisa will freely share their indepth knowledge of the area. They going to make you feel right at home. Check them out at www.cabinsatlopstick.com/

Posted in Fly Fishing in Freshwater, On the Road | Leave a comment

Barnstable Harbor on Cape Cod

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Ed Mitchell

Captain Jim Ellis / Barnstable Harbor

I fished Barnstable Harbor last week with Captain Jim Ellis. It was a fine day on the water. 

We left the dock at Cobbs Village around 5AM, with good conditions and a running tide. Nice. There were four of us onboard. To the left of the photo is Phil Farnsworth, Captain Ellis is at the helm, and Scott Black to the right.  I’m lying on the floor at the moment, working the camera.

Once we got pass Beach Point Light we could see a mess of striped bass up on top, chewing happily away. A minute later we were in their midst. Swirls, fins, and backs everywhere. Sweet stuff. We were hooked-up pronto, with the baddest bass at around 15 pounds. Sand eel flies did the honors. The action cranked for close to two hours, as the tide drained into Cape Cod Bay.

During the rest of the day, the action was slow, but hell we did so well early on it really didn’t matter.

Posted in Fly Fishing in Salt Water, On the Road | Leave a comment

Bead-Head Caddis Pupae

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Ed Mitchell

Bead-Head Caddis Pupae

Years ago I used to think that if I had to rely on one nymph, it would be a Hare’s Ear in size 14. Damn good fly. Nowadays, however, I would pick something different. Which fly you ask? A bead-head caddis pupae for sure.

Look at the fly box above. The first four rows of flies on the left are all caddis pupae. I tied them on a Tiemco 2457 in sizes 10#-20#. It’s a very strong hook with the right curved shape. For a bead, I always pick tungsten over brass; tungsten really gets the fly down fast. It makes a difference, believe me. And I’m partial to these colored tungsten beads from The Montana Fly Company. They are marketed under the name “Lucent Beads“. I dub a body on some pupae, but I most often use copper wire instead. It’s easy to work with, makes a nice segmented body, and adds weight. Now I’m not talking about plain copper wire; I prefer bright red, hot orange, and light green.

Red Bead-Head Caddis Pupae

Does the red and orange wire throw you for a loop? It shouldn’t. The red and orange pupae, especially in the smaller sizes, may be the deadiest flies of all.  They’re pure magic.

More Thoughts and Tips

Posted in Flies and Fly Tying, Fly Fishing in Freshwater | Leave a comment

Saltwater Fly Fishing & New England Weather

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Ed Mitchell

Rain Coming

If you cast flies into the salt chuck, you know the importance of tide and light. Yeah, they can be the keys to the highway my friend. But you also have to keep a close eye on the weather.

Wind, barometer, and weather fronts all influence coastal fishing. No question. Here in New England, during the spring, bluebird days with a north wind are the kiss of death.  Better put the fly rod down and mow the lawn. A southwest wind is the wind you want. And your best bet is a cloudy day with a hint of rain and a falling barometer. Striped bass love those snotty gray days.

During the dog days of summer, a stable barometer produces consistent fishing, be it good or bad. A changing barometer has the opposite effect; it shakes thing up. As fall nears, cold front are finally your friend. A quick cold snap, particularly one combined with the first frost, will kick start the fall migration. Now the action really revs up. But too many cold fronts can be trouble. The more cold fronts hammer the coast, the quicker the fish will migrate south. Bad news. So after the first frost, you want a warm spell to settle in – call it Indian summer. It will allow the fish to linger along the coast, and keep you smiling.

Posted in Fly Fishing in Salt Water, Fly Fishing On the Beach, Looking Upward | Leave a comment

Smith & Wesson Model 625

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Ed Mitchell

SW 625-2 Model of 1988

The SW Model 625 is a highly sought after firearm. It’s long been popular in IDPA competitions; it’s a fine “Pin” gun, and superb for target work. In fact it’s fair to say the 625 is, hands down, one of the best big-bore revolvers ever produced. Yes, it’s really that good.

Mine is a 625-2, Model of 1988, chambered for 45ACP. I purchased it second-hand; it was first owned by a Smith & Wesson salesman. When I saw it in the showcase, I knew had to have it. Decked out with rosewood boot grips and a 5″ barrel, it came in a factory, velvet lined, leather case, with brass locks. A real jewel.  And lucky for me the price was right.

Fast to medium speed powders are best in 45ACP and I have tried a slew of them in search of the perfect handload. The list includes Bullseye, VV310, Unique, 231, and Tite Group. Right now, my favorite powder is Universal Clays, under a 200 grain, plated, semi-wacutter, ignited by a Federal primer. It’s a fine load, accurate and clean burning.

Be a safe and responsible gun owner!

Posted in Shooting Sports | 2 Comments