Took the tube to Strawberry on Friday morning. Fished 7:30a to about 1:30p… it was looking pretty bleak for a while. Nabbed 1 early on a Carey Special, but largely struck out throughout a massive Chironomid hatch. I had to tell myself that there must be so many naturals in the water that the fish simply cannot locate my flies.
Even more frustrating were so many fish feeding at the surface and I could not entice a single one of these to hit either. Really loaded up the fly drying patch during this stretch.
Water temp was 53* F when I launched, and figuring that Callibaetis should be on the menu by now I started slow trolling (creeper gear) a #12 mayfly nymph along with a #8 olive Wooly Bugger and started hitting fish almost right away. In fact I broke off the first out of surprise overreaction Roland Martin style hookset. Around 10:45a the action kicked in…. Callibaetis nymphs were suddenly everywhere bobbing up to the surface tension among the spent midge shucks and the action was non-stop until I kicked back to shore around 1:00p.
Final tally was 18 in the net (12 Cutts, 6 Rainbows) and all but 2 were in the 18-21 inch range. The big Rainbows were particularly exciting… successive cartwheels followed but scorching runs into the backing. Fish were pretty much split across the 2 flies. Not sure the depth of water I was in, but I like to call it the beginning of the abyss… I see bottom/weeds on one side, and the deep blue sea on the other.
Sounds like the day we had Thursday before memorial day. Type II sinking line ,and crystal buggers , purple worked the best for me.
I didn’t get on the water until noon, and nothing much going on until around 2, then it lit up, yes they were all mostly 18-21, and had more go then I have seen in cutthroats for awhile . A couple nice rainbows in the mix. I know I got more then 1 and less then 30 to the net in about three hours .[:)]
But I have had days on Strawberry when it was easy to keep count [;)]
What a day! Thanks for the super-helpful report and great pictures. And also the Roland Martin reference. I have broken more than a few tippets by emulating him.
Nice report and pics. Ive never trailed anything other than a smaller bugger or leech. Do you think a hares ear or pheasant tail would work? Those are mayfly nymphs right?
Nice report and pics. Ive never trailed anything other than a smaller bugger or leech. Do you think a hares ear or pheasant tail would work? Those are mayfly nymphs right?
Absolutely. Both have their time, but the Hare’s Ear is a stellar imitation of the Callibaetis nymph so common in many lakes (including Strawberry).
Size 12-14 to start… get smaller throughout the season.
