Report 2/2/13

[jah]

Drove down last night to hang out with a buddy in his dad's newly purchased place about a mile from the stream. Fished this morning, starting in Zone 2 where the hatchery creek enters the stream. Caught one on my second cast on an orange egg pattern. Took me another hour and a half to get my 2nd, this time in Zone 1 below the waterfall. By the end of the day, I had landed about 10, and every one on an egg. I was frustrated because I tried a bunch of other stuff: soft hackle, nymphs, san juan, midges and dries.

The water was perfect, and fish were everywhere. For those of you who fish there often, what's the secret to your success? Don't get me wrong, 10 fish in 4 hours is fine, but other guys were tearing them up, it seemed. The fish were actively feeding just below the surface and several were hitting the surface. Loads of light colored flies were around (I'm not sure what they were). But, I'd love to hear some secrets to conquering Bennett without egg patterns, if you'd like to share. Since I have access to this new place, I may be down there a lot in the near future. Thanks.

Jim

[NoLuck]

Midges, midges, and more midges. Size 18 and 20. Various colors with various TBH colors.Use the lightest tippet and the smallest indicator to float the midge. Normally use flouro in 6x or 7x in super clear water. Get the best possible drift you can get and fish where the fish are.

[Stu675]

I had great success with white flies, I never tried any egg patterns or worms though stuck to mainly dries the week before.

I dont fish in the parks that often, typically only when catch and release comes around.

[Wornica]

I was also at Bennet yesterday and did well in zone 2 around 2:30 in the afternoon where the hatchery creek enters the stream using a 6x tippet, size 18 black soft hackle about 18 inches below a small strike indicator.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Size can be important at BS and 18 or smaller will generally do better. A big part of the game is in detecting strikes. Those fish can suck and blow very quick.

[NoLuck]

Size can be important at BS and 18 or smaller will generally do better. A big part of the game is in detecting strikes. Those fish can suck and blow very quick.

Thats why I say use the smallest indicator that floats the fly. If it does anything other than float down stream naturally set the hook.

[rcguy]

Thats why I say use the smallest indicator that floats the fly. If it does anything other than float down stream naturally set the hook.

What he said!

Unfortunately that's harder than it sounds for me.

[jah]

Thanks for all the tips. I was using a thingamabobber that was too big, I'm guessing. I should have used a small midge about 18 inches under a small pinch-on indicator. That will be my approach next trip. I missed a TON of fish, too, because I'm not the best at detecting strikes....thanks again

Jim

[rcguy]

I like the smallest thingamabobber they make but they are hard to find. Palsa foam pinch on floats are good. The depth of the midge depends where the fish are feeding. Sometimes deep.

My .02. NoLuck always outfishes me but make sure you get a good drift by mending the line to get a good drag free drift. I like a size 18 midge w/ tungstun bead. Try several colors

and even fish two- 12 to 18 inches apart if you are brave. It's legal but can give you one tangled mess if you're not carefull. Another trick to try is to let the midge swing at the end of the drift. Give it short twitches as it climbs towards the surface. Sometimes they really like that. Set the hook if anything about the float looks different than the normal drift. I usually set the the float at 1.5 times the water depth and adjust from there. Sometimes they are feeding shallower. When all of this fails I blame it on the wind.

[NoLuck]

Something to consider is the type of hooks you are using for your midges. If you are buying them from the shops around Bennett or most other fly shops, they are too small of a hook gap for my likings. If that is what you are doing then take a pair of pliers and twist the hook to open the to open the gap a little. That will help your hookup percentage somewhat. If you are tying your own use a 2499spbl hook. You can thank me later!! You will never use another hook again. It is a barbless hook but it holds fish good and they are super sharp.

Something else is bead choice. Use the smallest bead for the hook you can. It keeps the hook gap more open too.