Say what you want about Rocky Ford Creek fishing experience--how it's technical, or too crowded or full of tame fish or whatever. Every so often I need to get my big trout fix and when I had a meeting in Ephrata, the Ford beckoned.
Spent Saturday night sleeping in Big Red. Sunday morning broke a bit cool, so cool that I had to warm my butane stove using Big Red's heater before the fuel would ignite so I could heat water for french press coffee. Breakfast done, it was time to fish. Started with D'Dub's Lazy Leech in black followed by a Black Gold. For the first couple of hours the biggest challenge was not the ice in the guides, it was frozen reel and the line freezing to the rod. A weak sun finally raised the temperature to cure those issues.
The fishing was interesting--the catching was on fire. After so many fish I lost count, I started giving slack when a small fish hit. The fish were aggressive, willing to take either the leech or chironomid pattern. Made no difference whether it was dead-drifted or quickly stripped. At least three times, I hooked a fish on the chironomid and had a bigger fish take the leech.
How good was the fishing? I closed out the day with eight fish in eleven casts. Called it a day after breaking off both flies.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Snohomish River Pinks
Ian Brodie took me to his secret honey hole on the Snohomish River yesterday evening. The spot is so secret that there were only about 200 people lining the banks, plus several boats. Some folks brought tents to camp for the night, campfires dotted the shoreline as we walked out at dusk. Maybe it wasn't so secret after all.
It did have fish some of which were perfectly willing to play. We each hit three. My first was starting to hump up, the last was nice and bright. Muscled up to a 7/8 weight rod. The bigger fish this year have been tough to control on my 6 weight. Since I'm releasing all my fish, makes sense to end the fight sooner so they can go make more pinks for 2013.
Always experimenting with patterns, ranging from a Flashabou Pink Comet to Fuchsia Bugger tied with trilobal yarn instead of chicken hackle. Favorite fly so far--fuchsia rabbit tail, couple strands of silver flashabou, dubbed fuchsia sparkle yarn body. I'll add some weight at the head for fishing during brisk tide changes or fast stream flows.
It did have fish some of which were perfectly willing to play. We each hit three. My first was starting to hump up, the last was nice and bright. Muscled up to a 7/8 weight rod. The bigger fish this year have been tough to control on my 6 weight. Since I'm releasing all my fish, makes sense to end the fight sooner so they can go make more pinks for 2013.
Always experimenting with patterns, ranging from a Flashabou Pink Comet to Fuchsia Bugger tied with trilobal yarn instead of chicken hackle. Favorite fly so far--fuchsia rabbit tail, couple strands of silver flashabou, dubbed fuchsia sparkle yarn body. I'll add some weight at the head for fishing during brisk tide changes or fast stream flows.
Pinks In the Duwamish
Today was the Herding of the Pinks event on the Duwamish. The hot area was just downstream of the 1st Avenue S. bridge. I fished an intermediate line and the fish preferred a larger fly than in the past. Most everyone thinks the fish are bigger this run than last–I concur. Several fish gave my Scott 6 weight almost more than it could handle. The first fish took me 30 yards into my backing and one fish I never landed and was glad the hook pulled out. Next time I carry a bigger stick.
Most of the fish took on a fairly slow retrieve–much slower than what the hoochie and bombers using.
Here are some launch sites: just upstream from 1st Ave S. bridge, T107, and Duwamish Waterway Park. Explore and you’ll find other as well. Make sure to read the regs before heading out.
Most of the fish took on a fairly slow retrieve–much slower than what the hoochie and bombers using.
Here are some launch sites: just upstream from 1st Ave S. bridge, T107, and Duwamish Waterway Park. Explore and you’ll find other as well. Make sure to read the regs before heading out.
A Brief Affair
Hit Lincoln Park again yesterday–the bombers are scoring with their 1000 yard casts. Hit one fish last evening as the sun was setting. Seeing that sunset was worth the trip, the fish was a bonus.
Back again to join Bob Young and Steve Bohnemeyer. Steve left before a few pinks came in close. Bob hit one that released itself. My next cast resulted in a fish that I released after a pleasant tussle.
Sure would like to see WDFW Enforcement on the beach–folks are taking more than the limit and rarely are they recording their catch.
Back again to join Bob Young and Steve Bohnemeyer. Steve left before a few pinks came in close. Bob hit one that released itself. My next cast resulted in a fish that I released after a pleasant tussle.
Sure would like to see WDFW Enforcement on the beach–folks are taking more than the limit and rarely are they recording their catch.
Loveless At Lincoln Park
Hit Lincoln Park about 6:15 this morning before heading off to do some real estate work. I counted 22 boats in the water and about that many beach fishers including 5-6 fly tossers. Steve Bohnemeyer hooked one pink, landed one flounder and I got plenty of casting practice. Like I said, no love at Lincoln Park. On the other hand, the pink buzz bombers were scoring with long, long, long casts and some of down-rigger crowd were picking up fish.
The run will only get better as more fish arrive and push in closer to shore. Stay tuned and keep your casting arm limber
The run will only get better as more fish arrive and push in closer to shore. Stay tuned and keep your casting arm limber
Serene Was Serene
Lynnwood’s Lake Serene, the site of so many largemouth bass the last time Steve Bohnemeyer and I fished it, was completely fishless last night. Okay, so I had 4-5 nibbles, and I do mean nibbles as they were not strong enough to be called strikes, but that was as good as it got.
We fished on top into the lily pads, we fished shallow along the edges, we fished deep and we pretty much fished all around the lake.
Our results matched what we heard from a couple of local anglers–the lake is simply not fishing well this year. Go elsewhere
We fished on top into the lily pads, we fished shallow along the edges, we fished deep and we pretty much fished all around the lake.
Our results matched what we heard from a couple of local anglers–the lake is simply not fishing well this year. Go elsewhere
Weird Carpon
Talked with Leland Miyawaki this morning as he was headed into the Orvis store about the weird carpon behavior on Banks Lake. Ed Sozinho, Earl Harper and Leland found tons of fish and no takers. Weather conditions were better than good–sunny, hot, no clouds, no wind and clear water. No hook ups despite three quite accomplished fly fishers.
Here’s why: the fish are exhibiting spawning behavior. In a normal year, the spawn on Banks Lake would be the end of May–perhaps into the first week of June. Leland said the fish were paired up, broaching and generally focused on each other instead of eating.
His description matches my observations of the week before at Banks. Lots of fish–little catching except for the smallmouth.
Here’s why: the fish are exhibiting spawning behavior. In a normal year, the spawn on Banks Lake would be the end of May–perhaps into the first week of June. Leland said the fish were paired up, broaching and generally focused on each other instead of eating.
His description matches my observations of the week before at Banks. Lots of fish–little catching except for the smallmouth.
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