Swinging Dries

I’m going to take a leap of faith and predict water flows for the next 3 months. Do I have your attention? Am I serious? Kinda. But what I’d like to do in this short article is to suggest a couple of fly fishing patterns for this fall… or anytime when they water is running 1-2 generators.

I have found our rainbows like to hold in very shallow water when the lake is at certain levels. With one to two units running the level is between 701.4 and 707.8, 701.3 being power pool. When the level rises over 12 inches above gravel flats, rainbows move up on them and feed on mainly midge larva and adults. Holding on the bottom, they don’t have far to move to take anything flowing by. This includes my fly.

Where are these areas? To start, the bank’s edge, north side, from #1 outlet to #2 outlet. From the TU stairs (above outlet #3), north side, all the way down to big hole and covers all the gravel bar thereof. Levels dictate where trout will hold. At the “leak” or where water rushes from the north bank below big hole about 300 yards, north bank, downstream about 100 yards before dropping off into deeper water along the north bank. South bank from the old boat ramp gravel bar down to the bottom island just before the KOA Campground. Now to the north bank, where the lake bends to the south from the last set of stairs below the MDC boat ramp- that entire shallow flat to the top of “Clay Banks”. Trout will hold on the north bank all the way through clay banks but not as well as the bottom of this area. North and south banks from well above Lookout Island through the island. The north bank is extremely good. Around the corner, starting just past Andy’s house (big white mansion), north bank all the way to the steps at Fall Creek Condos. Switch to the other side immediately and fished the south side to the tip of the island. One more- the gravel bar at Short Creek- all of it.

Now that we’ve covered where to fish, now how to… swinging stripping, lifting, twitching………. sounds like a PEO party gone bad. From my boat, I like to throw out an anchor, concrete and round on a fairly short rope, and drag it, slowing the boat down just enough to let me work the water. I know this will offend some who think dragging chains or anchors is unethical, but I’m not sure how else to achieve this drift without someone working the trolling motor for me.

I choose a fly. Crackleback, soft hackle, woolly, elk hair caddis, stimulator, griffin’s gnat all are good choices at times. I usually start with a #16 crackleback and move on from there. I try to position the boat out in the current but close to the bank I’m fishing—close enough to make a downstream perpendicular to the bank, letting the fly skim across the surface from the edge of the grass to the deeper water.

The retrieve is the fun part. My favorite is the lift. After casting, I quickly start lifting the rod tip, dragging the fly immediately after it hits the water. Slow, fast, shacking or twitching the tip for effect—I try them all, trying to find what mood the trout are in—aggressive or passive. Lifting and dragging the fly so quickly keeps the fly on the surface longer, not letting it sit and soak up water or letting the tippet sink, pulling the fly down. If you don’t want the fly to sink at all, grease the leader and tippet before starting.

I’ve also found working the fly straight downstream is effective. While I’m still moving downstream, I’ve worked a woolly using only the rod tip, up and down, dropping the fly back and then pulling it forward and up to the surface. The trout usually take the fly as it’s dropped back and/or holding it still after it’s dropped back.

Standing high above the surface of the water allows me to see all the action--and that’s the best part. I’ve seen rainbows come from well off the bank, in deep pockets, race up and slam my fly. I’ve also seen them move slowly over in position to take a peak at this so-called bug floating downstream, put his nose on the bug and turn away, laughing all the while. I’m serious! I’ve seen them smile at me!! “Do I look stupid to you,” they exclaimed.