Finally got to go out and do some fly fishing. I left my cousins in Washington Terrace at 10 and was on the river between Rockport and Echo at 11:15. By 11:30 two nice fat whitefish (taped at 22 inches nose to tail and 12 inches around put them at just under 4 pounds). Thick fish great fight. The first white was really beat up with some scratches and blood spots around her fins, but swam away strong on release. The other was clean, clear and fiesty. At 11:45 the first brown was on. 17 inches long 10 around, about 2 pounds. Heavy shoulders and very healthy. Nice bright spots, good color and apparently came through the spawn just fine. At 11:53 the next brown came to net. 18 inches long 11 around about 2.5 pounds. From 12:00 to 1:00 nothing, nada. We saw two other anglers that had caught two but it was slow. Down a little further, I caught my last brown of the day at 1:15. 12 inches long 5 inches around, about a 1/3 of a pound. Very healthy, clear and released. The weather was a mix of overcast and some sun. Towards the end when we got back to the car at 1:30 it was starting to rain. All five were caught on a size 16 grey scud with with red head. My cousin was skunked. No pics due to the camera left at home because I didn't want it to get soaked.
katghoti
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sounds like a great day on the water.. congrats for getting out and doing some fishing..
MacFly [cool]
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Dude, still my HERO!
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I just re-read my post and forgot some details. Two fly setup, leading was the scud, then one small splitshot, then the tailing fly (I tried pt, hare's, wd-40, zebra (both red and black), and a disco midge), nothing was caught on the tailing fly. I had about 5-6 feet of leader with a strike indicator about 3-4 feet above the first fly and 12-18 inches between flies. Mend often, and keep an eye on things, the bites where light so make sure the line is as tight as you can get it without drag. Caught only the small fish in a deep run, the big boys were caught near the banks in runs and riffles. Fish the foam lines and you should pick some up.
katghoti
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So you had the weight BETWEEN the two flies? If so, How far up from the bottom/dropper fly?
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I put the weight right between them. So if the flies were 12 inches apart I put it six above. (this was the rig the whites liked). When I pushed the scud higher up the line (18 inches) I moved the weight to nine inches. I don't know why this worked (I just thought it would push the scud down close to bottom where the fish where holding. I use a very small strike indicator (one of the foam pinch on types looks like two circles with sticky foam tape I use them all the time, less drag in the water) so it rides lower in the water. My cousin was using one of the large foam indicators (looks like a badmitton birdie large and bulky) and I think it was too large to detect the light hits and was dragging the flies more. The other two guys we saw were using ballondicators and had two on their bright red San Juan, but in the winter, the fish are a bit more sluggish and the takes are lighter, so I use the bare minimum to get the flies down and the smallest indicator to detect the light hits. It was interesting to note, both whites inhaled the scud down their throats and the two big browns here hooked in the roof of their mouth about half way back so I must have bumped them right in their face or they are really hungry
katghoti
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Right on, thanks. I use a TINY Thingamabobber or a small (the size of a Pencil eraser) Styro ball with a tip of a tooth pick. I agree, smaller is better.
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