Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

Vince and I drove to the dam and fished a bit this afternoon. He fished a #18 gray scud mostly and caught a fair number of rainbows above outlet #2. I played around with several flies- a #16 brown crackleback drew lots of attention and a few hookups. Best strip was downstream at about 45 degrees and short, fast strips, pausing every 4 strips.

I took my ultra lite spin cast rig with 2 lb test with me- tied on a variety of colors and sizes of jigs and did best on a 1/32nd oz white jig. I'd throw it across stream and work it- hoping it off the bottom. The trout would swarm it but wouldn't really pick it up... but a few did. I caught a couple nice rainbows, working my way down to #2.

About 4 they blow a horn and the water started to rise. I slipped down below #2 and threw the jig as the water got faster and faster. I caught a couple more rainbows and then a very nice brown about 18 inches. I played alittle in the outlet before heading home. I tried to run the jig down the floom of the outlet without the jig getting to the bottom. I could see rainbows taking the jig but I wasn't fast enough to set the hook before they let it go. It was interesting.

Guests caught alot of trout off our dock today. I saw one guy throwing a small jig and doing very well... but mostly they were using power bait.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Were there very many people fishing up there?

Snagged.

[Phil Lilley]

When I got there, I saw 8-9 spread out down to Big Hole. When I left I saw only a couple.

The water is dark, stained. It's very hard to see fish. They are dark to match the water and bottom... the males are very dark.

There were a few beds above #2 in the shallows with rainbows on them. I saw one big brown above #2.

I could have fished a crackleback or soft hackle the whole time and done well but wanted to experiment. Using the jig was alot of fun. I used white because I could see the jig.... see it disappear into the fish's mouth. Other dark colors, I would have had to go on just feel.

[loo10]

Absolutely gorgeous fish.

With all the spots...it looked like an Alaskan rainbow;

rightfully called an "Alaskan Leopard".

Thanks for the picture.

His creation is truly magnificant!

[moose50]

ya thats a gorgeous fish lilley, do jigs work well in august. ive tried a few up towards the dam and i really never did to well. maybe the jigs were too big, or heck maybe im just not that lucky lol i think i was using black and olive colored jigs at the time