How would you fish this spot #1

[AKSkim]

Since a few of us had fun with "Where are we" on the Salmon River Report 2008 thread, I was thinking of expanding it to fishing tips for people new to the sport.

Post a photo of a spot and hopefully people will write in how they would approach the spot and fish it.

By explaining how they would fish it, they are in fact teaching someone else.

First up...

 

[DoubleHaul]

I think I would approach this spot in 3 different ways sequentially.

First, set-up a nymph-indicator rig with 2 or 3 flies. #12 copper john on the bottom, then up 10” to a # 16 BH-prince then up to a #16 pheasant tail, setting the indicator up from the CJ about 24”.
<O></O>
Standing below the spot where the photo was taken, cast to the close side of the base of the falls & drift –high stick the entire cross-section casting 12” further each time.
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Second, perch out on the rocks and swing a couple of wet flies, again working 12’ farther across on the cast each time.

Leave for 45 minutes & fish down stream.
Come back- Then throw the bomb.
Rig up the 7 wt. with the sinking line. Tie on a Big marabou muddler, cast parallel with the base of the falls and rip it through.

 

[Burtbords149]

I would move to a different spot...actually on second thought what river is this? SR?

 

[Andy B]

Looks like the KLG to me.

 

[Burtbords149]

I ask so that I know what fish I'm targeting, and preferably the water temp/ time of year/ time of day... all variables

 

[klg neighbor]

Looks like the KLG to me.

The far bank looks like the gorge, but I don't recall the dropoffs.

DoubleHaul - I was thinking of casting a drowned mouse above the falls and let it drift through, but a muddler serves the same purpose.

 

[AKSkim]

I would move to a different spot...actually on second thought what river is this? SR?

Burt... you'd fish it. Not because it is easy, but because it is hard.

The photo is from one of my favourite spots in Ken Lockwood Gorge.

I really like to fish in amongst the rocks there.<O</O

 

[Burtbords149]

Burt... you'd fish it. Not because it is easy, but because it is hard.

The photo is from one of my favourite spots in Ken Lockwood Gorge.

I really like to fish in amongst the rocks there.<O</O

AK I take that as a compliment and thank you sincerely. And I would fish it but with a heavily weighted nymph in between the white water and above the first rocks and around that middle grassy rock.

I would like to know where (because there should be a fish nearby) you folks would fish around that middle rock...in front, behind on sides?

 

[klg neighbor]

Burt... you'd fish it. Not because it is easy, but because it is hard.

The photo is from one of my favourite spots in Ken Lockwood Gorge.

I really like to fish in amongst the rocks there.<O</O

I'll take your word for it and will have to go back and walk the 2 miles again.

I was there yesterday, got 2 browns and one bow. Trout was rising to something small, but I couldn't see what it was. One of the browns took an ant, the other brown and bow took a RLWB.

 

[bkill]

I am going to make some assumptions based on the photo..

Its early season and the river is running slightly high and a little off color..No hatch activity is present;

So I would first try a tandem nymph rig with a size 14 Beadhead Pheasant Tail as lead fly and a size 18 caddis larva on a dropper 18 inches below...A couple size 4 split shot 12 in above lead fly and spaced 1 inch apart..

Approach would be slightly downstream of photo and work each slot with a cast to the drop, drift and swing...High Stick with very little slack...Progressively work across the river to the middle from the bank...

While wading across bottom of the pocket to the middle..Make casts directly upstream into the white water at the base of the drop and strip in at the same speed as the current..

Work to the rock in middle of river..Work the pocket around rock throughly, then position yourself behind the rock and work the far pocket from right to left...Again High sticking the tandem rig and occasional casts above and let rig drop in...

Before I departed and depending on how the water looks upstream, I may tie on a heavily weighted Black Bugger and cast across the currents to both banks from the middle rock position...

Move onto next pocket upstream....If I didnt get a hit in the first pocket, I may change the rig to a black stonefly with a size 18 beadhead PT or Hares Ear on dropper..

 

[Burtbords149]

What might I ask is an RLWB?

 

[jcstikfish]

The far bank looks like the gorge, but I don't recall the dropoffs.

DoubleHaul - I was thinking of casting a drowned mouse above the falls and let it drift through, but a muddler serves the same purpose.

That IS the KLG during winter time, early spring high water, probably about 175-200cfs at that moment of this picture. Location is mid-gorge, right at the only pull-off in the middle section that can accommodate two vehicles perpendicular to the road.

During normal flow where the photographer is standing is usually the final resting place of a dead sucker and a ball of submerged sticks.

Does that sound about right AK?

How to fish it....How do I love seams, let me count the ways! (you'll need both hands)

~James

 

[Hllywd76]

Burt,

Looks like a trip back will be required this weekend. Almost got out there yesterday. Hit that section we didn't get to....

I didn't see the dogs in his picture.
Hllywd

 

[eddavidson9]

first of all, damn, that looks awesome...if a little high maybe?

i'd fish it exactly the same way I fish every spot I come to...assuming I could use the appropriate technique without spooking a bunch of fish from where I approached it, I'd use what I had on first. Then I'd change to something different. Definately a spot I would hit with everything I had as long as nobody else happened upon me and with the caveat of repeatedly resting it.

If it was warm...stimulator.

 

[Corndog]

I would fish it two ways.

First: Center Pin it from upstream with a GRHE.

Then after I bagged all the feeding trout...

Second: I'd get out my 8' throw net to catch the rest of them.

Throughout the experience, I would be loading my cooler with trout. Limit...what limit? It's the KLG! A put and take stream.

Cdog

 

[DoubleHaul]

AH- Corndogger- Did ya hafta bring up the CP thing? I know where your going with this~~~~:rofl:.

You forgot to start with the spey rod to cut & slash your way thru the other anglers so you have the entire pool for yourself- get it right:rofl:.

:guns::guns: That ought to bring out some conversation. :guns::guns:

 

[AKSkim]

I am going to make some assumptions based on the photo....

I say that is fine.

Maybe you post one set of conditions, then take another look using a completely different set of conditions.

Winter, spring, summer, fall... high water, low water....

To be honest, I don't think there is a right way to fish ANY SPOT. Everyone fishes differently.

I have another photo all set for tomorrow.

Then I'll post a spring creek... now that should be fun.

 

[onemorecast]

Some South Branch fish (mine except for the brookie):

I'm not sure exactly where that photo was taken, AK. But I wouldn't do anything much different than the above people would. Drift the seams with tandem rigs or pop dries in there midday. Hadn't thought of stripping a streamer through the base, though. I like that idea - will have to try it. I usually like to keep the same rig on and move around from spot to spot with it. As the day moves on or if something's not working, I'll change flies and hit the same (and sometimes different) spots on the way back down to the vehicle with something new.

 

[Joe D]

"How would you fish this spot...?"

Preferably, alone.

 

[Corndog]

AH- Corndogger- Did ya hafta bring up the CP thing? I know where your going with this~~~~:rofl:.

You forgot to start with the spey rod to cut & slash your way thru the other anglers so you have the entire pool for yourself- get it right:rofl:.

:guns::guns: That ought to bring out some conversation. :guns::guns:

Ouch DH! A groan?

Hey AK...I have 18 now. I'm gaining on you.

Oh...that's right this is a fly fishing site. I lost my head.

I always carry my duct tape and shovel for them spaggers (spey snaggers).

CPdog

 

[Burtbords149]

would that be 18 salmon caught? My congratulations to both of you...and may the race continue...for the most enjoyment on the river.

 

[Corndog]

would that be 18 salmon caught? My congratulations to both of you...and may the race continue...for the most enjoyment on the river.

That's 18 groans Burt-e-boy. Read between the lines!

Cdog

 

[Burtbords149]

My sincerest apologies....I didn't read between the lines but I read in the top righthand corner and saw that you have 18 groans...how do you sleep at night

 

[klg neighbor]

What might I ask is an RLWB?

I was wondering if anyone would take the bait. It's not a common abbreviation.

Rubber Legged Wooly Bugger

I just added rubber legs to a wooly bugger and added some antennae as well (Thanks to ajfromnj - rubber legged stonefly). I also used a glow-in-the-dark yarn in the body and let the yarn hang through the marabu tail like a shuck. A side benefit of using a yarn is the trout's teeth may get hung up momentarily on the yarn and may cause more hookups (I can use all the help I can get).

 

[Santo]

By the picture it looks to be mid to late fall. No greens on the trees or ground. Tie up something that floats nice like a foam hopper, then tie a nice nymph to the bottom with about 12" of tippet. Toss above the rocks to get it to float through the rapids and into the soft stuff. while its sitting there in the calm either one could get a hit. Try it a few times then move on to the next rock.

santo

 

[callmeslick]

Carefully work a streamer through every seam and around every rock. Early season, probably a white marabou #8. Fall, a Little Brown Trout, same size or maybe larger. In lower water(late spring into early summer),
a pair of wets, carefully worked to drift naturally through the same spots would probably work wonders. Then again, it looks like a real pretty spot...
I might just sit on rock and enjoy the view until the feeding fish present themselves and tell me what to use, and how.

 

[irish1]

I would tie on whatever I thought might catch something at the car then just dive right in and splash my way to the center rock. I will, of course, have to stand on it and think of "A River Runs Through It" then start working the water into a froth slamming my fly from one spot to the other. Of course I'll get it hung up in a tree, bush, rock, whatever and have to splash my way over to it to get it. After about 30 minutes I splash my way out of the river and tell everyone I see there are no fish in this area and not to waste their time trying.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it...

 

[Corndog]

I would tie on whatever I thought might catch something at the car then just dive right in and splash my way to the center rock. I will, of course, have to stand on it and think of "A River Runs Through It" then start working the water into a froth slamming my fly from one spot to the other. Of course I'll get it hung up in a tree, bush, rock, whatever and have to splash my way over to it to get it. After about 30 minutes I splash my way out of the river and tell everyone I see there are no fish in this area and not to waste their time trying.

That's my story and I'm sticking with it...

Irish,

So that's you I always see splashing around downriver.

Cdog

 

[irish1]

That would be me, the epitome of style and grace.

 

[CTobias]

You mean we're not suppose to splash around and makes lots of noise??? That's why I haven't been catching any fish all these years.