Post by reelteacher on Jul 1, 2008 15:31:46 GMT -5
July 1:
Fishing has been fantastic and so has my black rasberry harvest. Sorry that I have not been able to post as much as I have wanted, but I've been busy with household duties and the "To Do List". In fact, this is the first time I've turned my computer on in a week. I can't believe how fast the summer seems the scurry along. My father left for Canada with my uncle Bill Scott, yesterday, without yours truly. I'm very jealous of that but, I have to take a summer course at Purdue that starts Monday, and they are not returning home until Wednesday... So, here I sit pondering what extraordinary piece of information I can pass on to our readers that will help them fill their creel. From the sounds of other members, it's been extremely difficult to get on the water this year: rain, high, muddy water, and other factors all contribute to the inability to make it to our favorite fishing locals. Oddly enough however, I have been able to make the most of this stormy season. Here are a few tips that have helped me make the most of my time on the water and catch a few decent fish.
When the water is high and dirty, the fish will seek the calmest waters and will avoid turbulent flows. They will often seek "shelter" in flooded backwater areas adjacent to the main channel. Many species of fish will often school up during high water and move upstream to find calmer, more habitable places to rest and feed. It is usually a good idea to venture upstream of your normal honey hole to find these "quiet", shallower places and begin your exploration. On a recent trip to the White river near Noblesville, I found an island that divided the main current channel from a small backwater section that was only about 3 feet deep and only a small section of the river was flowing into it. There were multitudes of fish in this small area including rock bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. I didn't land anything very large, my largest bass was probably 10 inches or so, but I believe that later in the day or early in the morning would have been prime time for the big boys to enter this area. I was there fishing around 3 pm. not the best time for big fish. But the fish I did catch were extremely fun and rewarding nonetheless.
Fly selection is often a challenge in high, dirty water situations. Usually I try to throw the biggest, heaviest, brightest or darkest flies in my box. Chartruese, orange, olive, black, and purple seem to be my favorite colors in stained water. Don't waste time throwing small flies, the fish need to be able to see or at least hear the fly as it moves through the water column. I also don't like to throw poppers in dirty water. I've never had much luck with top water stuff when the water is chocolate milk. It has been my experience that you need at least a foot of visibility to tempt fish to come to the surface. Instead, I go to the bottom and work my flies very slowly. If you don't feel the bottom, then you need to slow down or add more weight. All the fish I caught took a size 4 reelfoot special with a chartruese tail, right on the bottom. The strikes were sure and solid so I didn't need an indicator. Although, sometimes an indicator is a great help if the fish are being picky.
One last suggestion for getting on the water. If your favorite stream or river is flooded, sometimes the best thing to do is try a pond or lake. Heavy rains cool surface waters of ponds and lakes and turn fish on! Last week after a torrential downpour, I went to a local pond and caught enough big bluegill it would make your head spin. I was only able to fish for about an hour, but in that time, I learned that summer rains can really create excellent fishing.
So before you get all upset about how high your local stream is, or how all this rain has clamped down on your fishing success, remember there are some great fishing opportunities just waiting for you to cast a line to them!
Good luck to all, now Get out there and Fish!
I hope to see most of you this Thursday, July 3, 6:30pm at the Sportman's for fly tying. We will be using my favorite summer material: FOAM!
Regards,
Dustin
Fishing has been fantastic and so has my black rasberry harvest. Sorry that I have not been able to post as much as I have wanted, but I've been busy with household duties and the "To Do List". In fact, this is the first time I've turned my computer on in a week. I can't believe how fast the summer seems the scurry along. My father left for Canada with my uncle Bill Scott, yesterday, without yours truly. I'm very jealous of that but, I have to take a summer course at Purdue that starts Monday, and they are not returning home until Wednesday... So, here I sit pondering what extraordinary piece of information I can pass on to our readers that will help them fill their creel. From the sounds of other members, it's been extremely difficult to get on the water this year: rain, high, muddy water, and other factors all contribute to the inability to make it to our favorite fishing locals. Oddly enough however, I have been able to make the most of this stormy season. Here are a few tips that have helped me make the most of my time on the water and catch a few decent fish.
When the water is high and dirty, the fish will seek the calmest waters and will avoid turbulent flows. They will often seek "shelter" in flooded backwater areas adjacent to the main channel. Many species of fish will often school up during high water and move upstream to find calmer, more habitable places to rest and feed. It is usually a good idea to venture upstream of your normal honey hole to find these "quiet", shallower places and begin your exploration. On a recent trip to the White river near Noblesville, I found an island that divided the main current channel from a small backwater section that was only about 3 feet deep and only a small section of the river was flowing into it. There were multitudes of fish in this small area including rock bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. I didn't land anything very large, my largest bass was probably 10 inches or so, but I believe that later in the day or early in the morning would have been prime time for the big boys to enter this area. I was there fishing around 3 pm. not the best time for big fish. But the fish I did catch were extremely fun and rewarding nonetheless.
Fly selection is often a challenge in high, dirty water situations. Usually I try to throw the biggest, heaviest, brightest or darkest flies in my box. Chartruese, orange, olive, black, and purple seem to be my favorite colors in stained water. Don't waste time throwing small flies, the fish need to be able to see or at least hear the fly as it moves through the water column. I also don't like to throw poppers in dirty water. I've never had much luck with top water stuff when the water is chocolate milk. It has been my experience that you need at least a foot of visibility to tempt fish to come to the surface. Instead, I go to the bottom and work my flies very slowly. If you don't feel the bottom, then you need to slow down or add more weight. All the fish I caught took a size 4 reelfoot special with a chartruese tail, right on the bottom. The strikes were sure and solid so I didn't need an indicator. Although, sometimes an indicator is a great help if the fish are being picky.
One last suggestion for getting on the water. If your favorite stream or river is flooded, sometimes the best thing to do is try a pond or lake. Heavy rains cool surface waters of ponds and lakes and turn fish on! Last week after a torrential downpour, I went to a local pond and caught enough big bluegill it would make your head spin. I was only able to fish for about an hour, but in that time, I learned that summer rains can really create excellent fishing.
So before you get all upset about how high your local stream is, or how all this rain has clamped down on your fishing success, remember there are some great fishing opportunities just waiting for you to cast a line to them!
Good luck to all, now Get out there and Fish!
I hope to see most of you this Thursday, July 3, 6:30pm at the Sportman's for fly tying. We will be using my favorite summer material: FOAM!
Regards,
Dustin