Montauk State Park | Trips

Trips: FATC Wingers

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The 3rd annual three-day Wing-It trip at Montauk was a resounding success….except for the single-digit arctic temperatures, snow, ice, frostbitten fingers, crowds, terrible fishing, we tried a multitude of flies that didn’t work;

  • Perdigons, brown & pink, size 18-22
  • Cerise Worm
  • Woolly Buggers, a variety of colors, sizes 8-12
  • Cracklebacks, blue & brown, sizes 12-16
  • Zebra Midges, black, red, olive, purple, sizes 16-24
  • P&P midge, sizes 16-24
  • Rs2, grey, size 20
  • Mayer’s Mini Leech Jig, brown & black,size 16
  • Barr’s Emerger, different colors, sizes 16-20
  • PMX, yellow 
  • ”Goober” Midge (see Kelly Galloup’s YouTube video on how to tie).

We tried different techniques; euro nymphing, high-sticking, stripping, drifting, swinging, dry dropper, indicators, split shots. We tried different areas of the park. Possibly could it be the water temperatures, 58 degrees at the spring and around 53 degrees throughout the park???Nothing, notta, nada worked!!!

•••••••••••••••NOT, teasing but••••••••••••••

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!🤫🤫🤭🤭

Winter fishing was hot…trout were jumping into our nets! Fellowship was even hotter. Yes, it was cold but if you dressed appropriately it was very tolerable. Plus, the trout didn’t mind the cold temperatures. Water temps were perfect for feeding trout. Flasks of bourbon kept the Winger’s warm. But, I must say some flasks were manlier than others!😆

The Wingers livedup to the wing-it trip theme. Some fished for a day, some slept in cabins, some slept on the floor, some came early, some later. Thank you Montauk Cabins for your hospitality. But, all enjoyed the fellowship! The FATC Wingers that made the trip were Steve Baker, Harold Bates, Mike Bisaga, Will Black and his son Drew, Jason Edwards, & Mike Oldani. Steve Baker said it best with a follow up to all the Wingers “Had a great time on the wing-it trip.” A side note, when you see Harold ask him who brought the potato chips!?! LOL😜

Think about joining us next year on the wing-it trip. You can become a Winger and enjoy no crowds, great fishing, awesome fellowship, delicious food & beverages and possibly a raging campfire! Don’t let Winter deter you from fishing. Have a wing-it mentality and get on the water. We had a blast!

Another side note…the clever name of Wingers designated by Dan Staggenborg to the participants on the wing-it trip last year. The name has stuck to this trip.

Tight lines!

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