Writing On The Fly: The Dog Days Of Fly Fishing

By George Liset, Writing on the Fly, InDepth NH

Why are we surprised when the 98 weather shows up with his friend Humidity? I guess it is the same reason we try to wear shorts until Thanksgiving. Somehow we think that it will delay the winter weather, or maybe I am a weather denier. If I don’t think about the weather, the really hot and the frigid cold will stay away and it will be the perfect fly fishing climate.

However, the “Dog Days” do appear every summer, and when they do, anglers have some choices to make, which is primarily: Where to fish? If you live on the Seacoast of New Hampshire the answer for many anglers is “Head East” to the Atlantic Ocean and chase Striped Bass, or Stripers as they are more commonly known.

Many fishermen fish from shore, especially around the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth or the beaches in Rye, Hampton and Seabrook. I have witnessed some big fish taken from shore. The Stripers like to chase the bait fish towards shore to corral them. There is nothing more enjoyable than standing in the ocean on a hot day and casting out to try your luck.

There is a real camaraderie with the shore anglers. They all have their favorite spots which they share with the other regulars. When I would visit family on Cape Cod I would see the same group of anglers every day fishing the canal. Sometimes they would head over to Sandy Neck for a change of scenery. Most were bait casters, but every now and then you would see a fly fisher laying out line in waist deep water.

For those anglers who are landlocked, lakes and ponds are a great place to cool off and enjoy the summer. Whether it is from a boat, such as a canoe or kayak, a float tube or even from a dock or the shore, fish can be had. On lakes or ponds that are not “Fly Fishing Only”, top water flies are always a fun diversion. Bass and pan fish are a ton of fun on a light weight fly rod, usually a three or four weight, using terrestrials like grasshoppers, ants or any floating bug patterns.

New Hampshire has a number of Fly Fishing Only ponds stocked with trout. Some are more readily accessible than others. This time of year I will usually walk into a pond with my float tube that is a little off the beaten path on the premise that it will not be crowded. A longer nine foot six weight fly rod is usually a good bet. Use a sinking line with a Maple Syrup fly and let the fun begin.

My friend Charley has said that some ponds are morning ponds and others are evening ponds. The theory is that the sun hits them at different times which affects the hatches. The only way to find out is to fish them, or in my case, have Charley tell me. If you don’t have a charley to tell you where, when and what to fish, there are a number of Fly fishing shops that will gladly help out. It might cost you the price of a couple of flies, but one can never have enough flies or even the right one. Fire on the Mountain in Dover is a great resource as well as The North Country Angler in North Conway. So get out and enjoy these Dog Days because I have a feeling we won’t be wearing shorts til Thanksgiving.

George Liset of Dover is an award-winning outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares insights of his time on the water exploring New Hampshire streams and rivers as well of those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire. His column Writing on the Fly has been honored by the New England Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association.

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.