We scheduled a graduation trip on Saturday so that John Wienstroer and many others that work during the week could have to opportunity to fish this winter with their fellowship. Well, this Saturday trip was the “most attended” trip of all time (I think). Nineteen FATC members descended on Montauk State Park to celebrate with John and to hunt the elusive rainbow trout. Let’s see if I can name everyone on the trip and not forget anyone (I apologize if I do). So, along with John were Steve Baker, Don Varner, Al Harper, Bob Hassett, Glenn Haake, Jim Craig, Bill Keenum, Derrik Kassebaum, Mike Bisaga, Al Blair, Scott Dougherty, Roy Stueber, Jeff Blevins, Tim Welsh, Mike Enger (came up from Arkansas), Raul Vargas, Vernon Preston, and me – Kenny Klimes. Dat be nineteen fly fishers and we took over the park. But it was not crowded, even with all of our guys. And best of all – we had fun and caught fish!
John Wienstroer is the ninth graduate from the 2022 Fall FATC fly fishing class. Like I said before this class is becoming the “best class ever”. John and Kenny headed to an open spot just downstream from the boulder in Montauk to cast and practice several techniques – stripping streamers, swinging smaller flies, dead drifting and high sticking. John did well and missed a few trout but mostly the trout seemed like they didn’t want to participate as usual. After about a couple of hours of practicing, we headed back for lunch to see how the others did in the morning. As always, some guys did well in the morning but others struggled. Of course we were all fishing throughout the park in different locations. A recent rain had the waters slightly cloudy and a little higher than normal. But the afternoon seemed to turn on for many.
John and I went up to the top of the spring as we normally do so that John, who has only been to Montauk a few times, can see the entire fly fishing only area. Some of the guys went far downstream below the bridge and some even behind the lodge. Remember the entire park is open to fly fishing only until February 14th when it closes for two weeks. Try other areas, just do not fish downstream of the handicap ramp in the campground. That’s off limits!
John caught several fish after lunch mostly on a midge larva pattern. It was his first fish where he caught me “off guard” which as you know is extremely hard to do. As John’s first catch of the day struggled in the net. John looked at me with what I can best describe as a look of shock and embarrassment. He said, “Kenny, I forgot my fish gloves in the car and I need them because I can’t touch fish!” At first I thought what the heck is he talking about. But he explained to me that even as a kid he couldn’t touch fish – something to do with the slime and feel of a live fish. Now I didn’t know what to do because I wanted a picture of him holding his “graduation” fish. Soon the shock/embarrassed look turned to a smile and I realized that I been HAD!!. Yes, we got that picture and several others. We did use other flies with some acting as attractors but the trout eventually took the smaller midge pattern. Others did well on the crackle back, wooly bugger, hare’s ear, midge patterns, soft hackle and more.
We stopped fishing at the siren (4pm) gathered at the parking lot and picked a place to eat. Wanting to eat early and before the Saturday night crowds rolled in we headed to Salem to have Mexican food. Arriving at 5pm, the Arandas’ restaurant accommodated us by pushing four tables together. What a great way to fellowship – 18 guys (Mike Enger couldn’t make it as he headed back to Arkansas) breaking bread together. Bragging and laughter filled the restaurant. Congrats to John for graduating – but he did have me going there for a few minutes with his “I don’t touch fish “ story!
