Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Fly-Fishing Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-23-2018, 07:33 AM
lds lds is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 490
Default Why does the bow hate me?

This morning tied with the most surface action I have ever seen on any river and the only thing I didn’t throw at them is my fly box itself. Not one take. There were thousands of little size 30 bugs and the odd size 18-20 Caddis or pmd. But only a couple. Why can’t I get anything on a dry fly on that river?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-23-2018, 09:07 AM
FlyDuke FlyDuke is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 4
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lds View Post
This morning tied with the most surface action I have ever seen on any river and the only thing I didn’t throw at them is my fly box itself. Not one take. There were thousands of little size 30 bugs and the odd size 18-20 Caddis or pmd. But only a couple. Why can’t I get anything on a dry fly on that river?
hahaha I've been there too many times as well. When that is happening I have found using a large caddis or even a hopper as an indicator with a small emerger 12-18 inches hanging off that back seems to work. Often if I use the emerger fly on its own, I have trouble seeing it and miss takes. This way I know roughly where in the river it is based off the large dry fly.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-23-2018, 09:51 AM
goldscud goldscud is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 2,960
Default

Did you see the fish's nose come up out of the water, or only their backs/tails?
If no noses showing...they are eating emergers.
At other times they are eating tiny spent mayflies. Then they are very picky.

On a side note, some fish in the river might eat a hopper
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-23-2018, 10:36 AM
lds lds is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 490
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by goldscud View Post
Did you see the fish's nose come up out of the water, or only their backs/tails?
If no noses showing...they are eating emergers.
At other times they are eating tiny spent mayflies. Then they are very picky.

On a side note, some fish in the river might eat a hopper
I tried a hopper as well. The fish were hitting the surface hard. I saw the heads come out and even the entire fish clean out a lot
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-23-2018, 02:57 PM
goldscud goldscud is offline
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 2,960
Default

Could be chasing caddis pupae up at speed as they try to emerge
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-23-2018, 03:12 PM
scel scel is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 521
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lds View Post
I tried a hopper as well. The fish were hitting the surface hard. I saw the heads come out and even the entire fish clean out a lot
Big splashy rises on the Bow means they are usually chasing emergers or eating skittering bugs.

I would try small (sz16 or smaller) unhackled caddis dry, like the x-caddis or an unweighted caddis emerger pattern.

During this kind of activity, swinging a wet fly or emerger pattern can be super productive.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-23-2018, 05:36 PM
Soab Soab is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 346
Default

Are their tricos yet ? They can be tough
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-23-2018, 08:03 PM
lds lds is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 490
Default

I only saw one caddis. Next time I will try emergers. I did have droppers on my hopper but they were big. Once I switched to smaller dries I didn’t have any dropper. Had a nice long leader and 4lbs tippet so I don’t think that was my issue. Also nice easy currant to stay drift free. Thanks for the help guys. I haven’t played much with emergers and always figured the gentle surface action is more likely the result but if they are chasing them up then that would make sense why they hit the surface so hard. Either way it was super fun to see so many fish rising. All over the river
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-23-2018, 08:53 PM
Crankbait Crankbait is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,661
Default

was there a riffle of faster moving water prior to your slower hole/water?
if so, get your cast into the end of the riffle or if you can, wade into the riffle upstream and feed your line into the hole stopping your line feeding every six inches to give your top water foam/fly an action.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-25-2018, 03:51 PM
TriggerTay TriggerTay is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 23
Default

Fished the bow last night for the first time just south of downtown (new resident). Had one bite in two hours. Then right as dusk came an injured dragonfly landed 10 feet away from me in the water and was flopping around. 5 seconds later....BOOM...massive trout grabbed it right in front of me. Reassuring that I picked a good spot, but I guess i need some more bugs in my fly box and some better technique!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-25-2018, 06:06 PM
Unknown303 Unknown303 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Calgary
Posts: 126
Default

Days when I'm striking out on the bow I like to throw an Atomic Ant on and watch all the maniacs go for one of those on the surface.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-25-2018, 06:46 PM
lds lds is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 490
Default

Well thanks guys. There forever new things to try and try I will
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-26-2018, 03:07 PM
lds lds is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 490
Default

Tried again this Morning and same thing. This time I also tried emergers and streamers. Another guy there also had no bites. Again the only thing I was seeing was some bug around size 30. Too small for me to tell what it was. Could it be that they are only eating stuff that small and that’s why I’m not catching?
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-26-2018, 05:09 PM
midgetwaiter midgetwaiter is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,779
Default

It could be Trico Mayflies, they can be a real challenge but as others have said it's early yet.

This is my favorite pattern for them:
https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/H...ie-the-RS2-Fly

My guess would also be caddis pupae, especially because you're seeing it in the morning. Try a pattern like this:

http://intheriffle.com/fishing-video.../sparkle-pupa/

I like to stand near the top of the riffle and fish on a tight line to the tail out. The goal being that you will have the pupae rise naturally in the feeding zone at the end of the riffle or pool. It's often on that rise at the end that you get takes.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-27-2018, 07:29 AM
TriggerTay TriggerTay is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 23
Default

Fished the Bow again last night from Shouldice park last night. Two 1-1.5 lbs rainbows in about 2 hours. I had an olive wooly bugger and dark green nymph. Both took the nymph along a seam.

I should note I am a complete beginner, but I am encouraged after 2 outings within the city on the Bow.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 07-27-2018, 10:42 AM
Flymph Flymph is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 61
Default Excellent analysis.

Quote:
Originally Posted by midgetwaiter View Post
It could be Trico Mayflies, they can be a real challenge but as others have said it's early yet.

This is my favorite pattern for them:
https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/H...ie-the-RS2-Fly

My guess would also be caddis pupae, especially because you're seeing it in the morning. Try a pattern like this:

http://intheriffle.com/fishing-video.../sparkle-pupa/

I like to stand near the top of the riffle and fish on a tight line to the tail out. The goal being that you will have the pupae rise naturally in the feeding zone at the end of the riffle or pool. It's often on that rise at the end that you get takes.
Compliments to you on a very thoughtful and helpful analysis to the poster's question. We can all learn and better our game from your post.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 07-27-2018, 11:45 AM
stob stob is online now
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,428
Default

i have used a big streamer on a floating line with fair results ... all fish were bigger
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 07-31-2018, 12:55 PM
justin g justin g is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 19
Default

It seems to hate me to. Maybe it's because I haven't spent enough time on it and took it out for coffee yet. I'm going to invest in our relationship and buy a boat
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:57 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.