Alex Argyros
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Another alternative: https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/gear_reviews/rock-treads/
Alex
I know that you didn’t mean to sound presumptuous, but I suspect that your problem is the following: ” I think I have nymph fishing down during regular flows.” I don’t know of a single good nymph fisherman who thinks that he even remotely has nymphing down. Nymphing, like all fishing, is a constant experiment. What works one day is useless the next. The river changes, the conditions in the river change, the season changes, etc. The only way to be successful in fly fishing is to never think you’ve got it figured out.
Now, about your specific question: are you sure that you’re getting down deep enough? For example, when you’re using a drop-shot rig, are you seeing your indicator tick-tick-ticking on the surface of the stream? If so, you might consider ditching the indicator and tightlining your rig. And you might consider using flies that are different from what everyone else is using. Finally, if you’re not doing so, you might consider shortening your casts to no more than 20 ft.
Alex
I suggest that you temporarily put pattern selection on the back burner and focus on presentation. Fish for a while with something generic, a hare’s ear, or Walt’s Worm, or pheasant tail in a size 14 or so. Then concentrate on two things: getting a drag-free drift and getting your fly deep enough. Of course, a drag-free drift isn’t always what the fish want, but it is often enough to make it an extremely valuable technique. And trout do feed from the top to the bottom of the river, but they do most of their fishing about 6″ from the bottom. Get your fly there and stay there with a good drift and you will get trout to strike. Detecting the strikes is another matter altogether. Suggestion: fish mainly upstream (or no more than 45 degrees across stream) and keep your casts short.
Alex
I also landed one brown yesterday (at #5). It was, like Cassio’s, beautifully marked and healthy.
The rod was fully assembled and had a reel on it. It left my possession just above the island on the lower end of Whitewater Camp.
And the reason is totally weird. Basically, as I was wading, somehow my wading shoes got attached to each other. I suspect that the one of the little hooks on my waders that keeps the garter in place got loose and attached itself to my other boot. So, I was wading in swift water with my feet bound together. I flailed around for a while but, luckily for me, I saw the island coming my way and I porpoised to it and, again with a lot of luck, managed to grab hold of a root and pull myself up. I had more good luck because a friendly person in a boat came down to me and ferried me back to shore. But, in order to get to the island, I had to let go of my rod.
The good news is that I’m okay. Plus, I was the recipient of an act of kindness from a stranger.
Alex
The fishing has been very good. And the best months are from right now until the water starts to approach 70 degrees.
I didn’t look at the flows this morning. When I got to the river, it seemed higher and faster than the 360 cfs I was expecting, but I went fishing anyway.
Who knew I could cross the river and get back at 760 cfs? Fishing was surprisingly good given the high water.
Alex
Thanks for the link. It is very informative.
My own view on the subject is that, if one wants a photo of a trout, one should photograph the fish in the net or in the water. Lifting a fish up, or placing it on the bank, no matter how carefully done, reduces the fish’s chances of survival.
Nothing is really safe at these flows, and all of the leases, and water between, can be productive if you hit them, and fish them, right.
I would choose a spot where I didn’t feel the temptation to cross the river. For example, you might try Ponderosa or Maricopa.
Alex
I, too, would like to know how it went. And thanks to all the people who helped.
Yes, go to the next stocking. The information you will get there will be invaluable, plus you will be participating in a good cause. But, from a purely selfish perspective, attending a stocking is almost as good as spending a day with a guide and you don’t have to tip Jimbo.
Unless you know a homeowner, the only access to the Horseshoe is Whitewater Sports (or paying at Whitewater, which is farther downstream).
But, I don’t really understand your question. The wall of which you speak is a short distance upstream from Whitewater Sports.
Alex
Our stockings are pretty much a public secret. It doesn’t take much imagination for a local to figure out what our truck looks like or what it’s doing.
Some people will abuse their lawful access to the trout now in the river. Poaching can be pretty flagrant at times. Keep a phone handy and call the game warden if you see behavior that doesn’t seem legal.
Alex
My advice is the same regardless of the flows: for the most part, it is a good idea to get your flies within 8″ or so from the bottom. Of course, there are times when the fish are feeding higher up in the water column, but, day in day out, near the bottom is where you get the most success.
I think that people spend far too much time worrying about pattern and not enough time about depth. I nymph exclusively, so my advice is about nymphing. It’s easy to get your flies to the bottom in whatever flows you encounter (attach them to a big hunk of lead, for example). The balancing trick involves having enough weight to reach bottom but also allow a relatively drag free drift. So, instead of changing flies, you should be changing weight and placement.
In general, the more upstream you cast, the deeper your flies get. So, in fast water, concentrate on casting upstream. If you rely on the flies themselves for weight (beadheads, etc.), change flies often until they are hitting the bottom occasionally. If you use lead, change the lead. The goal, in whatever circumstance, is the same: a somewhat natural drift near the stream bottom.
Many here have asked essentially the same question, but I can’t find an answer. Could someone explain the reason for the new forum? What about the old forum needed fixing and how does the new forum solve these problems?
