A warm Fall day. The crowds gone. Rustling reeds, a brush of warm breeze across the face. Anticipation for the take. No one around. Like your own private lake with a cabin on the hill in the distance amongst the Ponderosa. Bliss!
Archive for the 'Lakes & Reservoirs' Category
06
Jan
12
Longing for……………
My son, Tony, enjoying 'the moment' with an East Lake (Oregon) fish.
I came upon this old pic of one of my sons on East Lake. I have to say I am as partial to the puzzle of a lake as to dissecting a stream or river. A few observations about the above pic: Tony has two rods out on the lake. The one being used, carries a floating line and the second rod appears to have a clear Intermediate line. You will more often than not see him working the surface and just below with the floating line, where as I almost always stay with the Intermediate.
The pontoon sports 7′ composite oars by Buck’s Bags (maker of the pontoon boat). The ‘toons come with 6′ silver oars that are adequate but for pulling across big lakes, the longer, heavier oars are hard to beat.
He also has an anchor rigged up. Not the commercial set ups that are available and probably fine, but instead a bucket in back carries a 5# pryamid anchor attached to a poly rope. When the wind really kicks up and one wants to stay in the zone without kicking, the anchor on 40′ of rope provides a secure contact point with the bottom. We have rolled and bobbed through many 1-2 foot rollers in fairly secure fashion and haven’t hung up yet.
The vessel has larger than factory issue side pouches for storing gear. This better facilitates storing larger gear like clothing and too many fly boxes, water bottles, floatation device. The factory standard cargo pouches are not too bad but I prefer the larger ones for all day outings far from camp or the rig.
There are some reflective tape dots on the back of the seat for all the good it might do to assist speed boats moving across a lake at last light back to the ramp.
Lastly, while playing a fish, a large fish, be careful with that tip dipping down and back under the boat. Make sure, in advance that the drag is loose, not tight and be prepared as it runs to play stripped in line up through the guides in a gentle but yielding way to get the fish onto the reel. If the reel’s drag stays too tight and the fish surges as in the pic, you could suddenly have a broken rod tip.
Now none of that had anything to do with the usual what, where and how considerations of presentation. But, I noticed the pic and decided to note those things we all do to our gear, boat, pontoon, float tube that add that little extra degree of hoped for efficiency.
Like this:
Lake Lahotan (Western Nevada) the Salton Sea set in the green basin of Southern California now
There is some interesting history about ancient lakes that dried up over the course of thousands of years. Currently, the Salton Sea, Aral Sea, Mono Lake are examples of lakes that are reportedly shrinking and providing alarming concerns about the man made and natural chemical’s airborne dust possibly causing illness and cancer risks. I am hesitant to use the might’s, could’s and maybe’s re eco disaster. But, there are some substantive studies in Russia re the Aral Sea (which was the fourth biggest lake in the world…no more) and cancers/birth defects. Of particular importance here, is the Salton Sea. Lake Lahotan was a different story but equally fascinating. (Also, see Land Art) (Salton Sea & Dust/Wind Pollutants)
03
Sep
11
Yellow Water Lily Umbrellas
A Yellow Water Lily on a late Summer afternoon on an Oregon lake. Big trout cruised beneath, toward the reeds, looking for those emerging damsels and dragons.
I escaped before the Labor Day weekend to get a little solitude and renewal. Folks were out in abundance and the banjo’s were playing the twangy sounds. I wasn’t too concerned as I was lost in my reverie. I fished and caught my share. I enjoyed the pattern puzzle, the weather was perfect (not too hot; a mild, cool breeze that produced a riffled chop to the surface). Hatches were consistent and continuous offerings of damsels, dragons, midges and a few Callibaetis spinners. Also, there was a nice flurry of longhorn sedges.
First fish of the day to a Little Fort Leech.
For the most part, I excluded the current challenges in my life and was absorbed in the moment. The moment included certain segments of our society that need to assert their sphere of perceived influence via cussing, long kerplunking casts (heavy sinkers and spinners…seriously even I know how to rig a lighter slip sinker, treble hook and PBait) and dirty looks coupled with head shakes. I was so mellow, I didn’t get too uptight. I did not let anything get to me on the water. But, it is tempting…..
I ran the gamut of black, green, brown, mottled colored Woolly Buggers to start searching with, while I looked about for signs of insect life. In the end, it was black, black and black with a dash of red Buggers. Sunken caddis pupa patterns stripped to the top near the drop off produced some savage strikes (about that: when you do have those savage strikes…check your tippet! Somehow, I continued to fish on sans fly for several minutes in the midst of a perfect FF scenario…only when I decided to change flies, because of a lack of hits, did I notice the reason the hits had stopped…no fly!).
September & October loom: less crowds, steelhead marching toward Sherar’s Falls (Deschutes R.), lakes still inviting, October Caddis starting soon.
Streamer Presentation Techniques
The reality on many streams and lakes is that ‘baitfish’ imitations account for many large fish. Probably, in many instances, streamers account for more trophy fish than the traditional fly patterns. That said, many anglers don’t have a streamer pattern in their boxes or forget where they are. So, a good over view of how to fish a streamer, particularly on a river is in order. There is more to it than the wet fly swing/strip it back presentation. I have an assortment of Muddler’s, Spruce Flies and, of course, Woolly Buggers in my streamer box. Do I fish them enough…nope.
I am not even sure anymore of all the methods used to put hatchery trout into lakes. I do see the occasional tanker truck back up to a boat ramp and shoot out hundreds of assorted sized fish. I recall seeing a plane bomb a lake in the Wallowa’s Eagle Cap Wilderness almost 40 years ago with brook trout. And, I know a man that use to pull a string of pack mules into Cascade lakes in the 50′s with tin containers of small trout. These methods for putting in hatchery trout are still used in parts of the country. But, given the economic times and fuel costs (helicopters/planes/tankers), I know there is an old fashioned way being used these days.
A friend and supporter of SwittersB is participating in a ‘backpack the fish in’ exercise in Oregon this weekend. An old, large compartment framed pack is called for. From there an ODFW worker inserts a durable plastic container and the fish and enough water are introduced to the pack’s compartment to sustain the fish. A 6 mile hike into a nearby lake is the target. Stout legs going in and a light load coming out. What could be better. Check your local fishery programs for similar outings where the put ‘n take trout are stocked and not adversely effecting native species through escapement.
Here is an except from the Eugene Register Guard in July, 2010 about the program: ”About 150 other volunteers did the same, keeping up a nearly 30-year tradition of volunteers — usually the anglers themselves — stocking the high lakes they love, or at least the lakes they’ve always wanted see.
It began at 9 a.m. on July 17 at Oakridge’s fish hatchery, which sits just off Salmon Creek, near the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. First Roberts and Gore met Erik Moberly, the ODFW employee in his fourth year as head organizer for the volunteer stocking event, which runs every other year, with lakes being stocked by helicopter in the off years.”
Green Butt Carey Special SwittersB
~When fishing a lake with an algae bloom, reduce or eliminate the number of knots in the over all leader. They collect scum. A one piece tapered leader or a uniform length of leader are suitable for descending down through the bloom to the feeding trout, just beneath.
~Indications of OCD: spending hours on a calm, still, smooth surfaced lake; sun high; hot, very hot. I have spent countless hours fishing such waters, picking up a small trout here and there. Short of doing recon on the contours, weed growth, identifying the drops, shelves and stumps there is little benefit to spending hour after hour out there. There are other activities back at camp and in the area that may better occupy that dead time on the water.
~Are the fish refusing my fly? I have changed flies 6 times this past hour. Could it be the presentation/line selection and retrieve are not balanced to the flies or to the location you are fishing? As enjoyable as it is to use, the floating line cannot be your primary line on a lake if you intend to fish the depths. Research clear intermediates and faster sink rate lines for presentations beyond the shallows. Once the fish move off the shallows (sun rising, water calming, hatch ending) the waters just past the drop off should be explored with sinking lines.
~Presentation…the retrieves: it is nice to bob about out on a lake, kicking, rowing or drifting along in a day dreaming daze. Lost in thought and picking up the occasional fish. Again, considering the pattern you are using, what are you imitating and how is your presentation copying the real life movements of that food source: bait fish, leech, vertically ascending Chironomid pupa, emerging Callibaetis, diving egg laying Caddis, swimming Damsel headed for the reeds? If you are satisfied to kick along the edges of the drop then at least vary your retrieves to provoke a take.
Traditional Palmered Hackle for Woolly Bugger
Below is another version, called the Mini Bugger, that has the hackle wound in the traditional wet fly wing style. The remainder of the fly is typical Woolly Bugger. Note the multi colors of marabou in the tail.
Version of Woolly Bugger: The Mini-Bugger
"Skimmer" Libellulinae (Libellulidae) Dragon Nymph
I won’t overload you with Bug terminology. I would only be borrowing from more accomplished researchers. You can find plenty of excellent work by Rick Hafele, Arlen Thomason, Troutnut.com……. You do the research on the several varieties and shapes of dragon fly nymphs in the (Anisoptera > Aeshnidae (darners) > Libellulidae (sprawlers)) world.
Many fly fishing dragon patterns will be longer, size 6-8 patters (more the darner variety). But there is a place for the smaller size 10-12, shorter and rounder patterns that slowly move about the bottom in the vegetation and muck and only rarely jet forward. A slow and low presentation is appropriate for stillwaters and quite backwaters of streams (some varieties of Dragons do inhabit slow moving stretches of rivers).
The above pattern was tied on a size 10, 2xl nymph hook. I dubbed and spun marabou fibers stripped from the stem. Once the density is developed for each color then the marabou is trimmed to shape the bulbous rear, tapering toward the front. At the front of the abdomen, I dubbed in some deer hair and then wound the hen hackle. The head is comprised of red dumbbell eyes (melted red Amnesia mono for eyes) the wingcase is a small piece of fuzzy foam tied in at the front the eyes. The head is dubbed to form a nice round head. Then the fuzzy foam wing case is pulled over the top of the head and tied off to form a slight gap between head/thorax and the abdomen.
The presentation of the dragon fly nymph along the edges and drops of a lake should be more thoughtful than kicking along in a tube trolling a Woolly Bugger or Dragon nymph imitation. This is the primary reason you should study how insects move in their world. Study the predatory ways and movements of insects and then attempt to visualize this and match this with retrieves and assorted fly line densities. Most often dragons will crawl up vegetation, rocks and debris to emerge above the water. Some are poor climbers (squatty little gomphids) and crawl into shore.
This isn’t like trying to match the Stonefly hatches where you fish nymphs and then post emergence, fish dries. Dragon fly dries are seldom used. You want to focus on where dragon fly nymphs reside and then go there and present hunting nymphs and nymphs working toward structure to emerge.
