MILLERS HOLDING UP

July 11, 2007 - Just prior to grabbing a few days off to pursue striped bass along the south shore of Cape Cod I had the chance to chat with Josh Epstein concerning his fortunes on the Millers River. A few years ago we turned him on to this burgeoning fishery and he has been haunting the watershed ever since. The focus of his attention throughout this season has been the real estate between Orcutt Brook and Farley Flats below the confluence of Whetstone and Osgood brooks.

While the water level (and water temperature) are approaching more typical summer-like conditions, this has not hampered success during his most recent outings. Sulphers in sizes 16 and 18 have dominated the dry fly venue the previous few weeks and continue to do so particularly prior to dusk. The interesting aspect has been the reluctance of dimpling fish to accept an adult or spinner pattern during hatch periods. Miller River maven, Rodney Flagg has long been a proponent of the Usual, a nondescript dry fly that is constructed entirely of snowshoe rabbit's foot and looking more like a ball of fuzz then an adequate mimic for this hatch.

Armed with a cadre of Usuals, assembled entirely of sulpher-dyed snowshoe, Epstein felt confident as he took up his position along the riverbank. As dusk approached and fish occupied their familiar feeding lanes repeated casts drew not a single rise from Josh's well-placed casts, that is, until the fly began to submerge and suspend somewhat below the surface film. This was just the ticket as numerous brown and rainbow trout fell victim to a dead drifted size 16 Sulpher Usual.

INDUSTRY NEWS
From Tackle Trade News… "RIO products just received the award for gaining the most World records in the fly tippet category from the International Game fish Association (IGFA). The annual award reinforces the reliability of RIO's leader and tippet materials.

RIO offers two different materials. RIOMax and RIO's Hard Saltwater nylon, to overcome every likely fishing situation for the fly fisherman.

In the 12 months between October 1st, 2005 and September 30th, 2006, RIO's tippet material broke 37 world records, putting RIO as number one. The award betters the runner-up award received by RIO for the last three years in the same category."

TU HEADS WEST
A faction of 8 trout zealots from our local TU chapter is currently haunting the watersheds of southern Montana. The group is headed up by TU chapter president, Paul Baktran, with many fist-timers in attendance. We wish you nothing but tight lines throughout your stay.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB