Hi,
A friend and I fished Merrill lake on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
We started fishing at about 8 pm. There was a light wind which never
really dropped until long after dark, and it was cool. At the time we
started there was a good hatch of small mayflies going on, but few fish
taking them. A sparse hatch of giant hexagenia started at about 9. I was
unprepared for just how big these beasts are and consequently lacking in
suitable flies. However we got fish on Adams and other small dries. They
were small cutthroat, 10-14".
The lake was mobbed with fishermen!. There were perhaps 30 float tubes and
other boats out there. I am not a fan of that sort of combat fishing. In
contrast, the following morning we had the entire lake to ourselves. We
fished close to the steep parts of the bank and caught a lot of fish,
including browns 18"+ fishing hopper/muddler patterns cast right into
the shore and twitched back. A very pleasant morning until the rain really
set in about 11.
I may be able to make a trip back sometime soon. Just in case I do, can
anyone recommend a good pattern for the giant hex, or a resource with good
pictures (with scale information!) on the insect.
N.
Nick Lowry
University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195-5020
(206) 221 6884 http://www.fish.washington.edu/people/nlowry
PLEASE NOTE NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
