Welcome Theron, both to the board and to the "quiet sport". You've picked a
good subject (one that many on this board will pipe in with suggestions for),
and a good time to be asking it. The hike-in lakes are awesome right now
(though a bit low on the water level).
1) Buggers are great! I'm a bit concerned by your comment that you've had "one
or two rises" using a woolley bugger, so you might be off a little on your set
up. Buggers are usually fished under water rather than on the surface. They're
meant to imitate a variety of stillwater critters such as leeches, poliwogs,
salimanders, baitfish, dragonfly nymphs, and god knows what else. Olive, black,
brown and maroon seem to be the best colors with lots of variations to that
theme. Make sure you're getting weighted Woolly Buggers, and try an
intermediate or "Type II" sinking line with a shorter leader than you'd use with
dry flies. (7-9' to 4-5x should be just fine)
2) Float tubes are the best, but add to the weight you've gotta carry up to the
lake. Many folks (though NOT me) use inflatable rafts. Cuts down on the weight
of waders and fins. I'm a died in the wool bellyboater, and just put up with
the added strain on my shoulders for that luxury. Most hike-in lakes don't
really have enough room at the edges for good backcasting, so getting out in the
8-12' deep parts of the lake really increases your odds.
3) Others on the board will probably have plenty of opinions and sources for
this, but I've enjoyed Fishing Washington's Endless Season - A Guide to Year
'Round Fishing by Steve Probasco. Also go to www.washingtonlakes.com and check
out the reports, as well as the reports on this board and on the waflyfishers
website. Just about all the high-country lakes in the area have some population
(self-sustaining or other) of coastal cutts, brooks, bows, and even golden
trout. Pick a couple within range of your hiking skills, and go try 'em out.
That's the easiest path to improving your skills and self-confidence.
Good luck, and tight lines,
Sean
Theron Shaw wrote:
> Greetings All -
> I'm new to this list and new this summer to fly fishing.
> I have taken my fly rod along a couple of times on hiking day trips with
> friends, hoping to try my hand at lake fishing for rainbows/cutthroats.
> Since I've had ZERO luck, I have a few questions (!) -
>
> 1. can people recommend fly patterns and/or techniques for lake fishing? I
> got one or two rises on a wooly booger, and one or two rises to a stimulator
> pattern (sorry - don't remember which one), but in almost every case, they
> turned just before they took the fly. I was using 9' 5x leader and another
> 3' or so of 6x tippet. In general, I just didn't seem to be getting much of
> anything to rise at all.
>
> 2. is bank fishing worth my time or do I need a float tube to have any
> success on lakes? more specifically, is bank fishing only good in mornings
> and evenings?
>
> 3. how can I get info on which lakes have good fisheries? I'm most
> interested in high country, wilderness lakes, accessible on a day hike or
> overnight backpacking trip.
>
> Thanks in advance. I'm happy to be a part of this list - looks like good
> info and good folks.
>
> Theron
>
> ___________________
> "As we lie in bed each morning, we awake to the fire that created all the
> stars. Our principal moral act is to cherish this fire, the source of our
> transformation, our selves, our society, our species, and our planet."
> -Brian Swimme, "The Universe is a Green Dragon"
>
> Theron Shaw
> PlanetCPR
> 1731 Westlake Ave. N., Ste 401
> Seattle, WA 98109
> TEL (206) 285-3888
> FAX (206) 285-3887
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> www.planetcpr.org
