Larry L wrote:
"rw" wrote


That's a tough situation. I'd strip in as fast as possible until I have
maybe 30 or 40 feet of line out, pick up the line and make some false
casts to dry the fly and make double hauls to get the line out (false
casting AWAY from the fish), and then present it as delicately as I could,
aiming right at the last rise form.

The tackle is irrelevant.

--



Hebgen gulpers is the situation and it can be very tough, as tough as any
fishing I do. On some days, these big fish are "easy" but most days they
require very good casting skills, have very little tolerance for
sloppiness, and have so many naturals to choose from that your fake bug
seems lost in the crowd. I strongly recommend it to anyone, that has a
high tolerance for frustration, and is in the Greater Yellowstone area in
August.

I do what you suggest but they travel through your area fast and you want to
get as many tries to match their rise rhythm / next rise spot as possible as
they slice across your circle of possibilities.

I know that casting skill is the real key, but I suk and am thinking that,
maybe, one of the superfast rods and long taper Weight forward lines might
make it easier ... or maybe, a fast rod and a DT line two sizes "too small"
... or, maybe, some other magic bullet to make up for the sucking sounds my
casts always make.

A long rod is advantageous in a kickboat, and especially in a float tube
when you're sitting low in the water. I think a fast rod helps, too,
because it allows you to get line out faster. Forget about the spey-rod,
snake-roll advice. :-)

I love casting for gulpers on stillwater. One of my most memorable
outings was when I was fishing with Willi on Quake Lake, in Warren's
"Gink Keeps it Up" drift boat (ex George's boat). It was a cloudy and
slightly rainy day and the Callibaetis came off. As I recall, I caught
three good-sized rainbows, which we kept and ate. Maybe it was two.
Willi will catch me on this. :-)

I missed a couple with too-soon strikes.

Quake Lake during a Callibaetis hatch is a good place to be. The dead
trees are surreal. I've never fished Hebgen. It seems too large and
intimidating.

Bruce and Willi and I (and someone else, can't recall who, but I think
Bevin?) went out the next day and did nada. It was a sunny, bluebird day
-- stinks for stillwater fishing.

Stillwater fishing with dries is something when the fish are rising.
They seem to be always just out of reach, or they rise right next to the
boat when you have 70' of line out. That turns into a comic circus.

When you see two rise forms in sequence it's tempting to cast to where
you extrapolate the fish will be next. This is, I believe, a mistake.
Fish feeding on the surface of stillwater move randomly. I cast directly
to the last rise form. If that doesn't get a take I start searching
around it.

--
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