July 17, 2016

July 17, 2016

SIZE MATTERS

This morning in the upper field water of the Double R Ranch I encountered the best Trico hatch I have run into this season, in the sense that it lasted an hour and a half and the fish were working strong. But, the trout were not easy. I struck out with a variety of size 20 and 22 Trico imitations which have produced well in the past. I finally decided to try out some of the size 24 patterns I had picked up at Picabo Angler and they turned out to be the ticket, responsible for 3 fish. Size does matter, sometimes. I stuck several fish on a #24 female Trico spinner featuring a white abdomen, black thorax and white poly wings. The trout also liked the #24 black bodied para-spinner. I had some interest in the #22 black bodied dun pattern with white wings fashioned from reverse tied white CDC. I didn’t think of trying the black bodied Brooks Sprout which had worked well a week ago; it’s a great emerger pattern.

When the hatch ended and the wind picked up all the Members left. I had a few trout continue to work, eating something subsurface that was emerging, but I couldn’t tell what it was. Since there were no bugs on the water I ran some small dark nymphs in front of the cruisers and scored a couple of trout. It turned out to be a Baetis hatch, but the trout became distracted by the damsel hatch so I picked up stakes and retreated to the trailer for lunch and my daily nap.

The key to hooking trout continues to be an awareness of what bugs are coming off or will emerge. That means watching what floats by you and checking spider webs on the hand rails at the access points. It also helps to know what insects you “should” encounter that morning and fishing appropriate nymphs and emerger patterns before the duns appear. You can maximize the opportunity presented by a hatch in progress by starting the day with a healthy length of new 7X tippet which avoids down time in rebuilding your leader mid-hatch. I usually get my rig ready for the next session before leaving the water.

On Sundays I often refer to the creek as Our Lady of the Immaculate Deception. On this Sunday I said a prayer for the families of recently slain police officers and in hope that the current madness will end. I also expressed thankfulness for being able to live in this oasis of peace and calm known as Picabo, Idaho.

Doug Andres, Stream Keeper, Double R Ranch