Post by Nick Pionessa on Sept 21, 2010 12:14:33 GMT -5
In a effort to have members get more info from fishing experiences that just “I went here and caught this” I will be forgoing most fishing reports and instead reporting on the tackle and technique pertaining to that trips success or lack there of.
The two already published pieces on this board are great for the beginner getting into the use of traditional techniques. The following postings will add details to that based on specific conditions and recent trips.
9-20-10
A friend and I fished the lower end of the big LE trib knowing it was in less than optimum condition. This of course doesn’t mean you won’t be successful but it does mean that certain things need to be done to make your own success.
We had about 10” of visibility in the AM which increased to about a foot later in the day. Early season conditions also meant that there was likely not that many fish present. Combining low numbers of fish with poor visibility makes it tough but not impossible.
This was also our first outing of the season and knowing how that river changes from season to season means we didn’t have any real knowledge as to where the fish would be other than basic water reading. We had flows of about 350+ cfs so about average for the creek in the main part of the season. Not too high but still a lot of water especially considering the gauge is 15 miles up stream. The actual flow may have been closer to 400 cfs.
Based on this flow I used a 7wt Airflo Tactical Steelhead line with the floating tip removed and replaced with an Airflo 8’ t-7 tip with a sink rate of 7 ips. Off that tip I tied on 2’ of Maxima ultragreen 15# tippet material followed by 2’ of the same in 12#. Two reasons for this; first is that tapering the tippet aids in turnover of bulky flies and second because of the water clarity stealth was not needed at all. I guess you could also add a third in that September fish are notoriously hot. This head was attached to Airflo 30# ridge running line, then to 30# backing. Spooled on a Galvan Torque #8 reel which I put on my Thomas & Thomas 11’ 7 wt compact two hand rod. In hindsight I probably should have used a longer rod like the 13’ 7wt as it would have made moving the heavy rig easier. This was about the limit of that rod for all day work. The 11’ worked fine really but it could have been easier on me with the bigger rod.
For a fly I started with a favorite of mine for low visibility water, the Foxy Leech. It has a big profile, great motion and is easier to cast that similar flies made with bunny strips or strung leeches. In fishing all day this can make a huge difference in fatigue for the angler. I rig this fly with a Daiichi Octopus hook in a #4. The fly was also tied on an HMH 1” copper tube to make sure it stays down with the sinktip and drops quickly.
My partner was using an Airflo compact Skagit head with a 10’ Rio 7 ips poly leader and bunny strip flies. The compact skagits are another good choice for the conditions we had, but I don’t like stripping all that line all day and have worked long and hard at getting my casting up to speed to be able to use longer heads. That one is simply personal preference and goes to show there are many roads leading to the same destination.
We selected a pretty classic type of run with a medium flow that slowed near the bottom end and was likely about 3-6’ of depth. It also had something I have found newly entering fish seem to covet; a high bank on the deep side. I feel this gives fish that are fresh from the big water of the lake a little comfort.
With the heavy flows my cast was made at about 80deg downstream from my position. To make this clear, that means I was casting about 10 deg downstream of my position. This allows some time for the fly to sink before the line tightens. When I got to the shallower, bottom end I begin to cast at more of an angle downstream making the fly swim sooner and sink less. Rather than changing tips all the time this is an easy way to adjust the depth of your presentation.
With the lousy visibility I wanted to make sure I had the fly close to the bottom and moving as slowly as possible. A heavier tip would have caused me to fish the fly a bit faster and not allow it to swing all the way to a hang down without hanging up. This is also important in low vis and really about any time. If the fly hangs up before it gets to the hang down any fish following it may be turned off by the fly hitting bottom. You want a tip that gets down in the run but also makes it to the end of the swing. This is a good way to determine if you have the correct tip for the run.
I managed to hook two fish in that run using these methods and rigs in what I would consider marginal conditions. My partner sadly only had one brief hookup and some yanks, luck of the draw as far as I’m concerned. He has certainly out fished me more than once and will again, I’m sure.
The last point would be what I did when the fish took the fly. That would be nothing! I hear of many methods to ensure a solid hook up but for me the less I do the better I hook them when the line is tight. When I feel the weight of the fish I simply hold the line tight. Once the connection is made I keep the rod low and downstream. This is very important when it comes to two handed rods. If the rod is vertical you get much more rod bounce as the fish changes direction. Each time the rod bounces it causes a bit of slack and if they quickly change direction they unhook themselves. Down and low is the way to go.
T&T 1107’s with the Galvan T-8 and a Bauer Rogue 6
First of the year and note the good corner of the mouth hook placement. I was stoked to get what looked like a wild fish for the first of the year, good karma.
The second fish was a hatchery fish but a solid fighter and as bright as they come.
This fish was actually hooked on a Temple Dog type fly I will have more info on soon so keep posted.
also hooked a little, wild skipper that ate a purple foxy leech that was damn near 5”, ambitious little guy.
this is meant to inform but also open up discussion and invite questions, don't be shy.
The two already published pieces on this board are great for the beginner getting into the use of traditional techniques. The following postings will add details to that based on specific conditions and recent trips.
9-20-10
A friend and I fished the lower end of the big LE trib knowing it was in less than optimum condition. This of course doesn’t mean you won’t be successful but it does mean that certain things need to be done to make your own success.
We had about 10” of visibility in the AM which increased to about a foot later in the day. Early season conditions also meant that there was likely not that many fish present. Combining low numbers of fish with poor visibility makes it tough but not impossible.
This was also our first outing of the season and knowing how that river changes from season to season means we didn’t have any real knowledge as to where the fish would be other than basic water reading. We had flows of about 350+ cfs so about average for the creek in the main part of the season. Not too high but still a lot of water especially considering the gauge is 15 miles up stream. The actual flow may have been closer to 400 cfs.
Based on this flow I used a 7wt Airflo Tactical Steelhead line with the floating tip removed and replaced with an Airflo 8’ t-7 tip with a sink rate of 7 ips. Off that tip I tied on 2’ of Maxima ultragreen 15# tippet material followed by 2’ of the same in 12#. Two reasons for this; first is that tapering the tippet aids in turnover of bulky flies and second because of the water clarity stealth was not needed at all. I guess you could also add a third in that September fish are notoriously hot. This head was attached to Airflo 30# ridge running line, then to 30# backing. Spooled on a Galvan Torque #8 reel which I put on my Thomas & Thomas 11’ 7 wt compact two hand rod. In hindsight I probably should have used a longer rod like the 13’ 7wt as it would have made moving the heavy rig easier. This was about the limit of that rod for all day work. The 11’ worked fine really but it could have been easier on me with the bigger rod.
For a fly I started with a favorite of mine for low visibility water, the Foxy Leech. It has a big profile, great motion and is easier to cast that similar flies made with bunny strips or strung leeches. In fishing all day this can make a huge difference in fatigue for the angler. I rig this fly with a Daiichi Octopus hook in a #4. The fly was also tied on an HMH 1” copper tube to make sure it stays down with the sinktip and drops quickly.
My partner was using an Airflo compact Skagit head with a 10’ Rio 7 ips poly leader and bunny strip flies. The compact skagits are another good choice for the conditions we had, but I don’t like stripping all that line all day and have worked long and hard at getting my casting up to speed to be able to use longer heads. That one is simply personal preference and goes to show there are many roads leading to the same destination.
We selected a pretty classic type of run with a medium flow that slowed near the bottom end and was likely about 3-6’ of depth. It also had something I have found newly entering fish seem to covet; a high bank on the deep side. I feel this gives fish that are fresh from the big water of the lake a little comfort.
With the heavy flows my cast was made at about 80deg downstream from my position. To make this clear, that means I was casting about 10 deg downstream of my position. This allows some time for the fly to sink before the line tightens. When I got to the shallower, bottom end I begin to cast at more of an angle downstream making the fly swim sooner and sink less. Rather than changing tips all the time this is an easy way to adjust the depth of your presentation.
With the lousy visibility I wanted to make sure I had the fly close to the bottom and moving as slowly as possible. A heavier tip would have caused me to fish the fly a bit faster and not allow it to swing all the way to a hang down without hanging up. This is also important in low vis and really about any time. If the fly hangs up before it gets to the hang down any fish following it may be turned off by the fly hitting bottom. You want a tip that gets down in the run but also makes it to the end of the swing. This is a good way to determine if you have the correct tip for the run.
I managed to hook two fish in that run using these methods and rigs in what I would consider marginal conditions. My partner sadly only had one brief hookup and some yanks, luck of the draw as far as I’m concerned. He has certainly out fished me more than once and will again, I’m sure.
The last point would be what I did when the fish took the fly. That would be nothing! I hear of many methods to ensure a solid hook up but for me the less I do the better I hook them when the line is tight. When I feel the weight of the fish I simply hold the line tight. Once the connection is made I keep the rod low and downstream. This is very important when it comes to two handed rods. If the rod is vertical you get much more rod bounce as the fish changes direction. Each time the rod bounces it causes a bit of slack and if they quickly change direction they unhook themselves. Down and low is the way to go.
T&T 1107’s with the Galvan T-8 and a Bauer Rogue 6
First of the year and note the good corner of the mouth hook placement. I was stoked to get what looked like a wild fish for the first of the year, good karma.
The second fish was a hatchery fish but a solid fighter and as bright as they come.
This fish was actually hooked on a Temple Dog type fly I will have more info on soon so keep posted.
also hooked a little, wild skipper that ate a purple foxy leech that was damn near 5”, ambitious little guy.
this is meant to inform but also open up discussion and invite questions, don't be shy.