ifsteve
Steelhead
So my son was visiting for a long weekend and decided to go fishing. He really enjoys fishing but only gets out fly fishing once or twice a year so he's not the best caster. Now that said Friday was just weird as heck.
From 0620 to 1220 I caught 5 and lost 1. My son lost one on his second cast. Most all of our fishing was deep under indicators (15-20ft). There was a decent midge hatch from 8-9 and there were a fair number of fish taking emergers. But they were sporadic and spread out. Couldn't find a concentration to hone in on. I did manage to catch two on an intermediate line and damsel nymph. Both fish rose within casting distance so I made the cast and hooked up. But never had a hit other than those two so back to midging.
But then it got really weird. We have all had those trying days when the guy on the front of the boat is getting all the hits and the guy on the back gets nada. So you eventually swap places so your buddy can get in on the action. Didn't work out like that this time.
From 1220 to 1320 I landed 7 and lost 2 and my son never had a hit. I was on the front of the boat so after I had 3 fish on 3 casts I had him come up to the bow and I went to the back. Now we were using the same fly and same depth under the indicator. Hoping he'd get in on the action. Nope. I continued to hook fish while he got nada. So I swapped rods with him and had him come back aft and cast right to where I had just hooked several more. I went back up front. I got several more and he got zero.
If I was with a buddy i would have been laughing my ass off!!! But I wanted my son to get into the fish and did all I could do to make it happen. The only difference was how far from the boat we were casting. And surely that was a difference maker. BUT that didn't explain all of it since the last bit of action he was casting exactly to the same spot I was getting bit on. Still no dice.
Crazy situation. And not even sure what turned that pod of fish on in the first place. Bright sun and hot and hatch had quit hours earlier but for whatever reason they wanted what I was serving. All chunky rainbows about 14-17". Did hook what felt like a much bigger fish (biggest I have caught there this year is 7# and my buddy got an 8#). It stayed deep and ran a good bit and the barbless midge eventually pulled out.
This lake has been crazy good this year but its about done now till fall. But when it cools back off its going to be good. The water level is fantastic so should get solid carryover this winter and next spring should see some fish pushing 10. I have stayed away from this lake for the last 10 years as it just wasn't holding the water and fish like it used to but it appears to be back!
From 0620 to 1220 I caught 5 and lost 1. My son lost one on his second cast. Most all of our fishing was deep under indicators (15-20ft). There was a decent midge hatch from 8-9 and there were a fair number of fish taking emergers. But they were sporadic and spread out. Couldn't find a concentration to hone in on. I did manage to catch two on an intermediate line and damsel nymph. Both fish rose within casting distance so I made the cast and hooked up. But never had a hit other than those two so back to midging.
But then it got really weird. We have all had those trying days when the guy on the front of the boat is getting all the hits and the guy on the back gets nada. So you eventually swap places so your buddy can get in on the action. Didn't work out like that this time.
From 1220 to 1320 I landed 7 and lost 2 and my son never had a hit. I was on the front of the boat so after I had 3 fish on 3 casts I had him come up to the bow and I went to the back. Now we were using the same fly and same depth under the indicator. Hoping he'd get in on the action. Nope. I continued to hook fish while he got nada. So I swapped rods with him and had him come back aft and cast right to where I had just hooked several more. I went back up front. I got several more and he got zero.
If I was with a buddy i would have been laughing my ass off!!! But I wanted my son to get into the fish and did all I could do to make it happen. The only difference was how far from the boat we were casting. And surely that was a difference maker. BUT that didn't explain all of it since the last bit of action he was casting exactly to the same spot I was getting bit on. Still no dice.
Crazy situation. And not even sure what turned that pod of fish on in the first place. Bright sun and hot and hatch had quit hours earlier but for whatever reason they wanted what I was serving. All chunky rainbows about 14-17". Did hook what felt like a much bigger fish (biggest I have caught there this year is 7# and my buddy got an 8#). It stayed deep and ran a good bit and the barbless midge eventually pulled out.
This lake has been crazy good this year but its about done now till fall. But when it cools back off its going to be good. The water level is fantastic so should get solid carryover this winter and next spring should see some fish pushing 10. I have stayed away from this lake for the last 10 years as it just wasn't holding the water and fish like it used to but it appears to be back!
