Camping to Mackay

[Rexburg_rabble]

My father-in-law called the other day to invite me on a camping trip he's taking with people from his community. They're headed to Mackay Reservoir. Has anyone been out that direction recently? What's the condition of the water/fishing? Thanks
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[MMDon]

The water is up. I'd expect some pretty big wind up that canyon this weekend with the storms however.
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[ChrisTheFish]

I was up that way a week ago and the water is up, but the water wasn't terribly muddy, just a line through the reservoir where the river ran into it. The water on the river below the dam looked a bit higher but still clear none the less. Might be a good better considering your options with all the high water.
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[Rexburg_rabble]

MMDon - I agree with the wind thing. Luckily the trip is next weekend (the first weekend in June); I'm hoping for better weather.

ChrisTheFish - I appreciate your report. When I got invited, I was pretty hesitant because I thought the water would be really muddy like Chesterfield. I might tag along and see what kind of damage I can do. Did you fish it last week when you went up? How was it?
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[ChrisTheFish]

I didn't fish. I was just passing while at work. It might have muddied a bit more by now, but it looked fine when I passed. If you you go I hope you get into some good numbers!
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[Rexburg_rabble]

So I've got a fly fishing question. I've seen that many of you mention chironomids. I have no idea what they are, so I swung by an Idaho Falls fly shop to do some research. The guy told me they imitate an insect that is pretty specific to still water and people fish with them a lot on reservoirs. He said they didn't carry any of them. He wasn't too helpful, to say the least. So I did some searching online and it appears that they chironomids are simply midge patterns? True? As I mentioned earlier, this weekend is the camping trip to Mackay that I'm going on to help my father-in-law. I'd like to pick up some chironomid patterns. Where can I find some in the Idaho Falls area? Any suggestions how to fish with them? Just drop them off an indicator?
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[kglissmeyer]

These guys will have everything you need: http://jimmysflyshop.com/

Tell them Kelly sent you...[]

Kelly.
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[cpierce]

RR, I see you are going to be fishing Mackay. In lakes the "midges" are larger than in streams and they rise very slowly - straight up. Most people I know, fish them using a floating line, an indicator, and a long leader. If possible you want to get the fly down to about a foot off of the bottom.
Here is a good site with a better explanation than mine!
[url "http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/tactics/fishing/chironomid-tactics/"]http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/.../chironomid-tactics/[/url]

I can't believe the shop you went to didn't know anything.

KG's recommendation is a good one. Jimmy's should be able to help you out.

Kglissmeyer, welcome to BFT. I am really glad to see you here. Your expertise will be a great asset to us all.
I hope you are able to get out some this spring.
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[Loufly]

Not that it matters, but I would like to know what shop that was at. There are so many sites on the web dedicated to stillwater fishing and specifically chironomid fishing that you could be occupied for days.

This is my take on chironomid fishing. I have been pretty heavy into chironomid fishing because I like to catch fish. Learn how to do it because when others are dumbfounded as to what trout are taking, you just might find the key. Hint Hint.[] Here is a link that is very informative I hope it helps. gormanflyfishing.com/Chironomid Methods.htm
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[MMDon]

Great links cpierce and Loufly.

Thanks so much! [fishin]
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[troutpimp]

I too am very glad to see that Mr. Glissmeyer is here.

yes; midge = chironomid = buzzer.
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[Rexburg_rabble]

Kelly- Thanks! I'll be heading out to Mackay later this afternoon and I'll be sure to stop by Jimmy's to get what I need.

cpierce and Loufly- Thanks for those links! I am excited to try our the method described. I'll be sure to report on how things go this weekend. The weather looks like it's going to be nice, which is a good thing when fishing for chironomids (from what I read)
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[coltergeist99]

After you master the art of chironomids this weekend I expect a call and invite next weekend Rexburg rabble.
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[kglissmeyer]

Thanks, guys. Good to be here.

Kelly.
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[Loufly]

Glad to help. Make sure to give a good report, I love Mackay when its good.
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[Rexburg_rabble]

I wanted to give a report on our fishing in Mackay. We started the morning by fishing the Big Lost below the dam. The flows weren't bad at all. Water color was good, but the fly fishing wasn't phenomenal. They were catching them on worms pretty consistently. My brother-in-law landed a nice rainbow and several smaller brookies. Later in the afternoon we headed up to the reservoir and had a blast. Everyone was catching them. Unfortunately they were all hatchery fish (I'm assuming); they were all in the range of 10-11". Beautiful day though.

I also wanted to report my successes fishing chironomids. My brother-in-law stopped at Jimmy's and picked up chironomid patterns and I'm glad he did. They worked well for me. I fished them using a simple double-nymph rig. The first was 6 feet off the indicator and the second was a few feet off of the first. I spaced them out so far so that I could cover different levels in the water column (that was my thinking anyway). I'd cast out, let my flies settle below my indicator and I'd wait! After a minute or so, I'd slowly, SLOWLY retrieve. Most of the fish were hitting a small silver nymph, my top nymph. I was catching 5 an hour and then passed my rod off to my father-in-law and brother-in-laws to teach them how to fly fish. They had a good time learning a new method of fishing! A couple of them got hits, but missed the set. It was still fun for them. In all, we probably caught 20-25 fish. Thanks again for all the advice you guys gave!
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[MMDon]

Very cool report RR! Nice to learn new tricks and then pass them to others! [fishin]
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[coltergeist99]

RR, I went and picked up some as well last week in hopes to use them on Saturday but didn't make it out like I had planned. Now that you're a pro I expect a call. You said that most were hitting silver, did you have any luck with any other colors?
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[Loufly]

Fantastic! I am glad to hear you had success chironomid fishing. If we aren't learning something new, then we need a different hobby.
Loufly
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