Muddled and Bumbled

[Tom Butler]

Been out doing more testing. I did a rotation at 2 spots, 15 min. leeches on a sink tip, 15 min. chiromoid under a float, and then 15 minutes with a loch style setup. With less than 10 on the first two, and after quitting at 3 dozen on the loch setup, I'm certain this will be a valid tactic to have. Been 3 fantastic days of post ice out fishing, and this morning I was even greeted with risers.

Not being quite convinced I could do a dry line I fished a 5wt clearwater intermediate line and rod, with a 15' leader. 3' 10#, 4' 8#, 4' 6#, and 4' 4#. 6# ultragreen droppers tend not to tangle.

On the top dropper or bob fly I had a olive and dun with bumbled (palmered) medium stiff hackle and muddler head, in sz. 12. It took fish while floating or near the surface creating a wake. Deeply sunk it didn't do anything.

This PT tied in the style worked up top sunk deeper.

The middle fly is supped to take the leader down more as I understand it so this Bumbled Gold Invicta was fished and took a fair number of fish, more than the leeches.

I'm more certain than ever that trout just can't resist hares ear and partride and this muddled bumbled hares ear took the lions share of the fish on point. Very similar, most of my river fish come from a hares ear variant on point.

Seems just amazing, the number of stockers left from last year, if you can figure out what they want on the day.

 

[Irafly]

Been out doing more testing. I did a rotation at 2 spots, 15 min. leeches on a sink tip, 15 min. chiromoid under a float, and then 15 minutes with a loch style setup. With less than 10 on the first two, and after quitting at 3 dozen on the loch setup, I'm certain this will be a valid tactic to have. Been 3 fantastic days of post ice out fishing, and this morning I was even greeted with risers.
View attachment 50352
Not being quite convinced I could do a dry line I fished a 5wt clearwater intermediate line and rod, with a 15' leader. 3' 10#, 4' 8#, 4' 6#, and 4' 4#. 6# ultragreen droppers tend not to tangle.
View attachment 50353
On the top dropper or bob fly I had a olive and dun with bumbled (palmered) medium stiff hackle and muddler head, in sz. 12. It took fish while floating or near the surface creating a wake. Deeply sunk it didn't do anything.
View attachment 50354
This PT tied in the style worked up top sunk deeper.
View attachment 50355
The middle fly is supped to take the leader down more as I understand it so this Bumbled Gold Invicta was fished and took a fair number of fish, more than the leeches.
View attachment 50356
I'm more certain than ever that trout just can't resist hares ear and partride and this muddled bumbled hares ear took the lions share of the fish on point. Very similar, most of my river fish come from a hares ear variant on point.
View attachment 50357
Seems just amazing, the number of stockers left from last year, if you can figure out what they want on the day.
View attachment 50358

I think part of the problem with the indicator is chironomids. You could try fishing a two fly rig under the indicator with similar patterns. Fish the same depth zone as you were reaching with the intermediate or a little deeper and then play with retrieves.

I’ve done similar experiments where a “loch” style does just get it done, but most of the time if I can dial in the depth and presentation with the indicator, it out produces the loch.

 

[Divad]

I think part of the problem with the indicator is chironomids. You could try fishing a two fly rig under the indicator with similar patterns. Fish the same depth zone as you were reaching with the intermediate or a little deeper and then play with retrieves.

I’ve done similar experiments where a “loch” style does just get it done, but most of the time if I can dial in the depth and presentation with the indicator, it out produces the loch.

“I think the problem [is]… the indicator [on lakes]”

There I fixed your wording for you. I’d agree, they’re poppycock and a problem.

@Tom Butler do you use a drogue? In my 5 minutes of research I see it’s mentioned a lot in loch style. Never used drag bags outside of gear trolling, and honestly never thought to for wind over anchoring.

 

[iveofione]

Been out doing more testing. I did a rotation at 2 spots, 15 min. leeches on a sink tip, 15 min. chiromoid under a float, and then 15 minutes with a loch style setup. With less than 10 on the first two, and after quitting at 3 dozen on the loch setup, I'm certain this will be a valid tactic to have. Been 3 fantastic days of post ice out fishing, and this morning I was even greeted with risers.
View attachment 50352
Not being quite convinced I could do a dry line I fished a 5wt clearwater intermediate line and rod, with a 15' leader. 3' 10#, 4' 8#, 4' 6#, and 4' 4#. 6# ultragreen droppers tend not to tangle.
View attachment 50353
On the top dropper or bob fly I had a olive and dun with bumbled (palmered) medium stiff hackle and muddler head, in sz. 12. It took fish while floating or near the surface creating a wake. Deeply sunk it didn't do anything.
View attachment 50354
This PT tied in the style worked up top sunk deeper.
View attachment 50355
The middle fly is supped to take the leader down more as I understand it so this Bumbled Gold Invicta was fished and took a fair number of fish, more than the leeches.
View attachment 50356
I'm more certain than ever that trout just can't resist hares ear and partride and this muddled bumbled hares ear took the lions share of the fish on point. Very similar, most of my river fish come from a hares ear variant on point.
View attachment 50357
Seems just amazing, the number of stockers left from last year, if you can figure out what they want on the day.
View attachment 50358

Tom, thanks for doing a report on loch fishing, I'm glad you are trying something different than the same old indicator stuff or just dragging buggers down deep on fast sink lines. And I am particularly glad that you are doing well on it. Your love of hare's ear and partridge is similar to my affection for pheasant tail and peacock herl. I have been tying halfbacks for when ice out finally occurs around here-more like 3 months from now. I like to pitch them tight against the shore real early in the season, they probably get taken for water boatmen especially the flashback half backs.

After decades of fishing and thousands of fish it is no longer a question of whether I catch them or not but how or what I can catch them on. On most outings nowadays I spend much of my time just trying new stuff and being amazed at what a wide variety of things a trout will eat.

 

[Tom Butler]

I think part of the problem with the indicator is chironomids. You could try fishing a two fly rig under the indicator with similar patterns. Fish the same depth zone as you were reaching with the intermediate or a little deeper and then play with retrieves.

I’ve done similar experiments where a “loch” style does just get it done, but most of the time if I can dial in the depth and presentation with the indicator, it out produces the loch.

I did not put a leech under the indicator at all, and last spring that was really good. I'm sure other things would have worked as well.

 

[Mukman]

OK. I’ll be that guy. I am with you the whole way except…..what is the “loch method”??

 

[Tom Butler]

@Tom Butler do you use a drogue? In my 5 minutes of research I see it’s mentioned a lot in loch style. Never used drag bags outside of gear trolling, and honestly never thought to for wind over anchoring.

I do not. When I started playing with this in the lake late last summer I was in the tube and would slow my wind drift with the fins. These lakes do not allow watercraft so it's a from shore game. I've been using the wind and retrieves to try and mimic the presentation. Although a points the other day they wanted it so fast it would have been like wind drifting and retrieving at the same time., and today it was quite calm.

 

[Tom Butler]

OK. I’ll be that guy. I am with you the whole way except…..what is the “loch method”??

Think of it as kind of like a vertical sweeping of the water column with nominally a three wet fly setup. Normally a dry line is used, however I've come across people using intermediate or sinking lines as appropriate. The top fly will fish surface or film, be the shallowest, and often just draws interest in the rig. The point bottom fly runs deepest. There seems to be flies tied in a certain style that can accompany the presentation. Lots of videos on the interweb.