(rip OMJ)
Took my new (to me) boat out to a heavily stocked Eastside lake today. They fly bit was HOT.
First indication was at the boat launch. Was just about to jump in the boat from the dock when I spotted nice fat bass just chilling right below the dock in 5 feet of water. What the heck - I grabbed the fly rod that already had a red bead head black bugger on it. Dropped it down near it - swallowed with no hesitation. Good fight. Landed and released.
I got as far away from all the power bait guys I could and targeted the shallows thinking I'd get some more bass and maybe a few trout. I did get a few dinker bass - but the trout were on fire. I had left my best fly box at home on accident. So all I had was my bass box that included a few big fries and terrestrials. Started with a yellow stimulator. After 45 minutes of fish after fish - all 14-16inch holdovers, it was shredded, not floating, but still working - but finally a pretty big chunker took it into some thick weeds and broke me off.
Switched to the next thing I had available for surface trout options - a parachute hopper pattern. Is it hopper season? Nope. But all I had. Instantly started hooking up. Just working the edges of the reeds and brush along the bank. Most of the time I could see them coming for the take. About 30 mins in, that fly lost its hackle. Sometimes it floated, but mostly it didn't. Would cast, let it sit, then strip a little. Didn't matter that it was hardly recognizable. The white parachute held up and I used it as sort of indicator - above or below the surface. Towards the end I kept 5 stockers for my MIL who LOVES trout and always looks at me in a judgemental way if I say I let them all go (not really, but probably).
Many of them had been feeding on some read colored seaweed of some sort. Any idea what that is? A few had it coming out their vent. Stomachs packed with it.
Had a gear / bait guy and his wife watch me for a while. Clearly not having luck. Eventually he started following me about 100 yards behind me as I worked up the shoreline using my bow mounted trolling motor (LOVE fly fishing like this - standing on the bow, stealing via remote. Great for sight fishing).
A few pics to follow - including what was left of the hopper.
Took my new (to me) boat out to a heavily stocked Eastside lake today. They fly bit was HOT.
First indication was at the boat launch. Was just about to jump in the boat from the dock when I spotted nice fat bass just chilling right below the dock in 5 feet of water. What the heck - I grabbed the fly rod that already had a red bead head black bugger on it. Dropped it down near it - swallowed with no hesitation. Good fight. Landed and released.
I got as far away from all the power bait guys I could and targeted the shallows thinking I'd get some more bass and maybe a few trout. I did get a few dinker bass - but the trout were on fire. I had left my best fly box at home on accident. So all I had was my bass box that included a few big fries and terrestrials. Started with a yellow stimulator. After 45 minutes of fish after fish - all 14-16inch holdovers, it was shredded, not floating, but still working - but finally a pretty big chunker took it into some thick weeds and broke me off.
Switched to the next thing I had available for surface trout options - a parachute hopper pattern. Is it hopper season? Nope. But all I had. Instantly started hooking up. Just working the edges of the reeds and brush along the bank. Most of the time I could see them coming for the take. About 30 mins in, that fly lost its hackle. Sometimes it floated, but mostly it didn't. Would cast, let it sit, then strip a little. Didn't matter that it was hardly recognizable. The white parachute held up and I used it as sort of indicator - above or below the surface. Towards the end I kept 5 stockers for my MIL who LOVES trout and always looks at me in a judgemental way if I say I let them all go (not really, but probably).
Many of them had been feeding on some read colored seaweed of some sort. Any idea what that is? A few had it coming out their vent. Stomachs packed with it.
Had a gear / bait guy and his wife watch me for a while. Clearly not having luck. Eventually he started following me about 100 yards behind me as I worked up the shoreline using my bow mounted trolling motor (LOVE fly fishing like this - standing on the bow, stealing via remote. Great for sight fishing).
A few pics to follow - including what was left of the hopper.
