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TubeBabe Trashes Tiger JInx
#1
[cool] [font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]TubeBabe has fished Huntington twice before but had never caught a tiger trout yet. We set out to correct that today, and we did it in fine fashion.[/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]TubeBabe came back from Arizona last Saturday with an “exhaustion cold”. She has been “barking” a lot and I wondered if it was a good idea to get her out in the cold air. She did okay on Jordanelle Wednesday, so we pushed the go button for Huntington this morning. [/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]After the cool nights of the past week, I was expecting to find low 20’s and ice around the edge of the lake. Surprise. Air temp was a balmy 31 when we launched at 8:30 AM and there was only a little bit of ¼ inch ice extending out maybe 20 feet from shore. Piece of cake. We took on an inch of ice at Willard last year. Water temp was just under 40 at launch.[/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]Also on the plus side is that the lake has not dropped any more in the last two weeks. The shoreline and depths are exactly the same as when Flycasting and I hit it then.[/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]The fishing was the same, only different. There were no fish visible on the bottom, with sonar, but we did see some cruisers not too far under the surface. Bubbles and flies got quick response. I hit the water at 8:30 and had my first cookie cutter 13 inch tiger within 10 minutes. Followed it up with a couple more before TubeBabe got the hang of the presentation and caught her first ever tiger trout. [/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]She didn’t stop there, and pretty well kept pace with me throughout the morning. In fact, she probably tied me for largest fish too…about 16”. No big colorful fish today, but plenty of scrappy sub sixteens.[/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]As usual, TubeBabe stuck with the same two rigs I put together for her before we left. One was a bubble and fly. The other was a small marabou jig (1/32 oz. black with chartreuse eye) with a fly dropper about two feet up. Since she wasn’t messin’ with tackle all the time, she concentrated on fishing and paced me pretty well. She did change patterns a couple of times when I used the walkie talkie to let her know the fish were changing preference.[/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]Me? I kept changing flies and jigs every few minutes, trying to find either what they liked best or something they would not hit. In the early part of the morning we both did best on some variation of my “California Coachman” pattern. As it got brighter, the fish went lower in the water column and black patterns did better. My “Hiltons” kicked tiger butt…especially the new red tailed model and the green back black.[/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]Two weeks ago, most of our fish came on jigs bounced off the bottom beneath us in 25 – 28 feet of water. I didn’t score a fish today on the gaudier jigs vertical jigging. But, I did catch quite a few on the little black marabou jig, with a fly dropper, by casting and counting down and then retrieving through the water column.[/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]I also tried “fly shotting”…drop shotting with a double fly rig. Got several on it, including my largest on my “white rainbow”. [/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]I usually don’t count fish. But today I said I wanted to see how long it took me to catch the first ten. About 45 minutes. And, by 10:30 (2 hrs) I had released 25. It slowed down about 11 and we got off the water just after noon, but I know we both got at least another ten or so after I quit counting. [/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]No doubt about it. TubeBabe trashed her tiger jinx today. She done good.[/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3][blue]Water temp was about 41 at departure and air temp was 53. I am betting that will change soon.[/blue][/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][blue][size 3]Also, looked down at Fairview Lakes and noticed that maybe a third of the lake had a big thin sheet of ice floating on it. Didn’t see Fuzzy out there though.[/size][/blue] [/font]
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#2
Looks like the 2 of you had a great time. I want to get up there with the fly rod. [cool]
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#3
As always, great report and great pics. Congrats TubeBabe on the tigers.

What is the reason for the amount of coloration or lack thereof on the tigers?
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#4
Great lookin' fish and those are some nice looking flies! I like that green back black! I think it is great that you went to the effort to show us the flies you were using.
So, was your choice of flies here mostly experimentation, or choice based on conditions? Also, I like that California Coachman. Do you prefer it to the royal?

Thanks Again for the post!
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#5
...congrats to tubebabe for breaking the jinx... in style.. [Smile]

the story and pictures.. as always.. are great.. love the looks of those flies.. one day Ill tie some.. soon as I figure out how too.. l[sly]

MacFly [cool]
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#6
Nice report and Way to go TubeMom. You know how to make a son proud.[cool]
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#7
[cool][#0000ff]"[/#0000ff][#000000][size 1]What is the reason for the amount of coloration or lack thereof on the tigers?"[/size][/#000000]
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[blue]Basic genetics. Tigers are a hybrid of brown trout and brookies. They are not only sterile, but they are neither male or female. No development of eggs or milt as in many other hybrids. But, they can go through a "false spawn"...sort of. [/blue]
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[blue]Even though there are no actual "genders", some fish take on the characteristics of either male or female in some ways. Most are more female than male. As such, they do not become "colored up" for fancy occasions...like spawning.[/blue]
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[#0000ff]On the other hand, some fish seemingly become a bit more male and develop larger heads, hooked jaws and bright colors in the fall. These fish are highly prized by anglers for their appearance.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Only one of the smaller fish I caught yesterday had any of the male characteristics. Most were "fems". Here are a couple of pics from the past showing the male side of things.[/#0000ff]
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#8
[size 1][black][size 2]"So, was your choice of flies here mostly experimentation, or choice based on conditions? Also, I like that California Coachman. Do you prefer it to the royal?"[/size][/black][/size]
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[#0000ff]Glad you appreciate my inclusion of the fly pics. I know I always like to see stuff like that in reports. Names alone do not always get the job done.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I have tied flies since about age 7...over 55 years. It has probably been almost that long since I have fished any "standard" pattern...other than a renegade. Hard to improve on the original. Almost all of the flies I tie and use are my own variations and hybrids...like my "coachagade"...a hybrid between a royal/california coachman and a renegade. Tough to tie but double deadly. Sorry, no pics, but will shoot and post some if you want.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I always carry about 4 kinds of "coachmen"...the old all dark (ostrich) with white hair wings or tail and a ginger or rust front hackle...the "royal", with bright red...the "California", with hot orange (light or dark)...and the "Utah", with chartreuse. At least one of them...in some size...will catch trout almost anywhere. Steelhead and salmon too. And, tons of bluegills.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]While the hot red royal version is a tradional attractor pattern everywhere, not as many fly flingers are familiar with the California version. I have found that in most cases, the hot orange seems to be more effective than the bright red. Lately it has been kicking bootie for me at Jordanelle, and also caught my only rainbow at Yuba last week. The tigers at Huntington have always responded to flies and lures with a bit of orange in them, so the California coachman is usually effective.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]The combination of chartreuse and black is widely recognized as being one of the best two colors for many species. Using a black chenille body and a "shellback" of chartreuse "sparkle braid"...with a tail of mixed black and chartreuse Krystal Flash...produces a highly visible fly that has a lot of trigger factors. [/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I did not get a good pic of the red butt Hilton. But, you can see it fairly well in the one pic. I tie it on a size 6 red Eagle Claw laser sharp streamer hook. It is the standard silver Hilton tie...with black sparkle chenille body, grizzly hackle wings and grizzly hackle front. Instead of using mallard flank feathers for the "traditional" tie, I use about a dozen strands of red Krystal Flash or a bit of red quill feather. A couple of dyed red hackle tippets work well too. The combo of black and red is also a proven trout taker. Works for me.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]My choice of flies, on any given day...at any given time...is based upon a combination of experience and observation. It helps to know the water and the species, and the annual changes in the habitat and feeding patterns. I am happy to say that most of the time I guess right and I am rewarded with a bent stick and stretched string. But, like all anglers, the fish sometimes humble me again. That's when I start changing up...using different colors, sizes and presentations. Prozac helps too.[/#0000ff]
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#9
[Smile]After an almost sleepless night, I really could have "bagged" the trip, but TudeDad had outdone himself getting everything ready for it so I didn't have the heart to nix it at 4:30a! Boy, am I glad that I went along for the ride! Those tigers really are fun to catch! They are very theatrical ... tail-walking across the water. The nice thing about fishing with the flies is that they take it right in the lip, so releasing them is not a problem. They are skilled at getting off the hook, so keeping them on long enough to get them into the net is more of a challenge than letting them go. After two unproductive trips up there, that made this victory all the more sweeter!
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#10
This time of the year I am surprised you can be lured back from Arizona to the ice and cold just by the promise of a few pretty trout [sly]

Looks like a wonderful trip and nice fish BTW.
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#11
Nothing helps make up for a lack of sleep like a good day on the water. Too bad about the cold.
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#12
When you guys make it to SoCal, I can't promise you any Tigers but we do have some other freaky species to play with here.[cool]
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#13
[cool][#0000ff]I lived in SoCal too. I know all about Hollywood Blvd. and Venice. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Oh....you meant different FISH species. [/#0000ff]
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#14
... [sly][sly]... now thas funny...

MacFly [cool]
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#15
[black][size 3]Nice report! Wish I had been in on this one, sounds right up my alley, although those CARP were sure fun.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I appriciate the fly and I like the name. I use Royal Wulff's and Trudes 90% of the time. Like I said to you before I stick with the old school flies. The new ones are pretty, but that don't get the fish, just the fisherman.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I also tie my wulffs and trudes with all different colors of FLOSS. Orange is an explosive color. Yellow, chartreuse, olive, even purple. They all have their place. I am even tying PT in different colors and do best with the Burnt Orange and the Yellow.[/size][/black]
[black][size 3]I like the simplicity of the California and the name is perfect. No over wing or wing and synthetic tail...Kewl![/size][/black]
[black][size 3]Great report as usual![/size][/black]
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#16
[cool][#0000ff]Thanks goddess lady. Appreciate the appreciation.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I like floss too...expecially on the smaller patterns. I have just about every color made. Love the orange and yellow, but I use the chartreuse a lot too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I did not post a picture of my "hybrid" between a renegade and coachman..."coachegade". I did scan a pic to show ya. I also do those in all the colors...red, orange, chartreuse and yellow. I often use no tail or a golden pheasant tippet tail.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Several years ago I made up a bunch of those in size 12 and 14 for a friend who wanted to try them on the Green. The Cal version was a killer...as was the Royal and the Utah (chartreuse). He said he could have sold a grundle of them to other fishermen if he had more.[/#0000ff]
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#17
Perfect...combine two very productive flies. Nice. What are you using instead of Peacock?
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#18
[cool][#0000ff]As you know, there is no real substitute for a good peacock body or tail section. But, on larger flies and for patterns designed for heavy action and sharp teeth, there are a couple of things I have found to be acceptible. One is olive colored "sparkle braid". The other is a "pearl core braid" in a color that really has a close appearance to peacock. Both are super tough and have a good irridescent sheen. The fish vote for them on a regular basis and that is what counts.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I get my stuff from all over but I think Sportsmans sells both.[/#0000ff]
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