What's Catching You Fish?

jasmillo

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These two patterns accounted for all 4 of my hookups today, including 3 jumbo stockers, as well as 3 additional bumps. It was nice to get some consistent action on stripped flies. That said, 4.5 hours fished and all 4 hookups/bumps happened in a 30-40 minute period in the same cove of the lake I was fishing. Looking forward to some spring weather and more fishing chasing moving flies!

Sorry, no fish pics. I left my phone in my truck and was too lazy to kick my way back to the launch and remove my flippers to get it :).

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Cowlitz Bottomfeeder

Life of the Party
The specimen is not noteworthy but it was my first lake caught fish on a chironomid so that was!

I doubt that I’ll fish this way a ton unless other methods are not producing. Not because I have an issue indicator fishing. I also know it takes a lot of skill and knowledge to be very successful fishing this way. I just love the tug of a streamer bight and the visual aspect of a dry fly eat. I also get super antsy watching an indicator for more than 10 seconds before feeling the need to recast. I might not have the patience to do it often either!

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Find a spot with clear water and a clean bottom on a point or shoreline where the fish cruise mid day and early season. Sit still and don’t move nothing but your eyeballs. Toss that chronie out about 3’ below the indicator and see how the fish react. Sight fishing with indicators is a lot more interesting.
 

Tom Butler

Grandpa, Small Stream Fanatic
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Find a spot with clear water and a clean bottom on a point or shoreline where the fish cruise mid day and early season. Sit still and don’t move nothing but your eyeballs. Toss that chronie out about 3’ below the indicator and see how the fish react. Sight fishing with indicators is a lot more interesting.
I posted about stalking the shorelines fishing stuff under indicators in the clear water last spring. I did learn a lot by not fishing farther than I could see and observing.
 

jasmillo

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Headed out in the snow this morning with the intent to fish the salt and then a lake. Got to the first beach and the water was churned up and not appealing. I was bummed because I had not fished the salt in a couple of weeks but oh well. Instead headed to the lake. Two darkened up jumbo planters and 3 smaller planters to net. Lost another heavy fish and a couple more little guys in 3 hours of fishing.

I can’t wait for chum fry mania :)….

Cold start to the morning.

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Flies that did the trick

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A few of the fish (first two photos are the same fish).

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M_D

Top Notch Mediocre Flyfisher
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These two were the ticket for me yesterday.....of course they were the only two I used so that might have had something to do with it :unsure:;)

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Picked up this one shortly after putting in and then nuthin' for quite a while.....

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.....and I wasn't sure if the fish weren't interested or if I simply couldn't focus between the wind and the cold.

Thought I took a good photo of the snow storm that rolled in around 1030 but evidently my fingertips were too cold to register with my phone.🥶

Things started to pick up a little later when a handful of these guys decided it was time for lunch....

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But the beauty of the day was this bruiser....

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....who warmed me up enough to rally to find a few more smaller guys but the wind and cold quickly crept back in and the call from my truck's heater was too much so that was it for the day.

A mere 5 or so hours, I must be getting old and soft :sneaky:
 

M_D

Top Notch Mediocre Flyfisher
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Headed out in the snow this morning with the intent to fish the salt and then a lake. Got to the first beach and the water was churned up and not appealing. I was bummed because I had not fished the salt in a couple of weeks but oh well. Instead headed to the lake. Two darkened up jumbo planters and 3 smaller planters to net. Lost another heavy fish and a couple more little guys in 3 hours of fishing.

I can’t wait for chum fry mania :)….

Cold start to the morning.

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Flies that did the trick

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A few of the fish (first two photos are the same fish).

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Wow....the markings on some of those fish are SOOOOOO pronounced. Is that a hatchery thing or more of an age thing?....or both?

Regardless, neat to see. (y)
 

jasmillo

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Wow....the markings on some of those fish are SOOOOOO pronounced. Is that a hatchery thing or more of an age thing?....or both?

Regardless, neat to see. (y)

That hatchery kicks out a lot of fish with those markings it seems. Not sure if it a genetics, age or fish quality thing.
 
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Wanative

Spawned out Chum
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These two were the ticket for me yesterday.....of course they were the only two I used so that might have had something to do with it :unsure:;)

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Picked up this one shortly after putting in and then nuthin' for quite a while.....

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.....and I wasn't sure if the fish weren't interested or if I simply couldn't focus between the wind and the cold.

Thought I took a good photo of the snow storm that rolled in around 1030 but evidently my fingertips were too cold to register with my phone.🥶

Things started to pick up a little later when a handful of these guys decided it was time for lunch....

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But the beauty of the day was this bruiser....

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....who warmed me up enough to rally to find a few more smaller guys but the wind and cold quickly crept back in and the call from my truck's heater was too much so that was it for the day.

A mere 5 or so hours, I must be getting old and soft :sneaky:
Those leeches are the bomb. Very fishy looking.
 
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Tom Butler

Grandpa, Small Stream Fanatic
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Just about every spinner slinging, wobbler tossing, power bait dunkin' fisher came by and asked "what fly" and watched a bit because they were going fishless, and I was just slayin' 'em. Kept a pair to eat, but their faces as I slide a fish back in, priceless.
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mcswny

Legend
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but their faces as I slide a fish back in, priceless.

I have no problem keeping stockers but I LOVE watching peoples faces when they’re not used to seeing c&r, it’s hilarious. One time I was fishing with my dad and step mother, it was a stocked spring creek in n. California and I was out fishing them 8 to 1 but releasing them all. My wife was on the bank and got a front row seat to my step mom losing her shit “WHY DOES HE KEEP LETTING THEM GO?!”
 

Stonedfish

Known Grizzler-hater of triploids, humpies & ND
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Tom Butler

Grandpa, Small Stream Fanatic
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Fished a brown simiseal leech under a float as it's about the right size, shape and color to imitate the big fat dragon fly nymphs.
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which selectively found last years fish
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while a black with orange head was like crack to the fresh ones.
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even had a fishin' buddy for a bit
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