First Float Tube Outing

[jmwhosh]

Last weekend I spent the a couple real cold days out on East Canyon Resevoir officially being introduced to fly fishing on a lake. It was definitely a learning experience and a little bit humbling as well. I've come to feel somewhat compitant on a river, not that I'm any good by any means but I feel comfortable and have an idea of what is going on. However, this whole lake thing is a whole other world.

I started reading Kauffmans book about two weeks ago and am half way through it, very good and informative and I'm learning a ton. While reading it I'm coming to understand the importance of temperature and oxygen to fish and I really tried to apply some of what i thought i knew to my expedition this weekend. I did my best to find places on the lake where where an "ideal" fish habitat would be (foilage, depth, sunlight, ect.) but after about 13 hours of fishing I only came up with two Rainbows. I'm well aware that sometimes that's just how it goes but being new to the lake scene I'm leaning on my inexperience and lack of knowledge being the key to my slow days.

So now I'm home and thinking about the weekend and trying to figure out what and how I could have done things differently and I'm wondering how best to determine what depth to fish when you're on a lake? Although it was cold outside the sun was shining and I thought that might move fish to a little more shallow/bankish sections of the lake but I had no luck there. I also fished an inlet thinking it would be a great source of incoming food but it was also rather shallow. I caught my two bows in about 20-25 feet of water right off the bottom. Is temperature the biggest reason for them being down there? If so do you all take thermomitures(sp?) with you on a tube or toon?

Lastly I know my fly selection also will have a great impact on what I catch but I think I put out enough different buggers, zug bugs, scuds, clousers, nymphs, and leaches that I covered the whole lake selection. I also know fly line and presentation are big, I was using cortlands intermediate camo line and once in a while I'd throw a weight on with it.

Anyway, any help or ideas or suggestions to help me make my second tubing trip a little better than my first would be much appreciated.

[Doug S.]

Fish Finder :)

[Fred]

A Fish Finder is a good suggestion, if you're trying to find the right depth.

Since I don't have one, I usually go with trial and error. However, rather than adding weight, you want to have different types of line. Your intermediate line will work well if you are fishing near the surface, but it will take too long to sink if the fish are deeper. In addition to an intermediate line, I would have a type II or III and definitely a type V. This can get expensive because you are going to need new reels/spools, but if you are going to stillwater fish a lot, then it is worth it.

I have never fished East Canyon much. So, i can't comment on tactics there. But, just as with river fishing, you want to get to know the lake. Just like each river fishes differently, so do lakes and ponds. For example, Fanatic's tips are probably good because he has spent a lot of time there and seems to know a few things about the lake. But, most of his (and there are alot of them) fish are probably also the result of dumb luck. As they say, it's better to be lucky than good.

So, Good Luck.

[Fred]

I was just kidding, man. Take a few deep breathes and it will all be okay.

[Tom]

I am not a big fan of East Canyon at all, thats just me. I have never done well there and once I get an attitude about a place, I rarely go back.
I understand though that it is one of the places that is open at this point.

There are days that nothing will work well. They just seem to shut down. I have had 15 fish an hour days with constant hook ups, and then go back the next day, to the same place, use the same thing and the big donut hole.

I have a cheap fish finder that I use. A Fishin Buddy II. But to be honest, it mostly see's stuff from the side and from that direction there is no way to tell what depth it is at. So since I am moving pretty much constantly, I rarely see a fish under me that I can get a depth on that is consistant. (I like to sort of paddle and troll around)

In my experience, fly fishing from a toon is all about practice. As you do it more and more, you will try little things that will work on some days, and you will also discover a "go to" fly that seems to always make a connection.
Mine is the double renegade. On pretty much any water I have spent time on, if all else fails, this thing almost always produces.

I have had days where I paddle for about 100 strokes, then stop and strip the fly in, this has created a response, I have had days that you paddle real slow and they come to the fly, there are a gajillion different things that you can try including changing depth and leader length. As you play you figure it out. Good luck and pray for ice off on the Berry, I am looking forward to some hogs this year from there.


Tom

[Sumner Newman]

The replies you've already received contain some good suggestions. If you're going to be serious about still waters, you will need a fish or depth finder and a full complement of sinking lines. Density compensated or uniform sink lines are best, IMHO. I absolutely cannot fish without a depth finder. I have to know the depth of the water I'm in and the structure of the bottom. It's also very useful to know the water temperatures for the day (most fish/depth finders show this). I don't pay a whole lot of attention to whether the finder is showing fish or not; that is secondary to other considerations in my mind.

Right now is probably a pretty tough time of year to fish a water like East Canyon, I would think. Wait until the water warms up to around 50 degrees and I think you'll do better.

IMHO, you did well to try the shallows this time of year and the inlet area. Yes, this time of year, right after ice out until the lake "turns over", the warmest water in many areas, especially the deeper areas, will be on the bottom. That may have been one factor in why the two fish you caught were on the bottom. The shallows also warm quickly if you get some good sunny days, so that area is always good to try in the early spring or shortly after ice out.

I don't think pattern selection is as important as many do. In my experience on still waters, fish are generally opportunistically feeding and, if active, will readily take any pattern that is properly presented, looks alive and imitates, to some degree, a bug they are used to seeing and feeding on. There are exceptions when you'll do better with a particular pattern, and some patterns are definitely better than other patterns. Experience will tell you which are which. If you are going to fish still waters, I would suggest you spend a lot of time with chironomids - especially in the spring and fall. Learn the emerger, pupa and larva stages and develop your own patterns to simulate these stages of this most important still water bug. Fish eat more of these by numbers (and I think even by weight/mass) in still waters than any other single bug. Just last Saturday, I watched three different and very nice trout that appeared to be very inactive (they were not cruising - just laying in one spot) swim over and rather confidently inhale the size 14 chironomid I put in front of them. As an old guru of still waters has said to me many times, "The guy who learns to fish chironomids will always catch fish in still waters." I've found that to be some of the best advice I've ever heard.

Finally, your description of your first days sounds a lot like what I remember my first days on still water with a fly rod being like. There is a lot to learn and the best way to learn it is simply to spend time on the water. Trial and error and more experience are the most important keys to becoming a better still water angler. At the same time, it helps to talk and compare notes with those more experienced than you and to read and watch all you can on the subject. The learning and fun never ends.

[Grundelwalken]

As a co-conspirator with Josh at East Canyon this weekend, I too was greatly frustrated. The only good thing is that I caught my fish the last day so I had a "somewhat" pleasing end to our adventure. Frankly, I have never really had much luck at that silly lake but it is close to the condo so we go there fairly often. As we get more practice with the tubes and flies, I suspect we will begin to find the more successful methods to our madness. I did take someones advice and use a lot of red which resulted in my limited success.

On a related note, how does one keep their feet cold while spending the day drifting around a lake? I had on wool socks and neoprene booties plus my waders and my feet were numb in an hour. Is there a device that can be placed in the waders to help with warmth? It took me quite some time to warm up and then I went through the 'frostbite' recovery program (you know, tingling, burning feet) for another half hour. Any help?

[jmwhosh]

you hijacking my thread ol man........?

[Grundelwalken]

Darn tootin little boy!!! Get used to it again...just like when I used to school you in B-ball. :)

[Sumner Newman]

On a related note, how does one keep their feet cold while spending the day drifting around a lake?

Yes, keep you feet IN the water! They'll stay plenty cold. J/K

Cabelas sells battery operated socks that some say work pretty well. I've not tried them. Personally, I use a good liner sock and then a very thick wool sock over that and leave plenty of room in the foot of my waders. My feet get somewhat cold, but not too bad. If you're going to fish this time of year, you'll generally be dealing with cold feet unless you go to the extremes that Jeff Brooks does.

[Tom]

"On a related note, how does one keep their feet cold while spending the day drifting around a lake? "

I assume you would rather keep you're feet warm?

Keeping you're feet cold is easy :)

One thing that is easy to do is to put too many layers on you're feet when flaottubing. This actually cuts down the circulation and makes you're feet colder faster. I always use a thin, thinsulate sock with a neoprene sock over that. This with my waders is thick enough to keep me warm, but thin enough to keep the blood pumping.

I also use a liberal amount of Scotch, taken internally to stoke the fire.
It does nothing to keep you're feet warm, just makes you happy while they get cold.

Tom

[Grundelwalken]

Thanks for the suggestions about circulation. That does make sense and might be a little of the problem.
As to the scotch reply, I think I will have to pass on that. What with my addiction to fishing, I don't dare start something new. Besides, how would I explain it to my Bishop.

[UtahFlyGuy]

Check your email

[Norm]

What with my addiction to fishing, I don't dare start something new. Besides, how would I explain it to my Bishop.

ROF LMAO

Thats the funniest insider joke I've seen today.


Norm

[Cary]

Fred, you can send your Jokes my way until Fanatic cleans the sand out of his vagi...

nevermind.

For stillwater, I echo that an intermediate and full sink line, like a type 4 will cover most all situations. DO everything Sumner says, too.

[Grundelwalken]

Check your email

Was the message sent today?

[Curtis Fry]

FWIW, I bought one of those RIO versatip lines last year and it includes floating, intermediate, Type III and Type 6 lines. I can change lines without swapping out reel spools. So far it's worked pretty well.

I also finally broke down and bought a fish finder, so I'll be giving that a whirl this year. After fishing with guys who use them, I figured I was missing out a bit on some valuable information.

[Cary]

Damn, he struck so hard the tippet broke. Knot held, though.. I need a reel with less "start up inertia". Reminds me of the 'bows oin Mantua a few years back.

BTW, sorry for the thread hijack, but does anyone really know what this startup inertial is all about?

[UtahFlyGuy]

Was the message sent today?
It was sent today, to jmwhosh

[Mike]

fshfanatic has made it clear that he doesn't want to be a part of ribbing or BS on the site anymore. Leave him out of it please. FWIW, I do think Fred was simply being sarcastic -- as he is prone to be. Nevertheless...

If someone here states that they don't want to be a participant in or the subject of inside jokes and jabbing around here, please respect that and leave them out of it. That's pretty simple. Also, for those who aren't interested in taking it, please don't dish it out either.

Thank you. Now back to your regularly scheduled discussion of float tube outings.

[Cor]

I know there's a lot of extra gear you can get for float tubes, but what is a vagi?

[Mason]

Thanks for the suggestions about circulation. That does make sense and might be a little of the problem.
As to the scotch reply, I think I will have to pass on that. What with my addiction to fishing, I don't dare start something new. Besides, how would I explain it to my Bishop.Tell him to mind his business.

[Trout4x]

.....................
Anyway, any help or ideas or suggestions to help me make my second tubing trip a little better than my first would be much appreciated.


Where are other places you have fished (stillwater)? How did they compare, what did you do different then?

[Fred]

Fred, you can send your Jokes my way

Thanks Cary! I knew I could count on you.