SF Snake 1/05/12

[flyfishingfool]

I fished the South Fork of the Snake for the first time since October today. Water really wasn't any lower but it was clearer and the fish were skittish where I was at. I did best with a small zebra midge. I ended up catching three, nothing big at all though. I found a few pods of fish feeding but none of them were big enough to tempt me to change from my setup to a dry fly setup. It felt nice to get out and throw some flies again. All I've been doing since November is ice fishing. I also ran into X2FSH and he was having about the same amount of luck as me.
[img]
[signature]

[Bmarsh]

Good to see some one besides me got the itch. We went out Monday on the boat and tossed dries for a few hours. Had good success throwing size 20 matting midges and bloody butchers. In a couple hours I caught 8 and lost 3 biggest was a nice 16 rainbow. My pa too a little longer to get the nack off small flies. I finally got him to change to a 6x and he started turning fish. He ended up landing 3. Was nice to toss some drys!
[signature]

[cpierce]

Amen, guys, amen!


Bmarsh, I am curious about the flies you used. Are "Matted Midges" something like a Griffiths Gnat? Also is the "Bloody Butcher" the one that is tied like a red Griffiths?
[signature]

[ironrod]

I also hit the SF recently and did very well on egg patterns. Caught both bows and browns- most over 16 's. I hate not having snow this time of yr but it lends to good fly fishing opportunities!!
[signature]

[Bmarsh]

[quote cpierce]Amen, guys, amen!


Bmarsh, I am curious about the flies you used. Are "Matted Midges" something like a Griffiths Gnat? Also is the "Bloody Butcher" the one that is tied like a red Griffiths?[/quote]
I'll get you some pics tonight. Mating midge is basically a double midge with the butts in the middle of the shank. The other is like a gnat body is red thread and the hackle is black.
[signature]

[cpierce]

That would be great. I would love any ideas forwinter flies that I can actually see! Most of the midges I fish now I just have to guess where they are at.
[signature]

[X2FSH]

I was out again friday. Headed up towards swan valley...I ruled the white fish...it was later in the afternoon and they were just a slurp 'n away...caught 5 and lost 2...was using an #18 zebra midge. I had been up near the dam earlier and had been skunked up to that point...was nice to catch something...even if they were white fish[]
[signature]

[cpierce]

Good fishing anyway. I think it is more challenging to get a whitefish in than a trout. The whitefish's mouth is so delicate it tears out easily.
[signature]

[X2FSH]

I haven't been fly fishing that long..so it was good practice for me to feel that ever so slight bite...and know when to set the hook...esp. since I wasn't using an indicator.
[signature]

[flyfishingfool]

I went out with fishingrookie and stikrig a little further up the canyon on Friday as well. Glad to hear you were able to get into a few fish. I like catching white fish. I ran out of midges and never got around to tying or buying any so I made due with a little hare's ear. Definitely wasn't as effective but it still caught fish. I ended up with a few whitefish and a cutthroat. It was fun doing a little sight fishing. I put a pic of the biggest whitefish [cool]
[img]
[signature]

[X2FSH]

Very cool..the whites can but a little torque on the old fly rod.
[signature]