Fishing and the Lunar Phases

New Moon & Full Moon...Is it important to your fishing?

I have enjoyed some magical fishing by moonlight. Actually, by the last light of the day and as darkness fell my son and I worked our way back to our put in point. The fishing was phenomenal while the moon light bathed the lake’s calm surface. Well not totally calm because the Kamloops trout (oops) were working hard. Was that memorable moment because of the moon? I have always linked the two but really only guessed. 

For many of us that is enough to plan our next outings around a full moon. We even spread the word and perhaps others think…’hey why not….maybe…’. So I offer up a piece that is perhaps right up the alley of the frequent angler looking for an edge. It may be too complicated for some or add veracity to already held beliefs.   LUNAR PHASES & ANGLING  

Being more of a once in a Blue Moon Angler of late, I will tuck this info away by narrowing it down to the key points and see if my outings verify it in the years to come. I don't fish enough to keep a log. But, lunar and barometer considerations are worth charting or at least noting. SwittersB

Fly Fishing: Pesky Whitefish (‘Rubber Lips’)

There was a time one could walk a stream’s edge in Oregon and find Whitefish laying atop rocks, dead and wasting. They were and are still viewed by many as a member of the sucker family and that is enough to sentence them to a high and dry status.

Layne Kennedy Photo @ http://arrowheadjourney.wordpress.com/

The incidental catch of Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) has never bothered me. I love catching all fish, be they Trout, Whitefish, Carp or the lowly Chum Salmon, to name but a few. The Whitefish is often described as a fish of 8-12″ on average, but they can get considerably bigger in Western Waters (I have caught them in excess of 24″ on the Metolius River). The Whitefish has a range from the NW Territories down into the Western U.S. The fish readily take a small nymph and on occasion a small dry fly can bring them up out of the riffles and quieter water adjacent to riffles. Some say they hold in different water than a Trout.

Western U.S. Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) Range

The one place I do see this is in fairly fast riffles of say a foot deep with no structure to provide relief from the current. The Whitefish will be in that water and you don’t see a Trout attempting to hold in that sort of water very often (unless Summer time low water and depleted oxygen levels force them into that water for brief stints of oxygenation).

The Hook & Hackle Company

If along the way, you have to pass the time catching some Whitefish on an otherwise Trout barren day, they are worth the time of feeling the tug. Small flies, nymphs, are in order and never allow any one to toss them up on to the rocks. I believe most fly fishers are intelligent enough today to know that Mountain Whitefish are not a threat to their cousins, the Trout and are a sign of a healthy watershed in many instances.

Small Nymphs for Whitefish (SwittersB)

Fly Fishing Tips: Wintertime Advice

Here is a compilation of tips for those fortunate enough to venture out in the Winter to wet a line (it assumes colder conditions):

“Use a Net - The air temperature tends to be colder than the water temperature during Montana winters.  By using a net you can prevent shocking or freezing the gills by keeping the fish in the water during a release.” (more)

Deschutes River (Evan Muncy, SwittersB)

“If  you are hiking into remote areas, keep track of the time and if you are catching fish it is very easy to forget about the time. Remember, the sun goes down much earlier in the winter especially if you are in the woods or in a valley.  Even an experienced angler will easily lose track of the time so be prepared by carrying a flashlight; it will come in handy.”  (more)

“…you need to look for different kinds of water. Fish generally vacate fast moving riffles and runs, and spend their days in deep, slow pools. This allows the fish to hold their positions without using too much energy. For this reason, you should focus on slow water, and move past water that has a high gradient. Also, winter fishing tends to be best on rivers and streams where water temperatures are relatively stable. The best waters are spring creeks, and tailwaters. The water temperatures in these areas generally stay comfortable even in the coldest weather, and you will catch more fish.

It is important to fish during the warmest part of the day. Although during the summer you probably spent most of your time fishing in the early mornings and late evenings, you should do the exact opposite now. Generally, the best fishing occurs from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. This is especially important on free-flowing rivers that get very cold in the winter, but it applies on any trout water during the winter.” (more)

“The majority of fly fisherman coming into the sport today did not spin or bait fish. So they don’t have the basic instincts of someone who has learned something about streams and fish before they get into fly fishing. They are overwhelmed by the amount of equipment, websites, information, books, magazines that’s thrown at them. Television programs make it appear that trout and especially large trout are easy to catch.  What they don’t tell the viewer is that it may have taken them a week of fishing to get 20 minutes of video show the experts catching fish.”(more)

Green Fish Garb and Sustainable Fish Hoodie

GREEN FISH MOVEMENT…LEARN

 

Fly Fishing: Pose that Fish & That Odd Growth

Ok, I admit, if I caught that fish of the year or life time, I would love to have a picture of that fish and me. I would cross my fingers that the shot turned out perfect and that it was there to look at years later. I have such pictures and love looking at them. Especially now, that for a variety of health and stages of life reasons I cannot get out as often. 

There is posing and then there is posing... (SwittersB)

But, Martin Joergensen at Global Fly Fishers came up with a collage of pictures that, when viewed together, presents an odd, recent dynamic of what to do with the rod when posing the fish. It looks silly when seen in a group setting. Sometimes that rod does get in the way of those taking the shot. Should you decide to forgo the behind the neck pose (please, at least in a group setting) and set the rod down be very careful it is not stumbled upon. 

The Fish Hook: Ranking In History

http://www.mychamplain.net

The staple of our sport…the hook. Quickly we cover it up with all manner of adornments. Well, a group, via Forbes, has poured through various inventions and tools of mankind and come up with their version of a ranking of the worth of tools. Read more here….

Beginning Fly Tying & Fishing: Balanced Fly Patterns

On Stillwaters, the presentations can be vertical, diagonal or horizontal. The Intermediate Clear/Camo line is indispensable for that horizontal presentation. Tonight, I was watching a WFN show (B.C. Outdoors) and Phil Rowley was mentioning a horizontal presentation with a ‘balanced fly’ beneath the slip/strike bobber (floating line). I did a little checking and discovered the fly pattern promotes a horizontal path beneath the bobber, a non-slip loop knot and the hook point riding up.

The combo of the hook eye set back and on top. The bead head and materials should be presented to provide a balanced fly when drifted with a loop knot. Phil Rowley

 The experimentation will be to extend the bead out just far enough beyond the hook eye to achieve a balanced presentation beneath the loop knot/bobber. Query ‘slip strike bobber’ in the search box upper right and you will see several past posts regarding how to rig up the bobber/pin & the ‘non-slip loop knot’. I wonder if some jig heads would achieve this same balanced presentation? Still worth a little experimentation on lakes and wind drifting a pattern beneath a slip strike bobber.

Balanced Leech Pattern by Andy Larkin

Fly Fishing & the Loop Knot

Loop Knot attached to spoon, but perfect for many fly patterns as well. SwittersB

Tie that basic overhand knot first, then run the tag end through the eye of the hook and then finish off like a regular clinch/cinch, Trilene knot,

Just a refresher for the beginning fly fisher to remember this simple loop knot for many of your fly fishing presentations where freedom of movement is desired for the fly pattern. I have seen fly fishers use the loop knot on dry fly patterns, although I haven’t tried it myself. I invariably use this simple knot for all nymphs and streamer/buggers. FlyFishLouisiana

Fly Rods (Pretty in Pink, er…Raspberry?)

Elkhorn Ladies Series T Fly Reel

The Pink Series Elkhorn Fly Rod

ELKHORN FLY ROD & REEL  &  Project Healing Waters

Fly Tying: Suggestive Dubbing

Is this a perfect pattern for a beginning fly tier? A dubbed green abdomen and the teased out darker thorax on this little gem makes for a productive emerger/pupa pattern. FlyMagazinecComBr   Dubbing for the Beginner