Fishing Reports 5/23-24

[Phil Lilley]

Guided with Bill yesterday and this am. Generation about the same both days- 1-2 units in the am building to 4 by 1-2 pm. We started with micros but went to scuds soon after and stayed with them most of the trips. #12 or #14 silver/gray scuds worked the best.

Drifted from Andy's to Fall Creek, staying pretty much in the middle of the lake using fly rods only. Set the fly from 7 to 12 feet, depending on amount of water running at the time. A good amount of weight to keep it on the bottom. Fly gathered some moss but not too bad, esp for this time of year. Bites yesterday were hard but this am were soft and they missed a bunch. Had to really watch the slack in the fly line cause you had to be quick and affective on the set.

Saw guys doing pretty well throwing jigs straight. Not sure of the color but they looked dark.

Night crawlers were hot in the short creek area, catching some real nice rainbows.

[Bill Babler]

Forgot to mention today and through out the week, I have seen quite a few people using swimming minnows in the restricted zone. I'm not an official, but I don't believe these are legal.

Have not commented or said anything to the users, as It's not my place. All the folks I saw using the swimmers, were releasing the fish. Might have spoken up if I had seen any go on a stringer.

I will tell you this, they were catching really nice fish and lots of them. Again, all the folks I saw fishing them were catch and release.

The swimmer, has a hard head, but is soft-bodied, so I am guessing they should not be used.

I know we have spoken about this before, but what a "Sticky Wicket."

I just hate to fuss at people all the time. I seem to be the Cranky Guide that patrols the lower restricted area, fussing at people.

I think we should all do our part to make people aware of the rules, but I know there is a line we should not cross. It's almost like I could spend all my time on a guide trip, speaking to folks that are not even my clients about what they can and cannot do.

I'll pick my battles well and be as curtious as possible, when I suggest they may be in violation of our rules.

[2sheds]

Concerning the soft-body lures - I recommend we take the position that these users might not be aware of the rules and that we are "informing them" to help avoid a ticket that might spoil an otherwise outstanding day on the water.

"Hey,how's it goin' today ? Just wanted to let you know that Fall Creek down there is where the regulations permit soft lures and baits. Up here they don't. Hate to see you get a ticket because its expensive and they're pretty strict about enforcement. Have a good one."

And this is everyone's job, not just BB.

[tippett7]

Why don't they just tie a fly like a swimming minnow and then they can have the best of both worlds.

[Bill Babler]

2sheads, even the way you have discribed I am butting into peoples business and no matter how polite, it backfires about 90% of the time.

As polite as I try to be in not only speaking of the boundary, but how to catch fish below it, people think there is a ulterior motive. And I will tell you frankly a ticket for a measly couple of hundred bucks, for all the fun their having may be worth it. Depends on the folks.

You are always treading a very slim line, taking the law into your own hands, or for that matter advising anyone of what they can or cannot do.

I still do it as politely as I can and in as inovasive a manner as possible. For sure with no other boaters within either eye or ear shot.

Great Comments

[Bman]

A big atta boy. Thanks for what you do. The agents need our help. And to anyone else who takes the law and ethics to heart.

[Lonestar]

A big atta boy. Thanks for what you do. The agents need our help. And to anyone else who takes the law and ethics to heart.

I know that I do not know all the regs....I, for one, would be very appreciative of a neighborly reminder of the rules, etc...and I appreciate the fact that folks post some of those on this forum so that I can learn...

[Phil Lilley]

In my experience in speaking with people about this, I find most are appreciative. Some are bothered. Some are definant.

I don't care- I'll say something if I see it 80% of the time. Depends how sure I am about the violation.

[twosets]

I think that this advice from 2sheds is very questionable, considering that one time I am pretty sure that I saw him above fall creek putting poison in the water like a South American Tribesman and then gigging big brown trout as they floated to the surface.

Bill is just so hard to get along with in general that it is not surprising that he may rub some people the wrong way.

(THIS IS A JOKE AND SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY)

Bob is right, it is all of our jobs to keep people informed. When this information comes from a guide, it is more likely to be regarded as an act of self interest as opposed to what it actually is for all of us, a real concern for the recource

[denjac]

Bet those folks knew what they were doing was a gray area. The sighns cleary say no plastics in the trophy area. I am like Bill everytime I get involved with somthing like that it doesn't go well. Guess I am not much of a diplomat.