Mixed Weekend

[rkerbo]

fished Marval Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

With the generation we only had a few hours fishing on Friday. Didn't have much success until I tied on a red Zebra midge. Got quite a few hits on that. But the real treat was when I tied on a Black Zebra Midge. I am fairly new to fly fishing and haven't had a lot of luck with midge's so I was resistent to tying one on. But it was fun when I finally did!

Saturday was weird and I think my lack of experience was showing. I caught a few early on with a Pheasant Tail - Bead Head Nymph (had to look that name up). The zebra's were not working all that well. Not sure if the fish were shocked by the extremely low water level or what but it was a really slow day fishing. Just didn't see (or obviously catch) the fish where I expected.

Sunday was a totally different story... water was still low but the fish seemed to more plentiful and actively feeding. Hooked quite a few on the Pheasant tails. At 2pm (almost time to leave) we switched over to power baits (my parents still hadn't got their limits). I have to admit... power baits work surprisingly well. Most of my flies I hooked the fish in the mouth and getting the hook out was easy. Not with power baits... they swallow the dang things. If they weren't a keeper we just cut the line. The biggest fish of the weekend were caught on power baits.

Any thoughts on the low water levels shutting the fish down for a day? Is that possible or just lack of experience on my part?

[Zach Bearden]

If it was a sunny day the fish will head for deeper water most of the time. Could have been your tippet also.

Unless the water levels were ridiculousy low it really shouldn't matter to them. Also the fish just could have been hard for that day.