I was expecting a waterfall 2024/10/06

But only found trout.

Air temperature was 35F (7AM) when I put in, 75F (2PM) when I took out. Water temperature at the surface was 63F.

Everything I caught was on a chironomid fished off an intermediate sinking line. Had some fish take olive wooly buggers and black balanced leaches early in the morning but didn't get any to net. Overall a good day though.

Got skunked at another lake just down the road the day before while looking for cutts.

 

[BlakeHerrington]

Were you just casting chironomids and slowly let them sink and then retrieving a few feet from the bottom? Doesn't sound like an indicator was used, which I thought was the common way to fish those.

 

[dep]

never get tired of seeing pictures of this lake

 

[cody-]

Were you just casting chironomids and slowly let them sink and then retrieving a few feet from the bottom? Doesn't sound like an indicator was used, which I thought was the common way to fish those.

Correct -- no indicator. I was using the Rio Fathom WF5S6 (6ips sink rate, so I guess that's full sink), some very old leader, maybe 6' 0x at this point, a tippet ring, then 2x in the Euro-nymphing surgeon's knot double dropper thing (don't know if there's a name for this) with a chironomid on each.

I was connecting two ways. First, casting out 30-40' of line (wherever the color changes on the Fathom), letting sink for 2 minutes or so, then slowly retrieving up. This would get hits when I was past the hang marker. Second, I would also connect with fish when casting, letting sink for a minute or so then slowly trolling around (very slowly).

Haven't done this a ton before but I hate the slip bobber thing and wanted to try something new. I found the all the takes to be hard and very obvious. It was a lot of fun, honestly, and something I'll be doing more of in the future. I read this article in the motel the night before and decided to spend the whole day experimenting with the technique: https://flyguys.net/fishing-information/still-water-fly-fishing/deep-water-chironomids

 

[Jahhn]

This is one of the coolest looking lakes I've seen. I've gotta try to find something like it. Great pictures!

 

[Matt B]

Don’t go chasing waterfalls.
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.

 

[dbaken]

This is one of the coolest looking lakes I've seen. I've gotta try to find something like it. Great pictures!

5 1/2 drive from Portland. Great long weekend trip.

 

[Ronbow]

Correct -- no indicator. I was using the Rio Fathom WF5S6 (6ips sink rate, so I guess that's full sink), some very old leader, maybe 6' 0x at this point, a tippet ring, then 2x in the Euro-nymphing surgeon's knot double dropper thing (don't know if there's a name for this) with a chironomid on each.

I was connecting two ways. First, casting out 30-40' of line (wherever the color changes on the Fathom), letting sink for 2 minutes or so, then slowly retrieving up. This would get hits when I was past the hang marker. Second, I would also connect with fish when casting, letting sink for a minute or so then slowly trolling around (very slowly).

Haven't done this a ton before but I hate the slip bobber thing and wanted to try something new. I found the all the takes to be hard and very obvious. It was a lot of fun, honestly, and something I'll be doing more of in the future. I read this article in the motel the night before and decided to spend the whole day experimenting with the technique: https://flyguys.net/fishing-information/still-water-fly-fishing/deep-water-chironomids

This has become a favorite technique of mine. I use a type 7, or type 5. Short poly sinking leader to swivel, and floro tippet to flies below. Single marks at 5', multi marks at 10' increments. In a deeper Western Washington lake this can add June and July as good months. I've anchored up in 58' and picked fish off the bottom, and had them follow all the way up to 10'. One lake was able to identify fly on Striker 4, rested on bottom at 23', and see fish come along; bring the blood worm up a couple inches and when fish and fly merge, hang on.
I notice three types of "takes". There is "Katie bar the doors" when the tip just buries, GREAT FUN; the subtle take where maybe the rod tip moves (or maybe you just sense it?) and you gotta be really quick to strip set; and the "thunk" where you feel one bump, and there is never a fish. I think this is when they just run into the line. Blood worms, chironomids, balanced leeches, micro leeches, blobs, and mop flies all can work. Ah yes, trying to imitate daphnia......
Also enjoy naked fishing, indicator fishing, casting and stripping nymphs, and on a really lucky day dry flies.

 

[RCF]

^^^ I use dragon fly nymphs with the same success up to about 20' down. Might work deeper, I am not patient enough to find out...

 

[Irafly]

This has become a favorite technique of mine. I use a type 7, or type 5. Short poly sinking leader to swivel, and floro tippet to flies below. Single marks at 5', multi marks at 10' increments. In a deeper Western Washington lake this can add June and July as good months. I've anchored up in 58' and picked fish off the bottom, and had them follow all the way up to 10'. One lake was able to identify fly on Striker 4, rested on bottom at 23', and see fish come along; bring the blood worm up a couple inches and when fish and fly merge, hang on.
I notice three types of "takes". There is "Katie bar the doors" when the tip just buries, GREAT FUN; the subtle take where maybe the rod tip moves (or maybe you just sense it?) and you gotta be really quick to strip set; and the "thunk" where you feel one bump, and there is never a fish. I think this is when they just run into the line. Blood worms, chironomids, balanced leeches, micro leeches, blobs, and mop flies all can work. Ah yes, trying to imitate daphnia......
Also enjoy naked fishing, indicator fishing, casting and stripping nymphs, and on a really lucky day dry flies.

Another take with this and honestly with indicators as well is the tip/indicator actually comes up a bit. A fish takes the fly and relieves some of the pressure pulling down the tip/indicator and setting up on that can be very productive.