[philmont] fishing gear

I'm not a fisherman, but I have made a few casts at the Ranch. It's a fun afternoon even if all you do is spook the little critters.

Fly fishing seems to be the norm here. Others may be able to flesh out the lore of spinner baits, plugs, etc. Your boys will want the lightest SHORTEST kit they can get. The ranch waters are very compact, and have shrubs and stuff overhanging. A long pole will just get the hook tangled in stuff. Precise placement in tight spaces will be the key, not long casts.

Ability to pack it for the plane, train or bus is also a consideration. Or ship it to the Ranch.

Although the Rayado and the Agua Fria are the well known streams, don't overlook the others. They do have trout. I'm thinking particularly of the North Fork Urraca, Cimmaroncito creek and reservoir, and the Ponil Creeks. The Rayado probably has trout from Rayado camp up to Clear Creek. Crooked Creek may have trout. It's not only where "fly tying and fishing" are on the program.

I think the rule at Fish Camp is catch and release. I don't know the rules elsewhere, nor if those rules are relaxed (as they usually seem to be) for Autumn Adventure, although I have inquired. The AA guides didn't even seem to know. It was not put to the test, due to my lack of angling success.

In 1970, I did catch a couple in the North Ponil Creek with grasshoppers on a hook with sewing thread tied to a stick. Maybe not sporting, but it worked.

Licenses for the youth are very reasonable. For the adults, it is good that they can be purchased in the backcountry (not for AAdventure, where TOT traders is the only source). The reason I say this is that the State of New Mexico will not allow you to pay for a permit on Sunday that does not go into effect until Wednesday, for example. It starts the day you pay for it, whether or not you are several days from a trout stream. Adult licenses are for 5 days (see the guidebook for adventure for the accurate skinny-I'm just going from memory).

To sum up in a few words, the shorter the pole, the better, for the Ranch waters. And if the line on the map is blue, it probably holds trout.

Bill Sheehan, ASM
Troop 55, Pitman, NJ
Philmont '70,'72, Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05

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Received on Fri Apr 6 13:05:33 2007