Christmas Come Early

I just received my Fly Fishing Lanyard from Nature Boy. It is made from 550 USA paracord. You can specify your core lump color and then select an outer color, in other words it is constructed to your specifications. Keith who owns Nature Boy makes all the merchandise on the site. As an added bonus, he threw in a Hat Patch with a couple of flies attached to the patch. I am really impressed with the quality of both of these products, and best of all they are made in the USA. I can’t wait to use both items soon on the tailrace.

Guys I have gone from a vest to a chest pack, and even lighter to a lanyard

Fishing Kevin's Soft Hackle Fly

It is hard to believe that this past Wednesday in Jasper was a warm 72 degrees. This meant only one thing for Charles and me, which was wetting a fly on the upper section of the tailrace. Upon arrival we noticed a number of vehicles and one Alabama Power truck, so we knew we would have company. The guys with Alabama Power told us that the generators would not be running for the day; because of work they would be doing on the last installment of the metal steps they were completing.  With no worries of generators we headed to the first hole of the day.  

Charles waded across and fished an area down from a section I chose to fish above in some faster water. I had landed trout here before, but the task at hand was getting to the place. No one fishes this area, because one has to wade some distance over some very slippery moss covered rocks to get into position to even make the first cast. Once there you need to establish a good foot position, on the bottom of the stream to keep your balance in the fast current. I never wade now without a wading staff and it is an absolute must in places like this. The trout are always here because of the deep fast run that extends at least 75 feet. It’s difficult to fish here with an indicator, because of the rapid water causing the indicator to float up and under fast. I have always fished this run either swinging a nymph or dead drifting a nymph. I was using the soft hackle that Kevin at Feather Chucker tied for me a while back. He mailed some other patterns that I will give a try later on in the spring. The soft hackle beadhead really got my attention, so it got the first try in this fast water.  After a number of misses I got my first solid hit. I knew this was a good trout and not your average stocker, because I could feel the head shake and for a few seconds I thought I had the trout coming my way, but that wasn’t going to happen on this day. As I was trying to maneuver the trout out of the run it promptly snapped the 5x tippet and carried the soft hackle with it. Sorry to say this was the only soft hackle Kevin gave me in this pattern style. I tied on another nymph pattern and continued to cast through the run without another hit. As I left the run I knew I would be back here again to try to redeem myself, hopefully with another soft hackle Kevin might tie for me in the near future.

Landing this trout made me feel somewhat better after losing what I think was probably my best on the upper tailrace. I landed 3 other rainbow in this same area. Two went airborne trying to throw the tiny shrimp pattern, which just adds to the excitement of landing one of these rainbows.

I seldom ever use anything but a 3 weight when fishing this section of the tailrace. I think using anything heavier would be overkill. The majority of trout landed here are all stocker fish, with the exception of a larger trout such as the one I lost today. The stocker trout in the 10” to 12” range can be a blast on a 3 wt.

 

 



Coping With the Odds on Those Slow Fishing Days

The weather at the tailrace today was cloudy skies and a light breeze. Rain was in the forecast for the following day, so that told me that the trout should be active. Dries were the choice for the morning and after lunch we went with nymphs. Neither proved to be successful this day, but it was good to be on the water with my fishing buddy Charles. We both agreed that our next trip would be below the pump station which is where the bigger trout hang out. Streamers and buggers will be the choice of flies for that outing.

 

Lunch today was pack of peanut butter crackers or “nabs” which is what we use to call these little crackers in Mississippi when I was a kid.

 

Charles managed a nice rainbow from this area; sorry I didn’t get the image I was knee deep fishing a run on the other end of this stretch.

I landed this bow later in the day on an Adams fishing in some of the slower water. The fast current water wasn’t working today with the nymphs and the dead drifting techniques. This trip is what inspired me to write the post about mono and fluorocarbon leaders this past week.

 

On a slow day like this one I really try to analyze why the trout are not taking my offering. Was it the fly selection, presentation, not mending the line properly, locating water holding trout, leader/tippet selection, lack of hatch, or could it have been the trout were just not feeding during that time of day????  Who knows it could have been all the above or it could be that one little thing I haven’t discovered yet. I can say it was not because of persistence and patience on our part, because we gave what we thought was our best on this day.  



 

 

 

 

 

Monofilament Leader Verses Fluorocarbon Leader---Opinion???

As I was fishing the tailrace the other day I kept noticing how my leader was reacting on the water surface. I realize that if one doesn’t get the line to lay straight on the surface after a cast, then you will encounter a coiled leader and tippet. If I can see the coil tippet then the fish can see the tippet. If you hit that sweet spot in your cast most of the time then there is no coil in the leader or more important in the tippet. It was a slow day on Thursday with Charles and me fishing the tailrace, and on those slow days I tend to notice little things that I wouldn't notice on a more active day. Thursday was one of those days, and that little thing I kept noticing was my tippet coil. Yes the cast plays a part in the coil, but not having your leader and tippet stretched before you ever start fishing also plays a big part in the leader/tippet coil. The more I cast the more I notice something else that many of us I am sure have seen; and that is being able to see your tippet on the water surface in gin clear water. The tailrace is always gin clear and most of the time I can see my leader and tippet line, which is mono. I don’t use the most expensive tippet line, which is fluorocarbon as opposed to your standard mono line. I do feel the fluorocarbon is less visible in the water, but according to research the mono floats somewhat better. Research also tells me that fluorocarbon tends to coil less coming off the spool, which of course would help with fewer coils on the water surface. So with these factors in mind I decided to do a little more research into the mono verses fluorocarbon leader/tippet concept. I thought the following read I found on the internet recently explains most of the issues I was trying to find answers for on Thursday; but I am also interesting in your opinion on mono verses fluorocarbon, and why would you choose either leader?  

 

Differences between Fluorocarbon and Monofilament.

• Material-fluorocarbon in made from a sophisticated polymer.  Mono is essentially plastic.
• Fluorocarbon is “More Clear” in clear water (refractive index is nearly identical to water.)
• Fluorocarbon is more abrasion resistant than monofilament in the same size.
• Fluorocarbon stretches less (almost none.)
• UV(sunlight) damages monofilament over time, but not fluorocarbon.
• Monofilament floats, fluorocarbon sinks
• Surprisingly, 10lb mono and 10lb fluoro are about the same diameter.



Orvis 'Super Strong' Leaders are monofilament.  Orvis 'Mirage' Leaders are flourocarbon.

Dry Fly Fishing: When water conditions are not gin clear, monofilament floats nicely.  And while mono is slightly heavier than water, surface tension holds the mono on the surface.  This will help keep dry flies on the surface.  When fishing a clear lake on a dead calm day, fluorocarbon may be better, because it is more invisible, but you will have to grease you fly to keep it floating.  But most dry fly fishing is on a lake that is tannic, or on a river that has a ripple surface.    Either disguises mono.  So, most of the time, use monofilament when fly fishing with dry flies.
Wet Fly or Nymph Fishing:  Fluorocarbon sinks.  This is a perfect match for fishing subsurface flies.  Even lightly weighted flies sink easily in a pond with fluorocarbon.  On the river, again the fluorocarbon sinks and gets flies down.  Don’t be mistaken, weighted flies are needed and sometimes split shot is still needed.  For anglers who refuse to use indicators, a mono leader with a fluorocarbon tippet creates a nice combination.  Make sure to seat the knot carefully when typing fluorocarbon to monofilament.
Top water popper fishing:  Mono, unless the water is gin clear, then use fluorocarbon.  If fishing a popper/dropper, use fluorocarbon on the dropper tippet.

Fluorocarbon tippets tied to a monofilament leader:  Originally not a good combination, but better now.  The flexibility/stiffness of the two materials may be different, so the tippet might be too stiff or limp for the leader that it was tied. Carefully flex your leader and see if transitions are smooth arcs, or lumpy.  This is easier than it sounds, and surprisingly critical to turning over a fly.  Ideally, use the same brand and type of tippet material and leader.  I prefer a 100% fluorocarbon leader (when using fluorocarbon.)  Also, the fluorocarbon has a shell-like exterior, so knots that are mediocre will hold in a mono to mono connection, but will not hold in a flouro to mono connection.  Make sure the knots seat perfectly, lubricate with moisture, and tighten slowly.  Newer flouro is easier to knot than the original fluorocarbons.
Recently, the makers of most fluorocarbon leaders removed expiration dates.  Simply, it has been found that UV does not degrade the material and the shelf life is perhaps five years or more.  It is also much more abrasion resistant, and the leader just last longer.  This is the economy fluorocarbon.  It is a great tool for the angler when applied properly.

 

 

 

 

 

Battling Heavy Wind Trout Fishing

I knew today’s forecast was calling for wind slightly out of the north, but what I encounter on the tailrace today was boat sailing wind. I almost left when I saw how windy it was through the gorge leading up to the dam. I remembered making these windy trips here before. I did have the water pretty much to myself, because there was only one other vehicle in the parking lot when I arrived, so with that encouragement I stayed. Dries were out not only because of the wind, but leaves as well, so I tied on size 12 bead head Prince Nymph dead drifting some of the usual places I always fish at the mouth of the tailrace. I lost two trout within the first 10 minutes here, mainly due to show reaction by me. The short takes convinced me to change flies and go with a smaller nymph, and move on to another area above me. I have found that when the fish are finicky the smaller the pattern the better results.





This rainbow fell prey to a weighted size 16 bead head grey scud dead drifting the fly through some fast water, that I have learned to fish to my advantage. This would be the only trout taken for the morning on the nymph, numerous hits, but no results

I really like this fast water dead drifting a bead head pattern. I never see anyone fishing this area, which is too my advantage. I lost 3 trout in here before I finally connected with the scud trout. I think I would have been a bit more successful if not for the tremendous wind I had to contend with here practically on every cast.

As I left the fast water I notice that there was some fairly calm water ahead of me on the west side of the tailrace which was sheltered by trees that lined the bank. The closer I got to the calm water the better it looked because I was noticing some surface action. This told me that there might be a possibility of landing a trout or two on top.  So I tied on the Bomber which is my go to dry fly when surface activity is present.

I was rewarded with this rainbow using Allen’s Bomber, Small Stream Reflections, on a long drift. I had to make some long cast to reach the surface trout on the other side of the tailrace; which would consist of numerous fail cast because of sudden wind burst whipping down the gorge.

I will admit that today was quite a challenge considering the weather. I forgot to mention the temperature was in the low forties today with a cold front approaching bringing temperatures in the low twenties for the coming weekend.

As I was leaving and walking back to the my truck I notice that most of the color from the leaves have gone for this year.

They will eventually cover the road by December---and we will be back to fall again sooner than we all think

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November Fly Swap

I thought I would share my latest fly swap with you guys from Nick at Brookfield Angler. I received these three nicely tied Sculpins flies in the mail yesterday for my swap. The spots on Smith Lake and the big rainbow on the tailrace should really attack this pattern. Nick did a nice job tying the Sculpin.

 

 

My post last month titled Become a Blogger Fly Swap Fiend explains my reasoning behind swapping flies. These are the flies I have up for swap this month.

 







Upper left is a size 18 Dry Coachman--right top is size 14 Mayfly---Middle is a size 20 Beadhead Brown Midge--Lower left is a size 14 Brown Drake--Lower right is a size 20 Grey Scud