S8, Ep 41: Offbeat Seasons and Terrestrial Tactics: Mac Brown's Fishing Strategies

Hey folks, it's Marvin Cash, the host of The Articulate Fly. And we're back with another Casting Angles with the man himself, Mac Brown.Mac, how are you doing?

I'm doing great. How are you doing, Marvin?

Just trying to stay out of trouble. It's, it's interesting, right? You know, it's two worlds. You're sitting in 70 degree rain all day over in western North Carolina.And we're up here in the 90s with a chance of a little bit of rainfall later today here in Charlotte.

Yeah, we're, we're thankful for all this rain today. And you know, it's been hot and clear the past week, so it's kind of nice to get some.It was starting to get pretty dry again, so I'm kind of glad it's getting all this moisture for the, for all the plants make, makes all the vegetation and water levels cool down a little bit. It's going to help us out.

Yeah, absolutely. You know, and it's kind of funny, right? So, you know, the big, big DH day was last Saturday.So, you know, those fish are, a lot of them are gone and been cooked, as they like to say. We're in the cornmeal overcoat. So, you know, that also signals kind of the shift and the kind of the more technical summer fishing.But also too, we were talking before we started recording that, you know, everybody on the Eastern Seaboard, given the weather, had kind of a wonky spring where things were out of sequence and things were early. And it shouldn't surprise people if they see that translate into their life on the water in the summer.

That's right. Yeah. A lot of the things that have gone on here is definitely several months off right now.So, you know, here it is the first of June, and we're already looking at, you know, fishing stuff that we'd normally fish like terrestrials in late July, August, you know, for this time of year. Because we've been using a lot of the more terrestrial game here the past few weeks and yeah, so I think it's happening everywhere here.I mean, whether you're on a freestone or the Tuckaseegee or Nantahala, I don't really care where you go. It's just everything's kind of off the same thing with the hatches that we did see back in the spring.You know, everything's like coming off at weird times.

Yeah.And so, you know, obviously, you know, in the summertime you switch to the terrestrials because that's kind of what's in the system and that's kind of what the fish key in on.But also too, if you kind of think of a normal kind of hatch progression, you know, the hatches are in the spring and they diminish in frequency and size as we move into the summertime. And so what ends up happening, quite honestly, is you have less biomass in the river.So that's kind of one of the reasons why, you know, you've got that terrestrial game.But also too, while you and I were talking about this also before we started recording, you need to think about like, like fall winter tactics when you fish, when there's less biomass in the water. Right?

That's right, yeah. And just relying more on the things that are happening.Like, I did a big hike yesterday up towards Clingman's from the house, just hiking, you know, and I saw like 30 big green worms falling out of the tree branches that were like falling right into the trail. I walked through several of them. You know, the little silk line that they come out of the tree with.And so definitely the inchworm game is on already. I mean, normally that's a July, August, September thing and we're, we're already seeing it in full force.And I think that's also from the type of weather we've had the past six, you know, five months here. So, so yeah, the, the biomass, as it gets low, they're going to depend more and more on terrestrial game.And I mean, I love the terrestrial game, so I don't, I'm not complaining. I just assume throw a flying at this time of year as anybody.So I mean, that's the kind of stuff though that we're doing a lot, which is it just kind of shifts everything to go on the, go on the water and think, you know, several months down the road.

Yeah. And so it's interesting. Right. So, you know, we see kind of an acceleration in bug activity this year.Are you seeing the same thing kind of on the bait fish front? You know, did those hatches come off earlier, so the fry are at a larger size than they would normally be this time of year?Or do you think that's kind of more on a traditional pattern?

Um, yeah, I think it's probably more on the, on the traditional pattern, if I had to guess. Cause I've seen, I've seen a lot of the fry from over winter and I've seen a lot of the, you know, this, this time of year.You know, the way you can really tell it is like July, August, you start to see a lot of dace and creek chub and things like that. That's how you can tell what we're talking about in biomass is we're seeing those species of fish already in early June, you know what I mean?I mean, even though there's a lot of trout in there, those other fish species will start, you know, you'll go out and you'll be throwing terrestrials and things and you're catching, you know, Chub Creek Chub 7, 8 inches, you'll see dace. I mean, then you'll every now and then you'll get a trout and then you're back to a dace.And it's like, normally that would happen a lot up in middle of July and here it is the first week of June and we're seeing it still. So I mean, this early, so that kind of tells you the, the answer with seeing those types of fish. And it's moved up, you know, that much already.So hopefully, hopefully we keep getting these rains and it'll, it'll stay good. You know, it's just hard to predict, you know, when people call and say, Marvin, what do you think it's going to be in July?Well, I don't know what July is going to bring. I mean, it's hard to predict the next week, much less a month. So I don't know.But that's one of the classic things people always will ask you, you know, and that makes it tricky.So what I did, there's a new page up there on the site, Marvin, that'll help people and it gives a live fishing report and then you can check water temp, cfs. It'll tell you all the stuff that's coming off and what we're actually fishing as we go every day.So that might be beneficial to some of them listening.

Yeah. And so I would say, folks also come back to first principles, right. So, you know, you know, use your eyes.Like Mac says, if you see inchworms dropping out of the trees and you see beetles and ants, you should fish them. But then also too understand that we're probably maybe 60 days ahead of where we normally are.So kind of, you know, add 60 days to whatever date you get on the water. Those would be kind of two things I think you should do to kind of, kind of help you out, right?

Oh, yeah, yeah. Just paying attention. Observation is so key. You know, getting somewhere and looking around, that takes a lot of discipline, I think.You know, you hear a lot of people talk about that for years. I remember several of the seminars years ago when I was just a Kid watching, like, Whitlock and a lot of my heroes on the road. Like, it shows.You know, when I was young, I'd go listen to these people speak, you know, they'd emphasize and emphasize. And I was more. More in the school of hit the water and go, you know, at that age. But, I mean, the older I get, I really do think there's a.There was a whole lot of wisdom of what those guys were preaching back then. And I guess that I appreciate it a lot more, you know, paying attention to Looking more first, you know, and just paying attention to that.I remember at Nantahala years ago, when I lived out there in Wesser.Wesser Creek, right above the outdoor center, that'd be the first thing I'd do because I fished that pretty regular every night right in back of the store where Silver Mine Creek would pour into the Nantahala. And they have all those lights in the back of the store.And so all you had to do, there's hundreds of spider webs below the, you know, the deck there at the store. Then I see. So you just get out there and you look at the spider web and there's your answer.You study that first, walk around, pay attention to that, and you already know what's going on, and that's probably what you want to imitate. And. Yeah, so it took a while for.You know, when I look back at, over the decades of doing this, of how that starts to creep into your, I guess, your habits, you know what I mean? The habits of what you regularly do. Instead of just rig up and start going, then it.You start seeing the dividends pay off bigger and bigger by using those habits when you go.

Yeah, I mean, for sure. I mean, I would. As I always say, you know, consistent process gets you consistent results.

Yeah, Yeah. I like process. I know you like process a lot, Marvin. So, yeah, process is just like.I don't know any other way to do it except keep thinking about, try to develop a little more efficient process that leads to the result where you're trying to get to.And the more times you, you know, see that happen and you're moving forward instead of taking a step backwards, then I think it starts to become deeper and deeper, ingrained, you know?

Yeah. So, folks, hopefully those are some tips. As, you know, we kind of, you know, schools out, people are traveling and fishing.Maybe he'll help you, maybe tilt the odds a little bit in your favor. And, you know, Mac, even though DH Is gone, you're still running guide trips.You know, you've got some I guess subject matter like weekends and you've got casting lessons you want to let folks know how book any of those things and how to get in touch and all that kind of good stuff.

Yeah but the best way is really go on the website we spent a lot of time on that the past couple ofweeks and macbrownflyfish.com or flyfishingguideschool.com and they've been revamped and they're all up and running so yeah that's a lot easier to navigate than what I had up there before you know so that's why I spent all this last few weeks kind of playing with that in between trips and staying up late nights and but it's pretty self explanatory I think when they get on that they'll know exactly what they're interested in to navigate know yeah absolutely.

Well listen folks as I always say yo it to yourself to get out there and catch a few tight lines everybody. Tight lines Mac.

Tight lines Marvin.