I’m constantly flabbergasted how a simple change in flies, tactics, the weather, the way you walk up to a run or a hole, can change results. I don’t pretend to have a ton of experience, just a lot of trial and error. Been fishing for about 10 years now but I’m lucky if I get 15 days on the water in a year. Normal with a career and kids, I know, but there it is. I tie a lot in my basement and even got into rod building the last few years (a great hobby for your hobby, if you know what I mean).
This weekend I visited a stretch of public water in North Georgia that’s lodged itself in my brain. You might know what I’m talking about so I’ll just say… not the DH. Walk a few miles and beat the crowds. I saw one guy with a spinning rod in two nights of camping out in this place and no one else. The fly shop guy says there’s a good mix of wild trout up here. Point is – it’s a cool place. You’ll get a lot on natural patterns and dry flies. Or maybe not if a front comes through and turns them off. Then you can change tactics (beer drinking). I digress.
I’ve been here before when the hatches really get the fish going and you can find times where every cast can be productive. This time wasn’t that. You had to work. The ol’ “#12 stimmy with a dropper to a frenchie” just wasn’t getting it done. Saw plenty of #12-14 yellow mayflies coming off the water mixed it with your tiny little BWO’s. I had tied a couple traditional sulfur dries just for fun and decided I’d at least try it out. Game on. Fish were active all of a sudden. I caught a good 15-16” brown trout as well as several wild rainbows. The brown take was awesome – slow and intentional. I loved it.
Next day I nymphed my way back to the car and fished some of the DH section for fun. Caught a few rainbows as well as a porky brookie.
Get out there and have some fun. Now’s the time.
Posted by Chilliam_Davis