Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: Rodney on April 10, 2008, 08:08:31 PM
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After some filming work at Lafarge Lake around noon today, I headed out to a couple of North Fraser tributaries for an afternoon of coastal cutthroat trout hunting. ;) The fly setup used was rather simple, since I don't do much flyfishing in the first place so I just grab whatever is available around the house. I used a Rainshadow 4wt with a Islander IR reel spooled with floating line. I used 9ft of 6lb mono and finished it off with another ft of 4lb test before tying on the fly. The fly, minnow pattern, taught by Chrome Mykiss. ;D
I spotted lots of salmon fry. Most were schooling, a few were rather lonely. There were also quite a few injured or dead fry, signs of heavy predation. :o
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2008/080410-1.jpg)
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2008/080410-2.jpg)
First cast out with absolutely no expectation resulted in a hard tug just several feet from shore. It completely caught me by surprise so after a brief headshake, the fish was long gone. ::) Perhaps it was a pikeminnow. ;) The next couple of hours, rises could be seen occasionally. At around 3pm, surface activity became more constant. After shooting out a better cast of the day, I felt two quick tugs as I stripped the line in. The reflex set the hook, but not hard enough again! A couple more headshakes the fish was off once again! ::) Surface activity ended around 5pm, so I decided to head home so I can catch Survivor, which I am watching right now. ;D
I saw two other anglers during my outing. Lots of water to work on, so be sure to get out while this feeding frenzy is still around. Good luck. :)
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Real nice pictures of the fry Rod. Rice lake had about 8 fishermen this afternoon and I saw 3 fish caught in the short time we were there. The event on Saturday should be fantastic fishing.
P.S. I don't know what happened to you and the beak yesterday but I landed 3 fish before the FVSS meeting tonight... ;) ;)
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P.S. I don't know what happened to you and the beak yesterday but I landed 3 fish before the FVSS meeting tonight... ;) ;)
Yeah, he just phoned and told me. That just made yesterday's performance even more depressing. :-[
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[quote author=bederko link=topic=17588.msg169124#msg169124 date=1207891895
P.S. I don't know what happened to you and the beak yesterday but I landed 3 fish before the FVSS meeting tonight... ;) ;)
[/quote]As soon as you starting boasting you will go into another tail spin. ;D ;D ;D
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nice to hear the cutty action is heating up. That cold snap we had sure put them down. Rodney sounds like "whatever you had lying around" is just about perfect for the job :) It depends of course what water you're in but that sounds like a lot of leader to be using! I only ever use about 6 feet tops when fishing for these guys (using streamers or fry). Less leader just means less wind knots, and if cutthroat are feeding they really don't seem to care about leader length. Plus shorter leader will keep your fly above the fish, esp. if you are using a bead headed fry pattern...itll bob and dart nicely that way without getting too deep.
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Actually I was thinking about the leader length as I worked along and did reduce it by a few feet after a few hours to see if the result would be different. Those who fish it regularly, do you keep your presentation only a foot or two below the surface in both frog water and moderately flowing water? The first fish I hooked up was fairly close to the bottom, while the second one was pretty close to the surface as I was stripping in where moderate current existed.
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You'll see the fry swimming right under the surface when they're on the move, forming little dimples or V's in the water as they move...
Most of the time I fish them with dry lines.... On gin clear water lakes sometimes I'll fish a slime line but start the retrieve immediately, don't let it sink... Both lines are set up with 5-6 feet of leader.
If the cutties are on the surface in slack water, determine what direction they are moving, and get in front of them, and then start stripping like mad!! They will hammer the fly like its the last food on earth if you do it right....
Most definitely my favorite fishery at this time of year...
Cheers,
Nicole
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As soon as you starting boasting you will go into another tail spin.
I know, I know, so much for being a "snake in the grass"... ;D
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You'll see the fry swimming right under the surface when they're on the move, forming little dimples or V's in the water as they move...
Most of the time I fish them with dry lines.... On gin clear water lakes sometimes I'll fish a slime line but start the retrieve immediately, don't let it sink... Both lines are set up with 5-6 feet of leader.
If the cutties are on the surface in slack water, determine what direction they are moving, and get in front of them, and then start stripping like mad!! They will hammer the fly like its the last food on earth if you do it right....
Most definitely my favorite fishery at this time of year...
Cheers,
Nicole
What Nicole said :)
I always try to fish within the top 1' of the column. My go to fly has a bead head on it so I need to use a short leader to keep it up there, or it drops down quickly. I'm skeptical though of my own approach sometimes because my friend uses a sink tip and does quite well also....although typically he's not fishing the same fly as me ....yet :) A couple more outings and he will be, im sure ;)
I don't think my strip is as rapid as what Nicole is explaining. It would probably serve me well to give a faster strip a try too though. I tend to stick with something that works but who knows, it might work better to speed it up. Maybe this weekend :)
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This guy actually hit the fly when I thought I screwed up my cast, and was quickly stripping in to recast before the pack moved on...
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/2355617280_f31436e166_b.jpg)
Sometimes you'll see a wake behind the cutty's head as it chases your fly, it's quite the rush!!
:)
Nicole
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Beautiful fish there..looks like a beach fish...no? I have only been fortunate enough to get a couple that big this year...keep hoping for more but as you know they are few and far between!
That has happened to me a lot too...crappy cast so you haul it in to recast, and bam....the hits come close too..sure is a nice surprise!
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What a fish Nichole, real nice!
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Very nice looking cutty nicole! I went 3 weeks or so ago near agassiz and hit a few...they sure are a blast
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I love cutts ! a blast to fish ! have a good place close to home that is worth flipping fly's year round ! Nicole that is a beauty!
im looking nowfor some pics to post that won't give it away ! 4-5 lb rosey bucks are common and feisty
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That's a healthy cutthroat!