They Like The Little Cleo

[Dawgsquat]

Fished from 6:30 am to 9:30 am and caught 7 rainbows. Fished the lower part of zone 1. Started with a small rapala (brown trout color) and caught one. Switched to a gold little cleo and got the other 6 in short order. They were really hitting it good. Along with the 7 I landed, I hooked but lost 4 more. I guess I need to sharpen those hooks.

None were really braggin' size but they were nice fighters.

Here's a couple of them. They were all about the same.

EDIT: I threw them all back.

[Fly_Guy]

Thank heavens - catch and release is important in sustaining a fishery like Roaring River! - just jokin -

[FishinCricket]

Those Little Cleo's and other spoons (like the Kastmaster I have grown to love) seem to do a great job, don't they? were you working yours across the stream, jiggin' it on the bottom, or a combo of the two?

congrats either way, hope that this is the worst fishing trip you will have this year, eh?

[WebFreeman]

I have some and never use them. I'm always afraid I'll hang them up on the bottom. Any secrets?

[timsfly]

If you fish a little cleo or a kastmaster you will lose one now and again, I fish them some when the water is high. Fish them like a jig sometimes, I cast accross and upstream, let them sink and work them back with a jigging type of action. In the big hole up by the hatchery, I throw them in, let them sink deep(count to 10) and then reel them in reel slow, pumping the rod just a bit, trying to imitane a wounded or dead minnow. I use them all the time in shoal creek and flat creek, I have put single hooks, and feathers on them for years for customers, who fish them in the fly area and they work great.

[WebFreeman]

How you dress the hook? I've always wondered how to get that rooster tail look w/ a feather.

[timsfly]

I use a straight eye mustad hook, and put some hackle on it, and you have a leagle lure for the fly areas. Take the treble hook off and put the single hook fly on the cleo and go fish.

[Fly_Guy]

is that the requirement for the fly area - a lure with some kind of feather on it? - Would a tiny crankbait with a dressed tail work as well? - Also (always wondered) do you have to use a fly rod in the zone?

[Dawgsquat]

Those Little Cleo's and other spoons (like the Kastmaster I have grown to love) seem to do a great job, don't they? were you working yours across the stream, jiggin' it on the bottom, or a combo of the two?

congrats either way, hope that this is the worst fishing trip you will have this year, eh?

Thanks CC. I throw across the stream, up and down stream at about a 45 degree angle, and work it back slowly and very erratic. Trying to simulate a wounded minnow. I had the best luck at the lower end of the pools.

[Dawgsquat]

I have some and never use them. I'm always afraid I'll hang them up on the bottom. Any secrets?

I tried to work it slowly, but just fast enough to keep it off the bottom. I did lose one with a cast that was a bit too long. Snagged a bush on the other side. Luckily I had a few with me.