Home again, home again

I drove to my 'home water' again about noon today, hoping for baetis.

I went a few miles further upstream to a historic Gold Rush town where
the character of the river changes dramatically. Where I fished a
couple days ago is very 'valley riparian' in nature, few big rocks,
mostly shallow riffle followed by a deeperbut not too deep pool, banks
very brushy with LOTS of berry vines.

As you can see http://www.kimshew.com/flyfish/photos/KFStan.jpg just
4 miles of so makes a big difference and the river is much more of a
mountain canyon style stream.

I let my gear in the car and went walking. It was a gray and dreary
day and mainly I was looked for a change from house-bound boredom ...
I didn't expect much. But I came upon an area ( the photo ) with
several small fish rising to baetis. They were small enough that
going back to get a rod seemed too much effort and I simply watched
for a half hour or so, hoping to learn a bit as I usually do when I
lay my rod down and look instead of fish. Soon a few 'decent' fish
joined the feeding and I couldn't resist.

By the time I returned to the truck, strung a rod and walked back to
the river ... it was all but over ... of course ;-( I did
hook one little guy and only then did I realize I had made no plan for
success. I was on a rock well above the river and a steep one ...
landing a fish was virtually impossible. I gave the little guy some
slack and, luckily, he managed to shake free. Made me feel like a
bit of a fool ( not an uncommon feeling for me )

Thank you very much. As the snowplow just came through and unlocked
me from 2 days of being snowed in, TR's like yours, the image of even
small trout sipping baetis off the surface, the sound of moving water
(i.e. not the sound of frozen water being blown through the air from a
snowblower), elicits wonderful images. Thank you.
Frank Reid

On 01/07/2010 04:26 PM, Larry L wrote:

I didn't expect much.

It still beats working!

But I came upon an area ( the photo ) with
several small fish rising to baetis.

A lot of guys in the local area carry thermometers. (Some
fancy ones too!) Would you be one of these guys? And, if
so, did not happen to measure the water temperature?

I personally don't carry one as it would not stop
me from fishing. Don't care if I don't catch anything!
Okay, I care a little.

Also, were your baetis mayflies metamorphosing from larva to
winged or were they laying eggs on the surface? (I am
presuming one of these two as you said "rising".)

And, if it is not giving away the farm, what pattern
do you use to imitate them?

Let us know if you go back an catch that larger one!
Loved the photo.

-T

"Larry L" wrote in message
...
I drove to my 'home water' again about noon today, hoping for baetis.

I went a few miles further upstream to a historic Gold Rush town where
the character of the river changes dramatically. Where I fished a
couple days ago is very 'valley riparian' in nature, few big rocks,
mostly shallow riffle followed by a deeperbut not too deep pool, banks
very brushy with LOTS of berry vines.

As you can see http://www.kimshew.com/flyfish/photos/KFStan.jpg just
4 miles of so makes a big difference and the river is much more of a
mountain canyon style stream.

I let my gear in the car and went walking. It was a gray and dreary
day and mainly I was looked for a change from house-bound boredom ...
I didn't expect much. But I came upon an area ( the photo ) with
several small fish rising to baetis. They were small enough that
going back to get a rod seemed too much effort and I simply watched
for a half hour or so, hoping to learn a bit as I usually do when I
lay my rod down and look instead of fish. Soon a few 'decent' fish
joined the feeding and I couldn't resist.

By the time I returned to the truck, strung a rod and walked back to
the river ... it was all but over ... of course ;-( I did
hook one little guy and only then did I realize I had made no plan for
success. I was on a rock well above the river and a steep one ...
landing a fish was virtually impossible. I gave the little guy some
slack and, luckily, he managed to shake free. Made me feel like a
bit of a fool ( not an uncommon feeling for me )


Thanks for sharing the "specialness" (Yes that is a word... I just made it
up.) of your day.
Wishing you many more.

Rob.

"Robert from Oz" wrote in message
u...

"Larry L" wrote in message
...
I drove to my 'home water' again about noon today, hoping for baetis.

I went a few miles further upstream to a historic Gold Rush town where
the character of the river changes dramatically. Where I fished a
couple days ago is very 'valley riparian' in nature, few big rocks,
mostly shallow riffle followed by a deeperbut not too deep pool, banks
very brushy with LOTS of berry vines.

As you can see http://www.kimshew.com/flyfish/photos/KFStan.jpg just
4 miles of so makes a big difference and the river is much more of a
mountain canyon style stream.

I let my gear in the car and went walking. It was a gray and dreary
day and mainly I was looked for a change from house-bound boredom ...
I didn't expect much. But I came upon an area ( the photo ) with
several small fish rising to baetis. They were small enough that
going back to get a rod seemed too much effort and I simply watched
for a half hour or so, hoping to learn a bit as I usually do when I
lay my rod down and look instead of fish. Soon a few 'decent' fish
joined the feeding and I couldn't resist.

By the time I returned to the truck, strung a rod and walked back to
the river ... it was all but over ... of course ;-( I did
hook one little guy and only then did I realize I had made no plan for
success. I was on a rock well above the river and a steep one ...
landing a fish was virtually impossible. I gave the little guy some
slack and, luckily, he managed to shake free. Made me feel like a
bit of a fool ( not an uncommon feeling for me )


Thanks for sharing the "specialness" (Yes that is a word... I just made it
up.) of your day.
Wishing you many more.

Rob.


specialnessmist??

joihn

On Jan 8, 7:18*pm, Todd wrote:



It still beats working!


I'm retired from a job I enjoyed ... I've left slow fishing many times
over the years, actually preferring to get back to the fun at work.
Yep, I've been lucky G




A lot of guys in the local area carry thermometers. (Some
fancy ones too!) *Would you be one of these guys? *And, if
so, did not happen to measure the water temperature?



NO, although I've made many efforts, over the years, to over
complicate fishing, including thermometers, If I've got to get there
to measure the temp, I'm there ( doh) why not fish? I'm sure that
areas with greater seasonal variation, such as in the eastern US
would reward the tool ... I personally fish nearly all tail waters and
spring creeks with pretty damn uniform temps, all season.




Also, were your baetis mayflies metamorphosing from larva to
winged or were they laying eggs on the surface? *(I am
presuming one of these two as you said "rising".)



They were hatching .... they "have to be there" at the right time but
I've never noticed spinner falls on this river causing surface
feeding. These are sparse hatches and the fish "follow" the
nymphs up into a 'looking at the surface' feeding station as the hatch
develops. That is much different than 'looking up' much of the day
and thus noticing an ant falling in or sparse spinner fall that will
provide great fishing on rivers of a different nature.



And, if it is not giving away the farm, what pattern
do you use to imitate them?


#18 Gray Sparkle Dun .... the Blue Winged Olives I see in spring run
#18 to #20 and are gray winged grays, GWGs G A nymph/ emerger
such as a Model A emerger would work better, from my experience, in a
'real' spring baetis hatch ( in the areas I fish ) but that requires a
close approach to the fish, to fish effectively, that wasn't possible
so I compromised on a fly I could see and that might suggest a cripple
or struggling emerger



Sorry I took so long to reply, I didn't notice your post .... Google's
interface doesn't add a damn thing to my already minimal interest in
things ROFFian

On Jan 12, 4:05*pm, Larry L wrote:

.... Google's
interface doesn't add a damn thing to my already minimal interest in
things ROFFian

Yeah, they're a lot alike.....everywhere you look, there's humans.

g.

It still beats working!

I'm retired from a job I enjoyed ... I've left slow fishing many times
over the years, actually preferring to get back to the fun at work.

NO NO No no no no-no-no! Tell me it is not so! Wait
a minute. Your funnin' me. I fell for that one hook, line,
and sinker. I am way to gullible at times. :-)