Went exploring this weekend to see if I could catch the hex hatch. Got out to the water and saw a youngster hooked up on his first or second cast. He was cheating with a nightcrawler though. I made a few casts with my new camo intermediate line and was hooked up. It felt like a huge trout like maybe a 20" trout. Got it to the float tube and it was like a 14" small mouth bass... My first smallie. These fish fight like crazy. The lake is close to Almanor and is known to harbor giant fish. I saw one trout landed on bait. The small mouth fishing is good right now. The hexagenia are just starting to hatch. The hot flies were a white woolie booger and a rag hex nymph. Local creeks are coming into shape in the same area.
Otter I see that you are using my patented crystal meth bugger. Not tried one with a bullet head .....yet,may have to tie some up. I use a similar version on sierra streams. Grey marabou tail, pearl crystal flash body and grizzly hackle. I've never chased the hex but pretty sure where you fished for them. Don't those mostly hatch at night?
I remember you talking about the white wooley booger and I was thinking white??? Then I was talking to one of the locals at the fundraiser and he said it's all about the pond smelt up there. My pattern is 200R size 8 gold bead, jay fairs white marabou tail and pearl crystal flash, 3d holographic rib, and a light dun soft hackle behind the bead. A grey and white clouser seemed to work as well. The fish all had red eyes so they must be addicted to something..... Local guide Lance Gray starts fishing around 6 PM. It is a good hatch for people who like to sleep in.
Upper Deer Creek around HWY 36. I saw a hatch of flyfishers along the road so I stopped for a few minutes. Have you hooked into any sizable trout in the upper river?
Local creeks are coming into shape in the same area.
