June 29, 2016
June 29, 2016
A veritable buffet of insects today! The dilemma was which bug the trout were feasting on. I launched my tube on the field water early this morning because the consistent heat has made Silver Creek a place to fish on opposite ends of the day if one is looking for defined hatch fishing. But, to me some of the most interesting fishing and the best shot at hooking really large trout on the field water occurs after the hatches end. During this “trash time” the trout are swirling subsurface on a variety of food: spinners, beetles, ants and damsels. So far, I can’t say that there has been any quantity of “bank sippers,” as the trout seem to browse smack dab in the middle of the creek.
When I arrived on the creek I was greeted by a flight of White Miller Caddis, as has been the case for over a week. I took three fish on Allen McGee’s “PMD Ascension Flymph” in size 14. Then I noticed some size 22 Baetis dun and spinners which turned out to be a sparse hatch. Some of the trout seemed to be more interested in the spent Callibaetis spinners that were drifting by. Later, I noticed a couple of Pale Morning Duns floating by. But, as soon as I switched to a Hen Winged Callibaetis spinner those pesky damsels were hovering everywhere. I really do not like fishing the damsel hatch. I don’t like fishing “blind” and in my experience hovering damsels can kill the trout’s interest in a hatch of Tricos or PMDs. Worse yet, I had not yet put my “Damsels & Dragons” box in the float tube. All I had were some soft hackles I had fashioned from pheasant rump feathers dyed royal blue. My good friend and I call this pattern, when tied in size 14 rather than size 10, “The Smurf.” I drifted a Smurf in front of fish which appeared to be eating damsels and I had 3 strong “tugs” but no hookups. Finally, I relented and tied on a size 14 Flying Ant and had a half dozen fish attack but, again, either no solid hookup or a fish breaking off. All in all, still a delightful morning.
As I exited the creek I followed my own preaching and examined the spider web on the takeout’s hand rail. It was loaded with black bodied midges about size 18. However, the spider web also had snared a solo black bodied Trico spinner. I suspect that the Trico hatch will be starting a week early this year. I can’t wait!
Doug Andres, Stream Keeper, Double R Ranch