Four of us floated in our PWCs from Swift Creek to Rockport (3 miles) yesterday in the pouring rain and were skunked. We only saw two Chums jump. There was no one else on the river. Maybe is was just a poor day; maybe the fish are farther up the river now. Still, it was good to be on the river and see the good water there is to fish. This stretch is definitely worth floating again.

Long time listener, first time caller - I'm fairly new to the stillwater game, but with the pandemic upon us I decided to spend some time this winter figuring out the Island's lakes. To that end, over Thanksgiving weekend I took my float tube out to recently stocked Cranberry Lake and ended up having a pretty good day. Since WDFW has been stocking Cranberry Lake a lot this month (from WDFW website: 11/3 - 500 rainbow trout; 11/4 - 1,000; 11/5 - 500; and 11/22 - 2,000) the odds looked promising for this stillwater novice. Also, since the word was obviously out on the stocking schedule, I definitely wasn't alone on the lake (I didn't count, but I would guess around 15 other PWCs milling about and a lot of folks fishing from the shore), but there was plenty of space for everyone. I brought along two rods, one strung with a floating line and one with an old full sink line. The floater with a Woolly Bugger along the banks was fruitless (but in all honesty, I didn't expect much since I was there in the middle of the day, however I thought it might be worthwhile for a bit). After 30-min or so of flogging the banks, rootballs, and downed trees, I moved to deeper water and tried my 6wt with a full sink line. I used a large'ish white beadhead leach pattern and smaller black Woolly Bugger. I had some action on the leach, but both fish came unbuttoned pretty quickly. The smaller Woolly Bugger proved more successful and I ended the day with four nice 12-16 inch fish netted and another two lost (for those keeping score at home: 4 for 8 for the day). While I was feeling pretty good about myself, I couldn't help but notice an older fly fishing couple in an anchored green john boat that were catching fish left-and-right the entire time I was out there. I didn't see an indicator/bobber on their lines, but based on the way they were casting, I suspect they were practicing some variety of chironomid black magic (long leaders and only a single back cast)...I guess I have some homework to do!?!? Anyhow, after about three hours I decided to call it a day after I lost all sense for feeling in my feet! All in all, a good day!

I just watched a great fly fishing documentary about fishing in the Catskills with emphasis on the people who make it great - guides, fly shop owners, fly tyers, etc. If you have an Amazon Prime account you can watch it free - Watch Land Of Little Rivers | Prime Video (amazon.com) . If you don't have a Prime account check out Land of Little Rivers – A documentary fly fishing film for other options. Bob