Hacklebarney at Whippany River Cleanup

We were well represented at Saturday's Whippany River Clean up and Environmental Fair. Approximately 10 members of our chapter including Mike Russo's Wife and children ages 3 and 5 were in attendance, as well as John Montefusco's two sons, whose youthful vigor was well appreciated by all. We cleared up a section of the Whippany in downtown Morristown, which seemed to have years of trash.

Besides more glass than one could imagine, we retrieved tires, car parts, a bike, a train rail, a Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil, a lawn mower and Jimmy Hoffa.  The treasures we acquired seemed to have no limit.

This was followed up by the fair that was well attended by all the major NJ environmental groups. Interest in TU amongst male attendees seemed spotty, but, as you'll plainly see in one of the pictures, that was most likely due to Cliff's intimidating "biker gang" mustache, and secret-service-type presence

That same swagger did attract two ladies to show interest in membership though.  

You win some and you lose some.

Watch out for Cliff!!!

The clean up crew.  We had a great turnout.

There still seemed to be a good flow to the Whippany, even after so many weeks of no rain.

The business of the day.  Representing baby!  Respect!

Raritan Inn outing on October 13th!

Yes folks, we have secured the Raritan Inn's private waters for Columbus Day this year.  This is a great stretch with gi-normous fish inhabiting its pools and riffles.  Mark this on your calendar and get ready to rock.  Well have beer, food and beer as well.

Everyone who plans on attending will need to rsvp and be a member of Hacklebarney.  More to come...

A 20" brown I caught and released in the Raritan Inn waters.

Get your head in gear for the September 11th kick off meeting!

Im excited for the first meeting of the 14/15 Hacklebarney year.  Were starting off strong with Tim Flagler of Tight Line Productions.

Tim rocking a Jerry Garcia beard.

Tim runs Tight Line Productions with his wife Joan and together, they put out some of the best fly tying and fishing videos Ive ever seen.  He's caught the eye of Orvis, and can now be found as a contributer in the Orvis Fly Fishing Learning Center.

Besides being a Jersey boy, having grown up in Summit, Tim fishes the same rivers we do like the Musky and the South Branch, so you might just see him on the water.

Make sure if you make one meeting in person this year, this is the one.

Ill be there, Sam Adams in hand, enjoying the presentation.  Thats 9/11/14 at 7:30pm in Whippany gents.

Vermont

So I got up to Vermont last Saturday.  I was in the Stratton area.  Lots of water up there, not all of it good.  You drive around on the local highways and say to yourself "that this looks like a good spot, I should pull over and try it."  I did just that in the river just down from the Stratton access road.  Cold water, little green sallies coming off, decent flow, nada for my efforts.

Now Im not a pro or a guide, but I do know how to get things done.  I tried yellow sallies (I didnt have green), streamers and nymphs.  All for nothing...probably just one of those things where the river just gets low at some point and all the fish move out and I hit when it looked decent, but was barren.

Or maybe I just suck.

Anyway, I tried the famed Battenkill twice.  The first time, I fished a stretch that had the slickest bottom Ive ever experienced.  I was sliding and splashing the whole way and came away with a crap attitude.  River one, Jim nada.

The second time, I hired a guide.  Tom from Battenkill Angler.

He knew the river well and we saw fish rising.  I managed three, and lost more than double that. They were taking #18 BWOs early on and then switched to Cahills #14.  

Now, these fish were tough.  I would see them taking BWOs and then I would roll a BWO parachute over their head with a good drift and they would ignore me.  They were more selective than a country club beauty queen.

It didnt help that Tom yelled for me to set the hook and threw me off my game with a few.  Ive really been trying to count to one before setting the hook with dries, as Ben Turpin tells me all the time that I'm too quick in that department.  

Whatever, Im up for the Battenkill challenge next Summer.  

I also fished the West River.  That was pretty decent.  Some stocked bows and a really nice holdover 16" brown came to net.  From what I understand, in a typical year, the West warms up by Summer, but this year, with the cool temps it was cold with a great flow.

I had such a nice getaway, I even considered buying a place up there to ski and fish out of.  The area is close to nice water and Stratton, Bromley and Magic for skiing.  

Anyone want to go in on a house?