C&r Today

[Paola Cat]

Got on the water at about 8:30 this morning. It was frigid but warmed up later on. Fished for 5 hours. Fishing was good. Fished Zone 1 only. Hot flies: #22 cream midge, #18 red BH zebra midge, #18 red BH copper john, and #14 peach egg pattern. Too many fish to count. Caught (1) real nice kype jawed brown today ... estimated at 18-19". Took him between the start of the island and the first handicap pier. The water is low and gin clear.

[rcguy]

Thanks for the report. Wish I was there!

Gotta get some Copper john's

Gotta love those small cream midges. I just tyed 20 more of them. I'm thinking of trying the trick with the Scotch Guard. Soak 'em and let them dry.

[Paola Cat]

RC .... The midge activity in Zone 1 was pretty significant. Anything light colored in a #20/#22 probably would have worked. I had planned on nymphing but I just couldn't just stand there and ignore the surface activity. I found a few cream midges in my vest and used those. Also, while I was nymphing I had several fish attempt to inhale my strike indicator. One time I switched to a #12 white humpy and took fish on (3) consecutive drifts.

[rcguy]

Paola Cat,

That's my favorite way to catch 'em!

BTW, what's a good nymph down there? I need to tie some and try nymphing. I just have done it very little.

[Paola Cat]

RC ... Top trout park nymphs for me: #18 red BH copper john, #18 red BH brassie, the #18 red or olive BH zebra midge, and the #16/#18 BH tellico. I only know of one other guy that fishes the tellico but I started using it years ago on the Current River and always did well with it even in the parks. Most guys probably use PTs or hare's ears instead. I carry others but pretty much only use these. In shallower water with current I'll use a dual nymph rig varying the combinations of the flies above. Sometimes I'll use a small egg pattern (#16 or #18) in peach, red, or white in combination with those nymphs. Sometimes I'll combine a nymph with a san juan. I have also been known to thrown a small nymph dropper under an elk hair caddis. Nymphing works best for me in shallower water with current. Short casts work best upstream or quartering upstream. PC

[brittsnbirds]

Cat-

Have you noticed a difference when using a copper, gold or silver BH?

Do you use tungsten at all?

[rcguy]

Paola Cat.

thank you for the info! I have been wanting to try nymphing so now this will give me a start. I did try some zebra midges this summer with a little success. If what they say is true about nymphs being the majority of a trout's diet then I guess it's time to start concentrating on them.

[Paola Cat]

Britt - I use both gold and silver beads .... don't really see much difference in the trout parks. I do like the tungsten beads but it's all about current when making this choice. I like them on zebra midges and brassies in higher current areas. I can eliminate the ever bothersome split shot with the tungstens.