Two Guys Trout and Flies: April 2012

Sunday, April 29, 2012

The Hunt for Tigers

With the warm weather and most of the snow gone, Bow and Rico decided to head into the boonies in pursuit of something different. Over the past 8 months Bow researched the best places for Tiger trout throughout Utah. After narrowing down the options, he and Rico made the 3+ hour trek to one high desert lake. They arrived to see only one other car, and a number of trout sipping the surface. Viewing the submerged weed beds, they discovered a healthy amount of scuds and Chironomids. They also saw trout cruising the shoreline, perfect for sight fishing. Big, bright bellied Tigers slipped through the weedbeds, occasionally arching to pick up an emerging midge. It was fascinating how such big trout keyed in on the smallest of prey. Bow tied up a few Chirono patterns the night before, going off snips of info from friends and guides. Although carrying flies specific for the occasion, neither Rico nor Bow managed to hook one the entire morning. They broke through the sagebrush, wondering where the people were from the other car. Coming over the ridge, Bow spotted a familiar hat and dark hair. The gentleman turned around and it was none other than one of the fishermen from Outsmartingfish.com. Being greatly respected and experienced in the fly fishing world, Bow wasn't sure how to react without making a fool of himself. As it turned out, he was very friendly and forthcoming with information on the lake. He discussed popular patterns, techniques, and times of the year for this body of water. It was refreshing to meet someone who was so knowledgeable and equally humble. Rico and Bow fished a few more hours before the sun drove the fish down deep, and they stopped by Sweet Creek for the afternoon. Evening rolled in and the surface action started picking up. Bow hucked a size 12 Chironomid emerger, and Rico stripped in a grey, size 20 scud. Performing a slow, one fingered retrieve, Bow managed to hook into his only fish for a total of 3 seconds. Heading home frustrated and a little disappointed, Rico and Bow had the determination to come back soon to prove they could nail a Tiger. The weather wasn't as nice this past weekend, but the company was. Bow went out on a solo trip and met two gentlemen from FishGear. They were by far the friendliest and most accommodating people Bow ever fished with. It was a crippling 22 degrees, and they were right there to offer hot chocolate and hand warmers. In addition to the cold, Bow forgot one of the oars to his pontoon boat, and luckily the other gentleman let him borrow their spare. Bow strapped up his boat and headed along the east side. An hour of paddling produced two strikes but unfotunately no fish. Returning to camp, Bow made a tuna circle and noticed his Scott dipped into the water with his reel spitting line. The smoothness made Bow assume it was snagged, so he picked up the rod only to notice this snag was moving. Fast. He positioned himself to have the wind blow him to shore, but the trout would have none of it. And never having caught a Tiger, he was praying it so. He drifted close enough to shore to jump out and hopefully beach him. Five minutes and six runs passed when he finally was graced with a glimpse: yellow belly, green back and classic Tiger stripes. This was the fish Bow had been dreaming about. Seeing the commotion, the two others ran over with a net to help the landing. During the battle, Bow lost sight of everything but the fish, and his Toon had drifted out from shore. With rod tip up and water filling his waders, he retrieved his boat and put focus back to the fish. Steely-eyed with determination, Bow finally tired the fish and unhooked him, shaking with excitement. A few quick pics were taken and the Tiger was released to get even bigger for their next encounter. Relishing the moment, Bow sat back, sipped his hot chocolate, and marked another check off his bucket list.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

City Creek

City Creek is a quaint, brushy little stream few people know holds trout. It is home to an abundant, yet delicate population of Browns and Cutthroats. The DNR stocks around 60, 4" Cutts monthly during the first part of the year, whereas the browns are self-sustaining. Rico and Bow frequent the area in Memory Grove Park and at the entrance of City Creek Canyon. Over the past year and a half there has been much reconstruction of the creek to control flooding. This (not surprisingly) had an adverse effect on the trout. Large amounts of silt from up heaving the stream bed killed many aquatic insects and flora. Slowly, the wash down from upstream re-established a fair amount of midges, caddis, worms, mayflies and a few stones. The resident beaver has also managed to survive in spite of the intrusion. In Bow's four years of fishing, small black nymphs consistently produce, dead drifted or emerged. During the summer, fish go Rambo over Wullfs and Licorice Ants. Much of City is narrow and tight, making bow and arrow casts the only option. The fish are also surprisingly wary of human presence, making every 6 incher feel like an accomplishment. The final aspect of City creek requires the most patience. Being so close to downtown, the creek gets a lot of attention from mountain bikers, dog owners, and fair weather fisherman. Most mountain bikers respect your presence and wont wash off while you're fishing. Dog owners will often have their loved ones off-leash, and dogs to water is inevitable. Other fisherman generally give a wide birth, waiting until you are done. However, there are always those days where you'll be crouched behind a bush when someone with a red, Hills Brothers coffee can full of worms comes up and chucks out five feet from you. After catching five, "with enough extra to feed these two to my cat" he chuckles and casts out again, not realizing how he has affected the stream. And despite how badly you want to catch that gentlemen in the nose and release him off a precipice, you smile and walk away. These frustrations are all part of fishing within city limits of a metropolis such as Salt Lake. Overall, if you enjoy catching energetic fish, and don't mind other people, City Creek is a nice retreat close to home.

Wilson

Rico in a Midge Shell

Rico has been fly fishing for approximately 1 year, building up almost 20 years experience spin fishing. He comes from Arizona, right at home with desert state waters. He explores much of Utah through his work, building and restoring hiking trails. He enjoys nothing more than being outside, sticking trout and soaking up sun. His optimistic, laid back style provides a nice balance to some of Bow's elitist, type B tendencies. Rico used to carry a 45 dollar Eagle Claw special, often times out-fishing Bow and his four figure Winston setup. Below are a few of Rico's better trout from Arizona and Utah.

Spring at Strawberry

Yesterday Bow ventured out to hit what he hoped was the ice-off. Unfortunately, he was told the banks started to show last weekend during the Expo. Staying positive (just happy to be out) he tied on some Cutt Candy and went to work. Focusing on areas with high crayfish, weedy banks, and close ice, Bow was able to stick a 20" Cutt in the first ten minutes. Several hours passed, and he encountered nothing but high winds and heavy snow. He cast to one last spot and got a call from Rico. No sooner had he answered, his fly line decided to move left ten feet. Putting priorities in order, Bow pushed speaker, dropped the phone, and set the hook. A small Rainbow, but mentally a much needed fish. Noting the depth the last trout hit, Bow hucked it out and waited. Ten seconds passed and snap, there went fly and fish. Mentally, it's one thing to play a fish long enough to exaggerate his size, but something entirely different when you don't even get a chance to set the hook. The possible size of that fish will gnaw at Bow until he lands at least a 25 incher. Some lessons are learned the hard way, but next time he'll be packing the 15 lb. fluorocarbon.

Cutt Candy©

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Flies

Grizzly Gilled Matuka©

Shuck Midge Emerger

Beadhead Collared Zebra Midge

Cutt Candy©

Wet Candy

Gold-Ribbed San Juan Spike

Bronze Collared Midge

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Mid Provo Midge Hatch

We went out Sunday, March 18th to hit Lunker Lane. Historically, Sunday morning clears up a lot of bank space for those who don't go to church. Rico and I were able to hit the spot with only one other on the opposite bank. It was cloudy most of the day, but spotty midge and bwo hatches were coming when the sun broke through. The trout were keyed in on the midges (black, size 20-26). They were looking up, but only at the emergers. I was able to pick up a few on a small midge under the film, and Rico did fairly well drifting a warrior. The highlight of the day, however, was the fisherman on the opposite bank. In the four hours of fishing, we saw him pull out 52, yes, 52 browns ranging in size from 8-16".Feeling both frustration and curiosity, we finally asked what he was whipping. A size 22 brown midge emerger with a white shuck. I then proceeded to go home that night and tie up a dozen or so variations. I have since fished these and had surprising success. No lunkers from The Lane, but still a great day.

Anticipation

Rico spotted his first Hopper of the season. A good sign for hot terrestrial action come summer.

Helping Out

Trout Unlimited is a well known, highly respected conservation group. Bow met a gentleman at the Wasatch Fly Fishing Expo this past Saturday. This group donates time, money, and man power to help preserve Utah's waters, and 87% of the donation goes directly towards this conservation. Along with continued threats to the Green River approaching, Bow decided to join. He received a hat, calendar, box of flies, subscription to a newsletter for the year, and peace of mind from helping the cause.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Bow's Here and There

Bow is an aspiring Trout Bum, fishing mainly California and Oregon. He has ventured to distant farm ponds fly fishing for bass, weed beds in Montana for pike, and Kodiak to hook into Kings. He has accumulated more than a decades experience in fly fishing and tying, and almost twenty spin fishing. He prefers fishing pocket water in small creeks, with Brook Trout being his favorite species. These are a few of the places Bow has been in and near Utah, along with a few better fish caught there.