Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fly Fishing Cafe => Topic started by: FlyNut on July 14, 2004, 03:40:18 PM

Title: Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 14, 2004, 03:40:18 PM
Hey guys,
This board has been quuuiiieeettt???

Has everbody abandoned their fly gear for bottom bouncing for salmon ??? ??? ???
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: Trout Slayer on July 14, 2004, 03:50:05 PM
Mainly because the fly-fisherman on this site only fish up in the Interior and Cariboo......which has been really hot and the water temperatures are like bathtubs depending on elevation.
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 14, 2004, 04:52:18 PM
I can learn from lack of success too.  Would kind of show where NOT to go ;D

The bottom bouncers have kicked us fly fishers from the limelight :o :o

Must be nice to go swimming in the interior ;D

Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: markyboy on July 15, 2004, 04:44:15 PM
I'm very much a 'beginner' fly fisher but my take is that we're now in the summer doldrums for many of the local lakes.  Doesn't mean that you can't catch fish, but it is a little bit harder as the fish are often in deeper water or generally more sluggish and not feeding as actively.

There are lakes at higher elevations that will produce since the temperature up high tends to be less, and the active feeding season is shorter.  Also, there are glacier fed lakes (like Chilliwack Lake) that remains colder during the entire season. I'm thinking of heading up to Chilliwack in the next few weeks sometime and will post my report but in ther meantime I will switch to carp and <sigh> chub fishing.

I was wondering if anyone cared to comment on local stream and river fishing for trout this time of year. I would expect it to be affected a little by summer doldrums, but less so than the lakes. If so, it may be worth trying out.

Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 15, 2004, 04:52:09 PM
Anyone's been on Skagit recently.  They opened July 1, and is supposed to be a GREAT river for fly fishing (catch & release- bring your camera kind of river).
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: d_w on July 15, 2004, 05:43:08 PM
its been pretty warm up in the interior right now, so havent been up there, going up later in the summer,

Early morning and NIGHT fishing will be good
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: Acute Angler on July 15, 2004, 06:10:47 PM
Hoping to hit the Skagit this Sunday to wet the dozens of dries I tied over the winter.  Last weekend the sections in Manning Park looked tantalizing, but all I had with me was golf clubs!
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: Bubbles on July 16, 2004, 08:25:20 AM
Good question - anyone seen the Skagit lately?
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: Sandhead on July 16, 2004, 03:09:07 PM
Don't know about the river, but the lake is fishing well. 12-14" trout seemed to be the norm.
Cool thing about that lake is the water is relatively clear so you can see the trout cruise around. Can't wait to get back
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 16, 2004, 03:12:31 PM
Don't know about the river, but the lake is fishing well. 12-14" trout seemed to be the norm.
Cool thing about that lake is the water is relatively clear so you can see the trout cruise around. Can't wait to get back

Skagit Lake?  I thought Skagit river drains into Ross Lake. ???
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: Sandhead on July 16, 2004, 03:20:06 PM
Thats right my mistake, ross lake is correct
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 16, 2004, 03:38:15 PM
Thats right my mistake, ross lake is correct

I have also heard Ross Lake has good fishing.  But for fly fishing purists, I believe Skagit River is the one (disclaimer: have not been to either).
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: Sandhead on July 16, 2004, 03:55:59 PM
You’re correct that the Skagit River is the area more popular for the "purists".  I've always found that I'm more successful and enjoy flyfishing lakes more than rivers. I sometimes use my 8wt to fish for pinks and cohos but mostly use gear to river fish (with the exception of non coastal rivers where I always use the fly rod).  I couldn’t imagine being able to land a spring on the fly, certainly not with my setup.

On that note one of my fishing partners uses the fly exclusively for salmon (I have seen him hook into a spring but he was unable to land it, and he seems to be able to hold his own chum fishing).
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 16, 2004, 04:21:01 PM
You&#8217;re correct that the Skagit River is the area more popular for the "purists".  I've always found that I'm more successful and enjoy flyfishing lakes more than rivers. I sometimes use my 8wt to fish for pinks and cohos but mostly use gear to river fish (with the exception of non coastal rivers where I always use the fly rod).  I couldn&#8217;t imagine being able to land a spring on the fly, certainly not with my setup.

On that note one of my fishing partners uses the fly exclusively for salmon (I have seen him hook into a spring but he was unable to land it, and he seems to be able to hold his own chum fishing).

Sandhead, I can see fly fishing working for Salmon, if the waters are calm.  Not on Vedder right now, since you cannot get the fly to the bottom.

Also know of people who ff in the ocean close to Cap's mouth.  But I am told you need to cast really good to do that (I am working on it).  I don't have the proper set up yet (I have a 6 weight setup), but can see myself getting into 9 weight when I am better.  I believe there will be some fall salmon fishing (Mamquam?) that would yield itself to ff.

As far as Skagit River, I am told is a slower river with deep pools, etc.  I personally like the challenge of navigating rocks, throwing the line with some precision, etc. which is lacking from deeper lake fishing.  But evernone has their own preference :D
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FLYallAROUND on July 16, 2004, 04:43:29 PM
flynut you can fly fish for salmon in faster rivers and even on the vedder now, just maker sure you have a heavy sinking line or sinktip to get you down deep and fast.
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 16, 2004, 08:30:03 PM
flynut you can fly fish for salmon in faster rivers and even on the vedder now, just maker sure you have a heavy sinking line or sinktip to get you down deep and fast.

FLYallAROUND
Hey, I did try with a fast-sinking tip line.  But the water is way way too fast, and unless one is a great caster (not me), there is just not enough time to get it down there, before you are at then end of the drift.   Somehow not the idea f.f. environment.
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FLYallAROUND on July 16, 2004, 08:48:06 PM
flynut, make sure you mend the line a bit. gives it a little extra time to get it down ;)
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 16, 2004, 08:59:21 PM
flynut, make sure you mend the line a bit. gives it a little extra time to get it down ;)

Didn't work for me. Everyone was catching them but me.  Either I am not a good caster (which I am not), or the water is too fast.

Has anyone had success with fly fishing on Vedder, with this kind of river flow.
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: Sandhead on July 17, 2004, 03:56:22 PM
Were you fishing the canal section of the river or the upper portion?
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 17, 2004, 04:38:42 PM
Were you fishing the canal section of the river or the upper portion?

I went with a friend, so I don't know the exact place.  But I think it was mid-river, and fast moving.  Any recommendation as to where fly fishing would work, on Vedder today?
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: Sandy on July 19, 2004, 06:38:36 PM
are you casting slightly upstream then mending? or push a roll cast behind. I use an ultra fast sinking/  shooting head, had a couple of takes but not landed any yet ,met one guy who uses about 30" lead line just before the leader.system worked for me in the past just not this season Yet.  
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 19, 2004, 07:16:55 PM
are you casting slightly upstream then mending? or push a roll cast behind. I use an ultra fast sinking/  shooting head, had a couple of takes but not landed any yet ,met one guy who uses about 30" lead line just before the leader.system worked for me in the past just not this season Yet.  

I was casting upstream with a floating line with a ultra-fast sinking leader.  Not a sinking tip.

I don't have a great cast, so that was not helping me any, since the fly would not make it to the middle of the river or beyond.  If I waded any deeper, I would be the subject of a long thread about the fly fisher who bit the dust :o :o

I am glad to hear that you had a few strikes.  That is a great sign :D  Probably the approach is with ultra-fast sinking tip line (not leader).

Can you explain the 30" lead line.

What weight setup were you using, Sandy?
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: FlyNut on July 20, 2004, 05:15:08 PM
Just home from Tunkwa, 100's caught on the chronies, and I mean 100's. No crap, they were slaying them up there, seemed to bite all day too. I was the first one out one morning, and had fish right away, 7am or earlier.

Normfish, that is seriously encouraging.  Thanks for sharing :D :D
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: JP PATCHES on July 22, 2004, 12:27:17 PM
Awfully generous report Normfish, thanks dude.
Title: Re:Nobody fly fishin'?
Post by: Terry Bodman on July 24, 2004, 11:21:32 AM
Norm...good to see you are finally getting it together by changing from your cast iron ford fenders to chronomids.....you will not be sorry. Next step, a Maple Leaf hat.  ;D