A new lake! When your usual fishing spots, or lakes just don't seem to be fishing as they used to you have 2 options: 1) Find another location. Or 2) Figure out what the heck is going on.
In the past few weeks the lake on which I learned to fly fish still water has caused me much frustration. It has been very productive lake in the past, but as any lake always required some adaptation in fly presentation. However, this year it has been a struggle to catch fish in this lake. Never before had I gone longer than an hour without catching a fish, usually no more than 20 min.
Even the signs haven't been good. Ideal conditions, hatches coming off, and almost no fish rising. A creepy sight to behold when in the past it seemed as if there were always fish rising regardless of conditions.
I decided to try to find a new lake, while continuing to ponder what to do about my old fishing hole. So, off I went, rumours of a walk-in lake lead me up an old mountain road with my GPS, float tube, fly fishing gear and a roll of flagging tape.
Once I'd figured out where the road was nearest to the lake I parked the truck and walked in to mark a trail and make sure I could get in and out with my float tube. To my surprise, it was a very easy walk in and only about 150m off the road through the forest (albeit in an area I'd sighted Grizzlies previously). I made my way back to the truck, geared up and headed in.
In was a beautiful little lake and produced nearly a fish per cast near the small creek flowing in. Although they ranged in size from 6 to 10 inches, it was still a blast on the 4 weight. It was next to impossible to count to 3 after your fly landed on the water before you had a fish take it. After a couple hours playing with these wild rainbows 120m away from a feeding cow and calf moose, I decided to move on to another lake. But which one?
I had about 8 to choose from, but had a gut feeling about my usual lake. Previously I had been fishing it from 7 to 9ish and leaving because the fishing was rubbish. It was 8:30 pm when I arrived and being this far north I still had at least 3 hours of good light to fish. I decided to give it a try.
I carried my boat down to the edge of the lake and scanned the water. Saw 2 rises in one corner, so I decided to troll a fly in that direction. 30 minutes later I'd only seen 2 more rises and had no bites. It was mind boggling. But almost as if someone turned on a switch at about 9:15 pm the fish began to move cruising just below the surface sipping hatching insects as they went.
I made my way to my usual corner of the lake and decided to take full advantage of the situation. I tied on a small frog imitation and started hunting. I singled out one fish cruising near a patch of lily pads, stealthily put myself within casting distance, and launched my little frog about 8 feet away from him. All it took was 3 strips and FISH ON! A nice little 14 inch Rainbow trout was the first one to the boat. Oh, it was on!
I spent the next hour plus singling out fish and hunting them down with that little frog. The biggest was a 19 inch Cut Throat.
Persistence was key however. Some fish I cast to up to 8 times before they took the fly. What surprised me was not that they went for the frog, they love the frog, but that night they did not miss that frog! They engulfed it like they wanted it. Several fish later it was after 11 and getting dark. Piles of fish still rising, but not interested in the frog. I could have taken them with a small Caddis, or Parachute Adams, but I just had better froggin' than I'd ever dreamt of.
Never had I had so much fun with a frog and a 4 weight.
In the past few weeks the lake on which I learned to fly fish still water has caused me much frustration. It has been very productive lake in the past, but as any lake always required some adaptation in fly presentation. However, this year it has been a struggle to catch fish in this lake. Never before had I gone longer than an hour without catching a fish, usually no more than 20 min.
Even the signs haven't been good. Ideal conditions, hatches coming off, and almost no fish rising. A creepy sight to behold when in the past it seemed as if there were always fish rising regardless of conditions.
I decided to try to find a new lake, while continuing to ponder what to do about my old fishing hole. So, off I went, rumours of a walk-in lake lead me up an old mountain road with my GPS, float tube, fly fishing gear and a roll of flagging tape.
Once I'd figured out where the road was nearest to the lake I parked the truck and walked in to mark a trail and make sure I could get in and out with my float tube. To my surprise, it was a very easy walk in and only about 150m off the road through the forest (albeit in an area I'd sighted Grizzlies previously). I made my way back to the truck, geared up and headed in.
In was a beautiful little lake and produced nearly a fish per cast near the small creek flowing in. Although they ranged in size from 6 to 10 inches, it was still a blast on the 4 weight. It was next to impossible to count to 3 after your fly landed on the water before you had a fish take it. After a couple hours playing with these wild rainbows 120m away from a feeding cow and calf moose, I decided to move on to another lake. But which one?
I had about 8 to choose from, but had a gut feeling about my usual lake. Previously I had been fishing it from 7 to 9ish and leaving because the fishing was rubbish. It was 8:30 pm when I arrived and being this far north I still had at least 3 hours of good light to fish. I decided to give it a try.
I carried my boat down to the edge of the lake and scanned the water. Saw 2 rises in one corner, so I decided to troll a fly in that direction. 30 minutes later I'd only seen 2 more rises and had no bites. It was mind boggling. But almost as if someone turned on a switch at about 9:15 pm the fish began to move cruising just below the surface sipping hatching insects as they went.
I made my way to my usual corner of the lake and decided to take full advantage of the situation. I tied on a small frog imitation and started hunting. I singled out one fish cruising near a patch of lily pads, stealthily put myself within casting distance, and launched my little frog about 8 feet away from him. All it took was 3 strips and FISH ON! A nice little 14 inch Rainbow trout was the first one to the boat. Oh, it was on!
I spent the next hour plus singling out fish and hunting them down with that little frog. The biggest was a 19 inch Cut Throat.
Persistence was key however. Some fish I cast to up to 8 times before they took the fly. What surprised me was not that they went for the frog, they love the frog, but that night they did not miss that frog! They engulfed it like they wanted it. Several fish later it was after 11 and getting dark. Piles of fish still rising, but not interested in the frog. I could have taken them with a small Caddis, or Parachute Adams, but I just had better froggin' than I'd ever dreamt of.
Never had I had so much fun with a frog and a 4 weight.
16 inch Cut-Throat with the Cut-Throat Croaker in it's mouth.
The original proto-type.
