Falling Springs and Conococheague, 05/23/23

Jim and Betty met me at my house just before 8am and we fished to just before 4PM. The weather was spot on. It was sunny, calm and warmed from 58 to 77 degrees. They were still both fairly new and had only been out once this year and none at all the year before. They wanted to learn how to fish the spring creeks and I suggested a casting lesson first but their enthusiasm had them thinking the stream. So we hit Falling Springs first. It was clear and 54 degrees. There were midges, craneflies and tan and black caddis hatching however only seen 1 rising trout. Here I taught them how to fish nymphs off indicators with simple little roll cast along with mending techniques. They did not do all that bad. Jim missed 4 and had a high teen rainbow hook and landed one rainbow. Betty missed 5 and landed two rainbows. Was a darn good start. We then ate a lunch that I prepared and then we hit the “Jig from noon to 2:30PM. The stream is stained, 56 and plenty of surface activity. Jim tried dries, but switched back to nymphs. I still had Betty working on another nymphing technique but switched her to a crash course in dry fly fishing. We had three nice browns that took dry offerings. Then we finally did the casting lesson and within 30 minutes I broke their bad habits. Betty joking said to me, “Should have done the casting lesson sooner. They had a great time as well as I. They are already planning two more trips with me. Fishing is “Red Hot” and the last week of May dates and June will fill quick.