I've been lucky to go out a couple days in a row in the late afternoon. There is a lot more surface action than I ever anticipated or noted before. Some little guys were literally flying out of the water! I could not see anything actually hatching so I assume it was midge emergers. A little further down the creek I ran in to a swarm of pale gnats. Although they may have been a simple coincidence, I suspect they were the adult forms of the hatching insects. These flies we're tiny! Size 28 anyone?
I was so impressed by the rise that I pocketed my nymph leader rig and tried on a tapered leader with a relatively larger indicator fly followed by a small black midge emerger. Until the got wise, I had multiple splashy strikes and had a nice trout on for a bit before he released.
I've noted this surface activity at multiple access. Seems like mostly smaller fish but I could be wrong.
Anyone else had much success on the surface?
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I was on the creek last week and saw many bugs on the water, caddis,mayflys, and some midges I think. This was around two PM, the only surface activity i saw were a couple fish hitting imergers. I tried to dance a dry around but to dice. Still a nymphing creek to me.
I was out on the creek pretty much til dark last week and noted alot of rises and yes they were some tiny bugs. I didn't bother trying any dries but I did watch a 20" trout take from the surface. I was thinking a sz 22-24 BWO? I don't know bugs well but that was my guess.
I have been seeing a lot more little fish in the system this year. Not to say there are not anymore of the donkeys but little fish in my eyes tell how well they are repopulating. Way more fish and smaller fish then the last two years according to my catch chart.
What's a donkey fish? Just messin' Fishing the creek has been fun this year. Try the clustered midge pattern for dries. Griffiths gnat. Black thread and a spiral wrap of grizzly hackle. Clip the bottom of the hackle so it floats low. Another easy dry fly is just black thread and grizzly hackle at the eye of the hook. Size 30 works best???
