A question for flyfishermen
Aug 14, 2020 12:31:12 #
GaryB
Loc: Southwest Missouri
I was fishing on a trout stream in Southwest Missouri yesterday. Started at noon and between then and 2pm I caught them, one after another. I was using a tan midge and a copper John. Then the fish abruptly just stopped. Didn’t have another strike all day.
My question is—how do you folks out there handle this situation, what do you do for further fly choices when they have been hitting so well up to that point, then they stop. Should I go to variations on the midge and copper John or change what I’m using altogether? I tried some dries, an emerger and a couple streamers to no avail.
BTW, fly fishermen doesn’t need to mean “men” only. I’m interested in everyone’s thoughts and what has worked for them. I’m anxious to hear what you have to say. Thank you
My question is—how do you folks out there handle this situation, what do you do for further fly choices when they have been hitting so well up to that point, then they stop. Should I go to variations on the midge and copper John or change what I’m using altogether? I tried some dries, an emerger and a couple streamers to no avail.
BTW, fly fishermen doesn’t need to mean “men” only. I’m interested in everyone’s thoughts and what has worked for them. I’m anxious to hear what you have to say. Thank you
Aug 14, 2020 14:26:29 #
Big dog
Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York
GaryB wrote:
I was fishing on a trout stream in Southwest Misso... (show quote)
I’m guessing that you managed to hit the hatch and match it. There could be a few reasons it shut down abruptly but but odds are the hatch simply ended. If that happens you may want to go to a smaller fly in that same pattern or something similar but smaller. You also may want to try further down stream or upstream. The position of the sun can have an effect on the hatch too.
Aug 14, 2020 14:38:55 #
FixorFish
Loc: SW Oregon
I just looked at my Solunar tables and there was a small peak at the very time you were describing....???
Can't say I always trust these apps, but for your case, they were apparently spot on.
As for alternative flies, you don't say what line (floating ? WF ?) you are using or your leader setup. This time of year, I use a WFF, long leader with a "hopper/dropper"....foam hopper or ant with that Copper John or other nymph on a 14"-20" drop, tied directly to the #6-#10 hoppers' hook. Caught my PB Brownie on the hopper, doing this.... twenty minutes after catching a much smaller brownie on the nymph.
Those damn Trout are so very hard to train to respect our limited time frame that we are able pursue them.... c'mon salmonids... be there, be hungry....... get with the program already !! LOL !
Can't say I always trust these apps, but for your case, they were apparently spot on.
As for alternative flies, you don't say what line (floating ? WF ?) you are using or your leader setup. This time of year, I use a WFF, long leader with a "hopper/dropper"....foam hopper or ant with that Copper John or other nymph on a 14"-20" drop, tied directly to the #6-#10 hoppers' hook. Caught my PB Brownie on the hopper, doing this.... twenty minutes after catching a much smaller brownie on the nymph.
Those damn Trout are so very hard to train to respect our limited time frame that we are able pursue them.... c'mon salmonids... be there, be hungry....... get with the program already !! LOL !
Aug 14, 2020 14:53:34 #
I agree with all of the above, change color or size or give that spot a rest and move. Sounds like you even tried a streamer, did you dead drift it or strip it? My other question: you mentioned 2 flys a midge and copper John, was that a 2 fly set-up? Or did you switch btwn the two?
I’m learning just as much here too.
I really like the hopper/ dropper set-up too.
Good luck, tight lines.
I’m learning just as much here too.
I really like the hopper/ dropper set-up too.
Good luck, tight lines.
Aug 14, 2020 15:00:22 #
Also here’s one I read about recently but haven’t tried yet. When they shut down, and this assumes they were rising, try a pheasant tail nymph. They are common in most trout streams, don’t use a bead head but dress it up and fish it like a dry in the surface film.
Aug 14, 2020 16:00:49 #
GaryB
Loc: Southwest Missouri
Great suggestions. Thank you. I was using a weight-forward 7weight, floating line, a 7’ leader to 1.5’ 4x tippet with the copper John and a 1’ length of 5x tippet from the copper John to the midge. With the streamers, I was drifting them. Thanks again to all for the help.
Aug 14, 2020 16:15:11 #
Ok sounds like it was a double nymph set-up. Just curious. This time of year I like to dry fly mostly. Get tired of flinging a bobber and split shot. Excuse me, an indicator. Gotta use the proper fly fishin lingo. Lol
That’s why the hopper/dropper set-up is good cuz the big dry acts as your indicator and your nymphing as well.
That’s why the hopper/dropper set-up is good cuz the big dry acts as your indicator and your nymphing as well.
Aug 14, 2020 16:24:45 #
GaryB
Loc: Southwest Missouri
Understood and I’m with you on the business of nymphs, indicators and, especially, split shot. A big load to cast. I am going to try bead head nymphs for awhile and see if I can at least do away with the split shot sometimes.
Aug 16, 2020 13:03:28 #
Captain Lahti
Loc: Kennewick, WA
On another fly fishing site one of their best suggestions is to get a nymph seine to test the water for what’s floating down through the stream flow. Trout don’t just feed on the surface and some fishermen just focus on nymphing for a more consistent catch rate. Euro nymphing is quit the thing and it’s just a matter of picking a nymph fly that copies what’s bouncing along the bottom and doing the same. Bounce an imitation of what you find in your little seine net along the bottom. High stick it and lead it down through a run. Eventually there will be another hatch and then go back to surface drys. Or you can jut have a nice day throwing different dries until a hatch comes along.
Aug 16, 2020 14:51:40 #
Aug 16, 2020 23:49:10 #
I fish lake Taneycomo 3 times a week I also fish Roaring River i was just wondering exactly what lake, river ,creek or whatever was you fishing.
Aug 17, 2020 10:35:53 #
GaryB
Loc: Southwest Missouri
Last year I took up flyfishing again, after 55 years since I last did it with my dad on the Frying Pan River in Western Colorado. I caught my first trout on a flyrod on Roaring River in October last year. I was on the Current River just as it leaves Montauk when I had the situation I questioned everyone about. First time I ever fished the Current. I wade fish only. If you’re on Taneycomo 3x a week, you must be in a boat?
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