Oct 18-19 Trip

[Fishingmill]

Got on the water on Sunday afternoon. Water was still high around 704. Fishing seemed to be very slow. I didn't see a lot of fish swimming around (at least not like it has been in the past) and no one really seemed to be doing great. Caught 3 rainbows between 18-20 inches sight fishing on a zebra midge dropper. Came back at night and fished outlet 1. I caught a striped bass (or hybrid, I really didn't get a good look) using a nymph (can't remember exactly what I was using) - I didn't even realize these swam up to the dam. Things were a little slow and I kept hearing fish rising so I tied on a dry fly, a big hex fly with a spider as a dropper. I missed something big that hit the spider, I had it hooked and it took out line to almost halfway across the lake, started reeling line in and then it came unhooked. My dad who was fishing with me caught 3 rainbows casting a san juan worm or egg fly and pulling it back in slowly. Next morning, I got out early and fished near outlet 1. Lots of fish in the outlets, but most were pretty stubborn. I fished down from the outlet and caught 1 brown around 16 inches and 4 more rainbows using a san juan worm with various droppers (zebra midge, scud, etc.). The san juan worm was really the key. I would throw it into a pod of fish holding close to the bank and just let it sit there. Eventually, a fish would come along and pick it up. Monday morning was a much better day but overall it seemed slow from previous years. I heard the water dropped later that day but I didn't get to partake in that. 

I did notice a few things that I wanted to mention.  Sunday afternoon there was a pontoon boat that came up with a huge wake and drove over where I was fishing. The boat also went past the line to fish. I was pretty upset that the boat didn't make any attempt to drive around me or slow down. I didn't think to call the Corps or the hatchery on the driver at the time.  

I also noticed a lot of people fowl hooking fish in the outlets. I have read that there were a lot of people seeing floating browns down river. This is nothing new, but fowl hooking fish and poor fish handle kills more fish than necessary, especially the big browns that we all want a shot at. 

Be interested to see what others thought about this weekend. 

[DaddyO]

I was there a couple of weeks ago and had the same water conditions.  I caught several nice fish but I fished hard all day to catch what I did on a variety of flies and techniques.  I've seen a lot of posts, similar to yours, and talked to several people that reported similar experiences.  I think the number of fish, are still there.  However, I think the current water conditions are spreading the fish out all over the lake/river.  There are pods of fish, all over the river, you have to cover more water to get to them.

[Amery]

I'm a firm believer that low o2 levels are causing lethargic fish and a slow bite.