04-09-2004, 03:54 AM
Sorry I missed you Southerman,
Yeah we was in a boat... a little 12ft vhull with an electric motor. Both of us were fly fishing. The wind was so strong on the lake we finally moved within 50yrds of the boat launch area. I had caught a couple of fish when the storm moved in. The lightning lasted only 30 minutes, but we beached the boat and relocated to the bank. we fished throughout and into the evening when the storm abated. The water was like a mirror the last 30 mins before dark and we caught several nice fish each.
A zebra midge would've nabbed you some nice fish, but I'm surprised that you didn't catch a few with the hare's ear. Part of the day Tues I fished a Hare's ear in tandem with a chironomid pattern. While I caught the majority of my fish with the chironomid, the hare's ear was working, and I caught the best fish of the trip with it. I didn't weight or take a picture of him, but he was easily a solid 5lbs. I lost two in the 10+ range however, one took a midge and one took the hare's ear. I almost landed one of the big guys, but he got himself tangled in the anchor, just as we worked him free, he got into the stringer. Luck wasn't with us the second time and he broke the line before I could free him. It didn't help me that I was using 4lb tippet either. I know I should use heavier tippet at that lake, but I like to give the fish a fighting chance. Right after I hooked the one that broke off he shot straight into the air at least 4 - 5ft right in front of us. Man what a show. I don't care if I landed him or not, that was pure fun. He was built like a linebacker and gave me at least 15 minutes of fun before he broke off. I'll remember that jump until the day I die.
I'm really sorry I missed you. Enjoy the bank fishing while you can. This is the first trip that I've seen trout in numbers at the dam end. But it's also the first time I've been there this early in the year. With a good pair of polaroid glasses you could see the trout moving in schools right along the bank at the boat launch. A boat wasn't even necessary, but we brought it so I used it. Shore fishing was just as successful however and we spent a good portion of time there as well.
I really can't say as to how the far end fished... We got into schools of big fish in the canal through the tules every day so we never got to the lower end. There was no reason to go further...
There was another fly fisher I talked to that did ok with a damselfly nymph pattern, I think he said he got 15 fish, though no quality guys. Other'n that most people I talked to only had a few fish, fly fishing or otherwise.
This was the first time I experience a continual bite at Comins.. Most of the time it's early and late that I do well. 95% of the fish were in the 1 -3lb range.
This is the first trip I've gone without catching some small bass. I was told the pike are eating the bass up... and we caught very few smaller trout so I assume they're getting eaten as well. Makes for fun fishing now, but in a few years the trout/bass fishery will be gone.
I don't know if Cave Lake is unfrozen yet, but it's a decent alternative to Comins when the bite is off, or the wind is too bad. Cave is protected and you can literally catch 100's of smaller fish there at most times. It's also a pretty lake to camp at. Much more scenic than Comins.
I'll catch you on another trip.
Later,
Mark
[signature]
Yeah we was in a boat... a little 12ft vhull with an electric motor. Both of us were fly fishing. The wind was so strong on the lake we finally moved within 50yrds of the boat launch area. I had caught a couple of fish when the storm moved in. The lightning lasted only 30 minutes, but we beached the boat and relocated to the bank. we fished throughout and into the evening when the storm abated. The water was like a mirror the last 30 mins before dark and we caught several nice fish each.
A zebra midge would've nabbed you some nice fish, but I'm surprised that you didn't catch a few with the hare's ear. Part of the day Tues I fished a Hare's ear in tandem with a chironomid pattern. While I caught the majority of my fish with the chironomid, the hare's ear was working, and I caught the best fish of the trip with it. I didn't weight or take a picture of him, but he was easily a solid 5lbs. I lost two in the 10+ range however, one took a midge and one took the hare's ear. I almost landed one of the big guys, but he got himself tangled in the anchor, just as we worked him free, he got into the stringer. Luck wasn't with us the second time and he broke the line before I could free him. It didn't help me that I was using 4lb tippet either. I know I should use heavier tippet at that lake, but I like to give the fish a fighting chance. Right after I hooked the one that broke off he shot straight into the air at least 4 - 5ft right in front of us. Man what a show. I don't care if I landed him or not, that was pure fun. He was built like a linebacker and gave me at least 15 minutes of fun before he broke off. I'll remember that jump until the day I die.
I'm really sorry I missed you. Enjoy the bank fishing while you can. This is the first trip that I've seen trout in numbers at the dam end. But it's also the first time I've been there this early in the year. With a good pair of polaroid glasses you could see the trout moving in schools right along the bank at the boat launch. A boat wasn't even necessary, but we brought it so I used it. Shore fishing was just as successful however and we spent a good portion of time there as well.
I really can't say as to how the far end fished... We got into schools of big fish in the canal through the tules every day so we never got to the lower end. There was no reason to go further...
There was another fly fisher I talked to that did ok with a damselfly nymph pattern, I think he said he got 15 fish, though no quality guys. Other'n that most people I talked to only had a few fish, fly fishing or otherwise.
This was the first time I experience a continual bite at Comins.. Most of the time it's early and late that I do well. 95% of the fish were in the 1 -3lb range.
This is the first trip I've gone without catching some small bass. I was told the pike are eating the bass up... and we caught very few smaller trout so I assume they're getting eaten as well. Makes for fun fishing now, but in a few years the trout/bass fishery will be gone.
I don't know if Cave Lake is unfrozen yet, but it's a decent alternative to Comins when the bite is off, or the wind is too bad. Cave is protected and you can literally catch 100's of smaller fish there at most times. It's also a pretty lake to camp at. Much more scenic than Comins.
I'll catch you on another trip.
Later,
Mark
[signature]