Fishing Report ~ by Ranch Guide Bill Franz

with edits by other ranch guides' daily observations

Updated March 16, 2010

(Also see Fish Stories for more detailed conditions, tips & fun reading!)

Wallace Westfeldt, guide and owner MudBugCo, reports his day in the Big Valley on March 4th at this link:  Bellyache at Mother Lake, including a photo of the fly that landed a dozen fish!

Main Ranch River:

Spring is around the corner and though the river is laced in places with ice and snow, there is plenty of open water to fish, even at the usual lower winter flows.   San Juan worms (#14) netted Ted a fish the other day, so even with limited open waters, there is action.  Small baetis, tan and cream colored scuds and midge patterns (#18 to 20) have been the best nymphs but some are still being taken on the traditional RS2’s, red Copper Johns PTs and hare’s ears.

SEE THE STORIES PAGE (link above) for a March 3rd river report by Steve Musick, including his choice of flies which netted over 20 fish!

Upper Valley:

SPECIAL NOTE FOR FISHING TROPHY TROUT LAKES IN THE UPPER VALLEY

Please review these helpful hints on landing and releasing big fish in still water.

It will help us keep a great fishery for you and your fishing buddies and clients!

• Each angler should have a net when fishing; rubber nets are better than harsh nylon. Wet nets, as you do your hands, before handling fish.
• Each angler must be prepared to get into the water (waders/boots/wet wading). Get in the water at least up to your knees when fighting the fish and especially when preparing to net the fish. Keeping them in deeper water shortens the end of the fight and prevents excessive thrashing in shallow water along the shoreline.
• Barbless hooks only!  Pinch any barbs flat with hemostats or pliers.
• DO NOT use less than a 4 wt. fly rod on trophy trout waters, which can lead to excessive numbers of break offs or, if trout are landed, to exhaustion and possible death.  Please keep photo sessions short and on the water.  Always keep fish in or over the water; never over dry ground. 
• Remove the hook promptly.  If it won’t come out promptly, cut the tippet off and leave it. The barbless hook will fall out soon enough.
• Grab the fish by the tail, gently cradle the belly and remove it from the net. 
• While still in 2 feet of water, place the fish down in water column and begin the slow and steady, back and forth motion to get water flowing over the gills.  The surface water is the warmest, so get them down in the water column.
• Never push the fish away from you and let it go. When you think the fish is ready, stop the back and forth motion, let go of the tail, and see what the fish does. If it doesn’t bolt away, grab the tail again and continue the reviving motions. It is critical to fully revive the fish until it DARTS out your hands away from you.
• Please do not fish with 3 flies at a time. 2 is the maximum.  The fish often roll during the fight tangling the flies, leaders, and tippet into real mess.  Removing the tangled flies and line from the fish and net often takes a too much time and prevents us from reviving and releasing the fish in a timely manner.

NOTE:  Unlike releasing a trout by facing it upstream in moving waters, it often takes several minutes to completely revive a large fish in still waters. Please take the time to properly revive the fish.  We thank you, and the fish thank you, too!

Mother Lake ~ Spring is here and the fish know it!  Midges are hatching everyday and the fish are starting to key on them. Cloud cover will bring them up to “sip em” on the surface. Dry midge patterns (#16-20) will do. Midge pupas and chironomids (#14-18) suspended will take them if they are not rising. The fish have been eating minnows and crayfish for the past 3 months and are still taking clousers, woollies and crayfish patterns.  Be sure to see the Fish Stories page for a couple of recent photos and notes on late winter/early spring fishing at Mother! 

Island Lake ~ The ice just went out and the browns are very active. The fish will start dispersing this week as the water temps rise. Right now they are in the deep end of the lake and will chase just about anything. They are also eating the suspended midge pupas and chironomids.

Lower Valley:

Weldon and Long Lakes ~ Both lakes are open and the fish are beginning to move around.. Small woolies and clousers on slow retrieves are taking fish. Suspending just about any type of traditional bead head nymph (#12-14), midge pupas (red or black) and chironomids (#16-20) two-five feet down are taking fish. Long Lake is iced over.

The Bass Ponds ~ Pump Lake and Big Lake are still iced over but the others are open.  The bass are pretty dormant until the water warms up a little.

Lower Valley River ~ the River is running at about 50 cfs and is definitely fishable.  Midges are hatching everyday in the dry fly pool and below the spillway above the bridge. Small midge dries will take rising fish.   Some very nice browns (14-16”) have been caught there using small brown stone flies, Prince Nymphs, and midge pupas as a trailer.