02-03-2003, 10:57 AM
[cool] Awwwright youse guys. I'll havya know that flies (with "sweetener" do work well...both beneath the ice and in open water. Since they have no weight (true flies that is) you need to fish them either above a jig, or "dropshot" style.
Pelican Lake is a great place to fish flies for fat bluegill. Use a small sinker on the bottom and two short droppers...the first about 8" up from the sinker and the second 12" - 18" above that. Any dark patterned trout fly will work, in sizes 12 through 6. Scuds and nymphs work well, as do clipped down dries that no longer float for trout. Tip them with a waxie and lower to the bottom. Just shivver it periodically. The big ones often mosey up and watch it for awhile before sucking it in. A small bobber or spring wire tip helps detect light takes. On some days they are more aggressive. I have had doubles that sorely taxed my 2# line, and have even had to go to using only one fly on a hot bite.
I have used a similar rig for drifting and bottom bouncing in Strawberry, especially when the bite was tough during the buffalo midge hatch. For trout, in open water, my first dropper is at least six inches long...at least 18" above the sinker. The second dropper may be three or four feet up the line. With or without sweetener, a steady drift across muddy flats (home of midge larvae) can sometimes be very productive. A small red fly on the bottom (San Juan Worm) is a good place to start, with a peacock nymph above.
Small streamers, in whites, silvers, chartreuse or black, can also be deadly on Deer Creek. Caught lots of perch, rainbows, browns and walleyes by fishing high-low dropshot flies...with a piece of worm or perch meat...both open and hard water.
In short. Flies are lures, when fished accordingly. The key is the use of weight to get the flies into fish zones, and to maintain touch with what is going on down there.
One other thought. If you have been having success with the use of a piece of shrimp, you might also try using a drop of shrimp oil on one of those little pink scuds. Works on salmon and other shrimp eating members of the family. It ain't always easy to find, but there are several internet sites where it can be found. I've used it a lot both in salt water and for catfish and other species in fresh water.
And, have you ever tried hot orange scuds...with a silver wire ribbing? Orange is a great attractor color. Never seen a hatch of 'em, but trout love 'em. And, don't forget chartreuse, with a clipped down palmer tied ginger hackle. They work both in streams and lakes.
That'll teach you to bring my name into such a discussion.
[signature]
Pelican Lake is a great place to fish flies for fat bluegill. Use a small sinker on the bottom and two short droppers...the first about 8" up from the sinker and the second 12" - 18" above that. Any dark patterned trout fly will work, in sizes 12 through 6. Scuds and nymphs work well, as do clipped down dries that no longer float for trout. Tip them with a waxie and lower to the bottom. Just shivver it periodically. The big ones often mosey up and watch it for awhile before sucking it in. A small bobber or spring wire tip helps detect light takes. On some days they are more aggressive. I have had doubles that sorely taxed my 2# line, and have even had to go to using only one fly on a hot bite.
I have used a similar rig for drifting and bottom bouncing in Strawberry, especially when the bite was tough during the buffalo midge hatch. For trout, in open water, my first dropper is at least six inches long...at least 18" above the sinker. The second dropper may be three or four feet up the line. With or without sweetener, a steady drift across muddy flats (home of midge larvae) can sometimes be very productive. A small red fly on the bottom (San Juan Worm) is a good place to start, with a peacock nymph above.
Small streamers, in whites, silvers, chartreuse or black, can also be deadly on Deer Creek. Caught lots of perch, rainbows, browns and walleyes by fishing high-low dropshot flies...with a piece of worm or perch meat...both open and hard water.
In short. Flies are lures, when fished accordingly. The key is the use of weight to get the flies into fish zones, and to maintain touch with what is going on down there.
One other thought. If you have been having success with the use of a piece of shrimp, you might also try using a drop of shrimp oil on one of those little pink scuds. Works on salmon and other shrimp eating members of the family. It ain't always easy to find, but there are several internet sites where it can be found. I've used it a lot both in salt water and for catfish and other species in fresh water.
And, have you ever tried hot orange scuds...with a silver wire ribbing? Orange is a great attractor color. Never seen a hatch of 'em, but trout love 'em. And, don't forget chartreuse, with a clipped down palmer tied ginger hackle. They work both in streams and lakes.
That'll teach you to bring my name into such a discussion.
[signature]