|
NYMPHING Nymphig is the primary technique used and almost always the most productive, due to the very high numbers of scuds, sowbugs,annelids,midges and a variety of other nymphs. During periods of little or no generation, wade fishing with a variety of nymph patterns dead-drifted under a strike indicator or dry fly is the choice method for success. Depending on the type of water and wariness of the fish you are casting to, different rigs will be used. A simple weighted scud or sowbug fished on 4X or 5X tippet will be effective in most situations. At other times tiny midges on 6X or 7X tippet are necessary. Periods of moderate to heavy generations require drifting various nymphs from the boat. Larger varieties of the same flies are generally used. The keys to success when nymphing high water are using the proper weight to get the fly near the bottom without snagging, knowing where fish hold in certain water levels, fly selection and experience with a boat in order to archive long dead drifts. Safety is a serious issue when fishing high water levels. There is no future generation schedule and guides are highly recommended to visiting fly fishers. DRY FLY FISHING Dry fly action can be enjoyed all year long because of the midges and blue winged olives which hatch throughout the winter months. However, Spring and Summer will provide the most excitement. Caddis, mayflies and craneflies are the predominant insects you will see in the warmer months during non-generation periods. Typically, the faster riffles will produce the hottest action, but skating small midges around spooky fish in skinny water can occasionally provide a thrill. Another exciting dish on the dry fly menu is terrestrials. Hoppers, cicadas, beetles and large ants will be readily taken in some situations, even during periods of moderate generation. These can be fished alone or with a nymph dropper. On days when you catch the fish looking up even some of the largest trout will explode on a big dry. If you choose to fish these with a dropper you might double your chances. STREAMER FISHING Streamer fishing is yet another technique which produces fish in many situations.Various baitfish, such as sculpins, chubs, darters and crayfish are important food sources in some sections of our trout waters. Streamers are typically fished with a standard floating line during low water and a sink tip or full sinking lines when the water is up. Again, the key here is to get the fly down near the bottom. Cast to the banks when fishing from the boat and fish the pockets and structure when wading. Wooly buggers, sculpin patterns, zonkers, and the like all work well when the fish are being aggressive. The flies can be fished using a variety of different retrievals. Sight casting to fish and allowing the streamer to sink without stripping at all can sometimes entice fish to attack, especially with white streamers. There is really no right or wrong way to fish streamers here, just the willingness to experiment. TARGETING TROPHY FISH The White and North Fork Rivers are well known for producing countless trophy trout, as well as several record book trout. Clint has earned a reputation as one of the top trophy producing fly fishing guides on these rivers. He has assisted numerous fly fishers of all skill levels in landing their largest trout ever. Opportunities for trophy fish can occur any time of year in any water conditions. High water will offer less experienced anglers a better chance at landing a trophy because the fish are much less spooky and we are able to use larger tippet strengths. Low water is a completely different ball game. Small flies, light tippet and long, accurate casts are sometimes necessary to entice large spooky fish. This is for experienced anglers only! If this is what you are interested in please let Clint know when booking your trip and he'll do his best to find you a big one. In order to maximize your chances, Clint recommends booking a minimum of two days between the months of November and March. FISHING THE SHAD KILL This is the most exciting fly fishing you will ever experience! It happens in cold weather, usually in January or February. When lake temperatures drop, threadfin shad congregate near the bottom of the dams in an attempt to escape the colder surface water temperatures. When the generators are turned on the lethargic shad are pulled through the turbines. Upon entering the river below the dams they become easy meals for large trout. As the dying shad continue to drift downstream, big trout move up toward the source. Amazing days do occur when this is happening. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict exactly when. Many variables such as generation and water levels, numbers of shad, where to fish and whether to fish the surface, near the bottom, or somewhere in between all come in to play. February seems to be the best month, but shad might be seen any time between December and April. This is absolutely the best chance you'll ever have at hooking and landing a really big trout, and sometimes a lot of them. Fishing is done from the boat while drifting shad patterns under an indicator, stripping white streamers or casting foam-bodied shad flies. |
||
|
|||
|
