Trip Report: Persistance

Got out fishin' today for a few hours after work. First I hit a spot that I did well at last fall. The water was so low and unbelievably clear that I had trouble sneaking up on the fishes. I saw at least a hundred fish but they'd scatter at my presence. I manage to catch three little brown trout at this spot before deciding to try a low numbers, big fish stream on the way home. I fished my way upstream finding no fish and no signs of fish. There was a strong midge hatch, maybe size 24, but I didn't see a single fish rise. I was hoping to spot some Blue Winged Olive (BWO) but there were none. I was ready to turn around, fishless, but decided to fish just one more hole. I caught a little brown on my first cast and on my second hooked into something more sizeable. 

He put up a great fight on my home built 7'6'' but after a few tense moments where he dove for cover he came to hand. Not to test fate I decided to leave after this fish. He made the trip worth it!

I've learned a few new things after building the last rod and now I'm itching to build another. I'm thinking about building a 5wt for bass, pike, and hucking hoppers into the wind. I'd like to do another short 3wt with the new techniques I've learned...and I'd like to do a 2wt, and a 4wt, and a 6wt etc!!!

Tying, Fishing, and Rod Building

Over the last week I tied a few hundred dollars worth of flies. Hopefully they fly off the shelf so I can put more money toward another fly rod build!

 I caught lots of flies on this pattern, the Stripped Quill Midge Emerger. The flies pictured on the bottom are size 24's! I haven't gotten out fishing much lately but yesterday afternoon I ran into a midge hatch on local trout stream. The midges coming off were no bigger than a 24. I tied one of the Emergers on and managed to hook into a few while flogging the water with my cheap line.

This was easily the best fish of my short outing. I watched a really nice brown make a b-line toward the fly before he swung and missed. The water in this area is running low and very clear. With warmer temperatures and a few rain events runoff will pick up making fishing really good!

I found a few cool rocks too. I'll have to keep my eyes at my feet any time I'm not casting. I did manage to work on my second fly rod build a little bit this weekend also. No pictures yet but it turned out better than my first attempt!

Trip Report: First Fly Rod Build Success

Last week I purchased a 7'6" 3 wt. fast action fly rod blank, rod components, some thread, and some epoxy with the hope of finding an inexpensive way to expand my arsenal of fly rods. The materials totaled $80.00 and it took some time researching on the web to make sure I had all I needed. The only big mistake I made was purchasing a reel seat that was designed kinda funky but I glued a Canadian quarter to cover the end and everything is fine! Also I used two colors of thread and for some reason the epoxy dried funny on the brown wraps.

 Notice the quarter on the bottom end of the rod! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out considering the price and the speed with which I was able to complete it. Next I want to do a heavier weighted rod, maybe 6 wt for fishing with streamers. I finished the rod last night and couldn't wait to get out fishing! After work today I rigged up the homespun 3 wt and headed to a nearby stream. I started by fishing a heavy nymph through the riffles. That produced a few small browns. I rigged a little deeper and hooked into this guy.

He put up a great fight on the lighter rod requiring me to chase him around 50 feet down stream. After a few leaps for freedom I was able to scoop him into the net. 

 These pictures don't quite do these fish justice! They both came after I switched to a sz 24 zebra midge emerger. These flies were tied bigger on the hook so they appear as a size 20 would. Midges actively rose any time the sun peaked out from behind the clouds.

 I was impressed with the rods ability to handle such strong fish while so gently delivering the fly to the water. Casting was smooth and the rod had good backbone. Building the rod was way easier than I expected and it performed beyond my expectations!

Trip Report: A Quick Hour

Yesterday I went out for a quick half hour with my 3wt rod rigged with a long and light leader. I tied on a small silver streamer and immediately lost the fly to a decent sized brown. I rigged up again with a small gray streamer and after a few casts I felt a very brief bump and again, no fly! This time I saw a big 'ol mouth open and a huge flash. After missing this fish it didn't feel like I did anything wrong but more like my 3wt was outmatched for such chunky and aggressive fish. So last night I tied up some black leechy sculpiny pattern and decided to head out today after work.

I scooped up the wife after work and headed to a stream only 10 minutes from home. After taking a few casts with no results I started to get discouraged, however remembering that streamer fishing usually yields fewer but larger fish. I continued by casting at the most likely lies before hooking into this guy in a shallow run.

This guy sucked the fly down pretty good but it was no problem gently backing it out of his gullet. We turned around and headed home after this leaving me wanting more! Stay tuned: I hope to get out for a few hours after work tomorrow.

Trip Report: Spring Hike

With the beautiful weather we have had lately I've been itching to get out fishing again. Today was the day. My first choice was a larger spring creek that's close by. Water levels were higher than they've been for a while and visibility varied throughout the day and by location. I hopped in the car and checked out a few new spots on this stream before heading to a spot I've been dreaming about since fall.

I followed footprints until just before this spot. I caught a few fish before this point but things turned on when I found fish that haven't seen a fly for perhaps a year. I really enjoy fishing along the cliffs.

This chunky brownie came on a pink squirrel of prey with a tungsten bead. He came just after I fought a nice (18-19") to hand. I held the 6x tippet between my fingers while trying to get my camera out and he flopped, snapping the line. I was frustrated but this pretty fish made it hurt less. I also caught a nice one but he flopped out of my hand before I could snap a pic.

 I found fish holding in deep runs, pools, and at the head of a few of the deepest runs. Most came on the pink squirrel of prey but I busted out the tungsten cone headed streamer and got a few to chase it.

 This guy pulled hard but was no match for my Okuma fly rod. I didn't spot any eagles today but the scenery was spectacular. 

Although visibility wasn't great the stream turned a chalky greenish color that reminded me of the Flathead River in Montana. 

I hiked in 20 minutes before I started fishing. I checked the time before beginning my death march back to the car and found it took 1 1/2 hrs. I would guess I hiked at least 6 miles in and out.

Trip Report: Another Slow Day

Today I got out early to fish a nearby stream that is well known for its big browns, stocked bows, and heritage strain brook trout. I drove to the headwaters passing miles of great looking water on the way. I spotted four bald eagles through the windshield and two more while out fishing!

Got a few blurry pics of him as he flew higher and higher. After rigging up with snowshoes I tied on the pink squirrel of prey and began fishin'. Just like yesterday I caught a fish on the first cast!

Three small browns followed this one to hand. I chose this spot because I thought there was a chance I'd tie into a brookie but after catching a half dozen tiny browns and three ok ones I decided to move on. After fishing to the end of the easement with little to show for my efforts I headed to a spot a little further down stream. I saw fish surfacing intermittently as I approached the stream. I found a few tiny Blue Winged Olive mayflies on the snow so I tied on a sz 20 CDC BWO emerger and began casting.

This was the ticket! I didn't catch anything over 12 inches but had fun pulling in another half dozen browns on small dries. I also managed to catch another two on an olive stripped quill zebra midge. After fishing the entirety of this small easement section I drove to an "urban" stream. I tried fishing heavy nymphs and streamers but only saw a few smaller fish flash. Hopefully as the weather improves so will the fishing.

Trip Report: Not Quite March Madness

Temperatures read in the low 30's as I drove to a low clear spring creek a few miles from my house. I spotted this eagle while driving and pulled over to snap a few pics. I pulled up to the bridge hoping to see a slight stain in the water but the stream was crystal clear. I strapped on my snowshoes and tromped through the snow to the stream.

I tied on the pink squirrel of pray and tossed it in. I set the fly to scrape the bottom so when my indicator bounced a little I thought it was probably the stream bed. I set the hook expecting little more than a snag and wound up with my first fish of the day!

I figured a first cast fish could be a good sign, but it could be a bad omen. I managed to catch a few more but the fishing was slower than I hoped for. I changed my fly often today and managed to catch at least one fish on each of a midge emerger, parachute adams, pink squirrel of prey, and zebra midge.

The deep, wet snow stuck to my snowshoes making travel difficult. I returned to the car after four hours on the stream with sore hips, knees, and lower back. I couldn't really pin down a good location to target the fish with all coming from random spots. I also didn't see many fish spook. Temps will be rising steadily to reach the mid 50's early next week.

Some Productive Days on the Vise

The title says it all, but I added pictures to further illustrate the point.

 I've never really used ants but I hear they work good. The only time I saw flying ants on the stream they looked like these.

 The fly on the left is a gray Extended Body Mayfly. The one on the right is the same pattern but smaller (sz 20) and black. I call this one the Extended Body Trico.

I've never used the Pheasant Tail fly much but these sz 18's should do the trick. I hate tying these things but by the end they started looking pretty good. By the end of spring I hope to have a bunch tied the same size but without a bead head.

 

I've tied a load of these Sz 18 Stripped Quill Zebra Midge Emergers on a Sz 24 curved Caddis hook. For the last month pretty much any time I've cast to a rising fish and gotten a good drift I've been able to hook 'em on these.

 This Purple Hazey-Ish dry fly should do the trick throughout the summer when the fish are rising to nothing specific. I know, a lot of tying lately but with temps forecast to hit 40 tomorrow and Sunday I'm gonna go fishing!

PS if anyone would like a How-To on any of these patterns just lemme know.