i was up fly fishing some still water this weekend and the fish were rising like crazy. I tried everything in my box, of course i dont have a huge selection. But i was wondering if there is any advice on stillwater rising fish. I tried dries (BWO, Adam, mosquitos, PMD) Nymphs (prince, hares ear, pheasant tail) emergers, zebra midge.. just about everything i could think of. These fish were coming all the way out of the water and also slurping on the surface. Lets just say i was a bit frustrated. Any help/suggestions would be helpful. I have been fly fishing for a long time and cant remember the last time i was that frustrated.
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It depends on the body of water and the hatch that they are eating. It is like anywhere else, sometimes they get keyed in on something very specific and will refuse anything else.
The first time I saw a damselfly hatch I wanted to throw dynamite in the water because I didn't have anything that resembled a damselfly nymph and they wouldn't touch anything but that. The surface was exploding, but I could buy a take.
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Mosterbrown... that is exactly how I felt. They were even jumping out of the water over my line.. just a matter of keeping changing til you find what they want.
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Yes, switching is important, but you should be able to gather some idea from the bugs on the water. When the fish are that active, you should be able to find out what is hatching.
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Stillwater is tougher top water than rivers. Seems like if it is moving they need to react where on stillwater they have all, the time in the world to look, so it needs to be really close. Some high mountain lakes, it is a lot easier as the fish are young, dumb so to speak and hungry.
I have had luck on a couple big name lakes like Strawberry and Scofield using a Hopper or a Caddis. Can't go wrong with either.
But, like I said much tuffer cause they move and random rise. That is when I throw on a Chironomid and fish a foot off the bottom. I realize nothing is sweeter than a fish on a dry, though.
Also, at dusk or dawn, try slapping a mouse pattern down and you don't need to be close to shore. It has worked in 18' of water.
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Thank you FG!
Those are all great ideas and I will for sure keep them in mind the next time. I have just started fishing with Chironomids but i dont think i am doing it correctly. what is the best way to fish them?
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That is how "I" fish them. But I guess I do the same with a Zebra on the rivers.
I just know they make up a fair portion of a fishes diet. You can even try a scud like this.
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whats the best way to set up? long leader? weight? strike indicator? slow retrieve?.. it problaby comes down to practice and more practice. Thanks for the info!
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Try a callibaetis dry with a callibaetis nymph about a foot behind it. Someone here could answer the question if they knew the water. They are all different.
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I normally would post the location but this spot is one that i would rather not share on the public forum. i would be more than happy to discuss over PM.
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Oh heck - just tippit with a snippet of nightcrawler! Or if that doesn't work a little dab of chartreuse Powerbait - and it's ON babeee!
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[quote CoyoteSpinner]Oh heck - just tippit with a snippet of nightcrawler! Or if that doesn't work a little dab of chartreuse Powerbait - and it's ON babeee!
[center](duck - cover - chuckle - boot to da head! I know!)
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CHARTREUSE!!!!! No way man, Rainbow PB and in a pinch, Velveta!
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i agree with the suggestion of trailing a subsurface pattern. even though you're seeing the jumps, sometimes the fish are taking something emerging just below the surface.
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