Where to fish on fall trip?

[Eric82]

Thanks! i hope to have a cool report to give.  In regards to the LP i've found the most success concentrating on moving broken water.  In riffles and just below riffles.  Broken water has been the key for me.  Along with soft hackles and small small streamers on the swing.

[DainW]

Hopefully we can get together some time and fish it. I hit all the likely holding areas, pools, riffles, runs etc but just didn't have great luck. Of course I was also nymphing so that may have been the issue as well. 

[Eric82]

it was probably just an off day. i've had success with nymphs as well but they really go for a well controlled swing of a wet/soft hackle fly. I'd like to get a few of us guys together to fish sometime!!!!

[ness]

Don't know the experience level of you guys, but it sounds like you're hitting the right sections and the fly selection is ok. But I really think fly selection alone is overrated. Fish for feeding fish in the places feeding fish feed and feed the feeding fish things like what feeding fish feed on. It's that simple. . Give them a good drift and don't scare them.

[DainW]

4 minutes ago, ness said:

Don't know the experience level of you guys, but it sounds like you're hitting the right sections and the fly selection is ok. But I really think fly selection alone is overrated. Fish for feeding fish in the places feeding fish feed and feed the feeding fish the things the feeding fish are feeding on. It's that simple. . Give them a good drift and don't scare them.

I'm not the most experienced fly fisher out there, but I like to think of myself as somewhat competent anyway and I've fished the Current before probably three or four times and have always done pretty well. One day late last april I had one of my best days fishing anywhere at Baptist Camp. On this trip I threw the flies that usually work for me there, but I've also never fished it this time of year either. That being said, I did catch about ten or so fishing Tan Vat in the morning, which is about an average day numbers wise for me on that section, it's just that I'm usually catching 15-18 inch fish and this time they were 8-10 inch fish. I kind of think water levels being lower than what I'm used to fishing. Discharge when I was there was around 95 CFS and the other times I've fished it before it has been closer to 120 CFS. The difference in flows was definitely noticeable at the bluff hole and the run below that. I'm usually able to pull at least one or two nice fish from around the bluff hole, but this time nothing. My guess is the lower water level dictated a stealthier approach, lighter flies and tippets, maybe a dry dropper even, but I chose my standard strategy of throwing a heavy nymph rig with a big Pat's as the point fly, complete with shot and a bobber. Hindsight being 20/20, a change of tactics might have paid dividends. 

As far as Little Piney goes, the one other time I went I had better success, but water levels were a little high and off color, which I think helped the fishing a lot. I'm about 6'5 300 pounds, so stealthiness doesn't come naturally lol. 

[Eric82]

3 hours ago, ness said:

Don't know the experience level of you guys, but it sounds like you're hitting the right sections and the fly selection is ok. But I really think fly selection alone is overrated. Fish for feeding fish in the places feeding fish feed and feed the feeding fish things like what feeding fish feed on. It's that simple. . Give them a good drift and don't scare them.

I totally agree with what you stated. In regards to the LP matching the hatch, or lack of, has not kept me from catching fish when using nymphs or wet flies. As long as I could get a good drift and getting the nymph down quickly using BHs. As far as using wet flies I try to control the speed of the swing constantly rod and line mending when needed. The most important thing I'd say is not scaring them. This doesn't mean crawling around on your hands and knees but taking your time and moving slow and as deliberate as you can.  As I posted in the wild trout section I got skunked last Sunday due to not approaching the streams like I usually do thus scaring the fish. 

[Gavin]

Sounds like you did pretty well considering the low water. Current usually gets stocked with small Browns in mid to late September and it takes awhile for things to get sorted out. Usually fish down there at least 10 days a year. 1-2 days will be outstanding, 1-2 decent, and on the rest you need to work to catch fish. Timing is everything. 

 

[DainW]

7 hours ago, Gavin said:

Sounds like you did pretty well considering the low water. Current usually gets stocked with small Browns in mid to late September and it takes awhile for things to get sorted out. Usually fish down there at least 10 days a year. 1-2 days will be outstanding, 1-2 decent, and on the rest you need to work to catch fish. Timing is everything. 

 

Gavin, in your experience, what's usually the best time of year to fish the Current? As I've mentioned, my other trips have been in the spring. Late april last year was really good for me. Middle of march was a little bit harder work but still decent fishing. My other trip was on Memorial day two years ago and considering that it was my first time fishing the river I'd say I did pretty well. This was my first time fishing it in the fall. I am assuming summer is probably pretty crowded. What about winter? I'm considering another trip up there in late december/early January. 

[ness]

Trout eat year 'round. For me the best time of year is when I can get down there, and when others shy away I try harder to get down there.

Do you tend to catch mostly rainbows or browns or a mixture?

 

[DainW]

It's a mixture. Tan Vat access downstream to the bluff hole and a little below I usually catch rainbows, but have caught a few nice browns in that stretch as well. Baptist camp seems to be mostly browns for me.