Enjoy May Long Weekend

Its May Long Weekend! We are heading out to camp with our grandkids and their families. I hope you are able to get out on the water. Conditions are perfect in most places. Stay safe.

 

Post Cold Front Fly Fishing

Karen and I had 4 hours out on the water today at West Lake. We were wondering what the fly fishing would be like the day after a fairly strong cold front passed through Central Alberta yesterday dumping much needed rain.

We got on the water at 11 ish. We caught several trout that had empty stomachs and then we finally got a clue with a throat sample full of daphnia that were alive. Do we tie on blobs? I did while Karen continued to fly fish with a Rusty Nail chironomid. Karen was out fishing me by a wide amount. 

About an hour later and a boat move, we found trout that were definitely eating chironomids. Big chironomids. The hatch was light but the trout were on them. Trout has also been dining on shrimp earlier in the day!

After 2 hours (1 pm) the throat samples showed more chironomids. Chromie type chironomids as well as several darker chironomids. The chironomids were in the size 12 category!

So did the post cold front have lousy fishing? Not really. We caught more smaller fish but we did hook up with some larger ones too. The takes were soft early on and the trout seemed to be more aggressive later in the afternoon.

Blobs did work but chironomids for us worked even better!

Steve with a nice trout on. Steve tagged a dandy a few minutes before this shot using a blob!

 

Boat Launches at Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake opens to fishing on May 15th! Low low lake levels at Sylvan Lake will create boat launching challenges. Yesterday was a rainy day so Karen and I took a look at the two boat launching areas we regularly use at Sylvan Lake.

Sunbreakers boat launch had some improvements made but it will be tough to get a larger boat in and out! Remember that there is a boat launch/ parking fee if you are using a "trailered boat." If you are parking, there is a parking fee. Download the Hot Spot APP and go to permits to pay on line! I would put on a pair of waders and walk out to see if your craft can be launched there!

Palm Bay launch area is very very shallow. A pram, canoe, etc is launchable but you may have to wade or paddle out a bit before using a motor of any sort!  The road down to lake has a lot of erosion so do take care with you vehicle and park so others can launch too.

Remember these are mandatory on the lake

Life Jackets

Throw Rope

Whistle (or noise making device)

Flashlight (that works)

Bailer

and common sense/courtesy!

We need a lot of rain!

Lastly KNOW the regulations. So many don't bother. It is your responsibility.