Tuesday June 19, 2012
by Forrest, Elkhorn Fly Rod & Reel

The fishing on Mother and Island lakes was incredible today.

I had one client who had a decent amount of fly fishing experience, but zero lake fishing experience.

The weather was in the mid 90s with a little breeze and blue skies, other than the plumes of smoke from the fire to the North. Before today, the client’s biggest fish was 18″. At the end of the day, with 28 hookups and 17 fish landed, only one fish had failed to break that record.

Three 24" rainbows topped the day with a tie for the longest fish, but the second one weighed in at nearly ten pounds, and had him in his backing in 6 seconds!!!

We had most of our success in Mother Lake, fishing a sink tip line with a pine squirrel leach and a damsel fly nymph, dragging it behind the belly boats.

Both big browns and rainbows were landed on both flies. After a while, we moved down to island lake fishing the newly dug channel at the inlet, and caught a few more nice rainbows, including the third 24 incher on top with a beetle. Red chronomids also had great success there.

In all it was a day for the books, and one that I look forward to witnessing again soon! They really do a spectacular job managing these lakes, and it pays off with unforgettable memories like these!

There is something about the gentle rocking of a pontoon boat on Mother Lake during the warm, mid-afternoon hours. Maybe it’s the doldrums of the feeding action or simply the slow digestion of the noon subway sandwiches, chips and beer, as the body starts to think that a brief nap might be in order. Such was the case last Thursday as Tommie Thompson kicked his flippers to propel his craft in the middle of the lake. I remember watching the strike indicator rest motionless on the surface, when suddenly it plunged downward and the drag sounded like a siren. Tommie’s quick reaction brought the hook to a holding position and the fight was on. I maneuvered my guide boat alongside Tommie’s pontoon and swiftly managed to net Mr. Thompson’s catch. A chunky rainbow had taken the suspended damsel nymph to the delight of yet another Sylvan Dale angler.” ~Ranch Guide Ted Meredith 970-215-2816

by Wallace, Master of Fish Acquisitions

“Mother Lake: A lot of fish taking smaller midges from the surface and below. Damsel Nymphs working near shore. Mid afternoon, complete shutdown as fish move towards center and down. Best catch of the day, 21 inch rainbow taking on a #20 Mother’s Lake midge on top.

Main Ranch River: Great level for the River, but unusually slow around Dining Hall. Many fish taken at the Devil’s Elbow, down deep on Poison Blue Tung and Girdle Bug. Concurrently, there was a massive PMD hatch, but no risers and no takes on nymph imitations. Go figure.”

Thanks, Wallace!  Check out his website & photos… Fish Acquisitions by Wallace Westfeldt, www.MudBugCo.com

Mother Lake:
Fishing at Mother Lake continues to be hot with 40 fish days (total group) very reachable. As the weather has warmed trout are somewhat more selective with regards to streamers and very much more selective with regards to insects. Water temp mid-day, middle of the lake was 54 degrees on March 25th.

For streamers, darker leggy crawfish pattern about 2 inches or less are producing best. Slowly twitched along bottom in shallower areas are doing the trick. Fish are usually hitting on the pause or the fall. Also light to white small woolly buggers with a #16 red snow cone producing fish (try the NE corner on that one). Slow strip along bottom.

There are a variety of midges hatch morning and afternoon. And some Callibaetis in the morning. Unfortunately, the fish are focusing on the smaller midges and predominantly emergers, so 5-6x tippet is needed for consistent takes. The larger Mother lake midge has a highly segmented body so using a Callibaetis emerger, cripple, or spinner with the tail cut off will get some strikes. Small zebra midge or Chironomid suspended under an indicator fly is a more consistent rig when they’re rising.

Main Ranch River:
Very low but fish are feeding. If you know the spots try a dry/dropper with a #18-#20 Poison Blue Tung.

Submitted by: Wallace Westfeldt
www.mudbugco.com