Boatman and Backswimmer Action Continues

The last two days have been fun! The boatman and backswimmers continue to be on the menu of local trout! I love to cast and retrieve either flashbacks (size 14) or "Rinse and Repeat" patterns. Karen prefers to hang 2 flashbacks about 2-3 feet below a strike indicator and let the trout come to her flies although Karen will set up where she sees trout!

I have used a clear intermediate line, a hover line and a floating line. They have all worked for me. Two days ago, the intermediate line was better for me and today I had better success with a hover line. The conditions seemed almost identical.  An intermediate line sinks at 2 inches per second and a hover line sinks at about 1 inch per second! Water temperature was 57F with light wind. The strikes when you cast and retrieve are hard!

The action is not continuous but when it is happening your fly line is going to go tight a lot! Today it was mostly water boatman. They were landing in our boat constantly! When the boatman hit the water, it is like someone rang the dinner bell. The only frustrating moments occur when you see a trout moving just below the surface but you are not exactly sure in what direction! I like to cast and retrieve so I guess wrong lots and Karen's idea of waiting for the trout to come by her flashbacks works great. 

Get out there when you can. 

A Flashback

Boatman

Backswimmer

 

High Country Westslope Cutthroat on the Eastern Slopes

Kinglette Lake is on the edge of Kootenay Plains on our eastern slopes. Kinglette Lake is a small tarn and its a catch and release fishery. Kinglette Lake has a small population of Westslope Cutthroat trout that are a challenge to catch! The biggest obstacle is just getting there. It is a 6 plus km hike BUT you have 800 plus metres of climbing, a lot of it on loose scree slopes. Walking poles help a lot! The climbing is a grind but while you are catching your breath, there is the tremendous view of the North Saskatchewan River Valley well below your feet. Once at the lake, you quickly realize that there are few spots to cast from shore with a fly rod. You can camp at Kinglette. There is a pit toilet and bear lockers at the lake.

The cutts are well educated. They refuse so many flies. We ended up catching the cutts on tiny chironomids. Yes, we were down to size 18-20 chironomids. We did observe cased caddis along the shore. You definitely can use tiny dry flies to get a take. A size 18 griffiths gnat will get the attention of the cutts. Long leaders and thin tippet is the order of the day!

Karen and I loved the walk out. The views were amazing. 

 

Fall Colours

What a spectacular tiger trout, Betty! I love the fall colours, especially brown trout and tiger trout! Yes the leaves on the trees are changing colours but you would have to look away from what you are doing!

...what a special time of the year!

Two for the price of one!

Yep Boatman and Backswimmers!