Being at the Right Place at the Right Time

I love days like today! The day was full of cool moments. That big rainbow that Karen caught was no coincidence. Karen saw a trout cycling up and down a shore in perhaps 3 feet of water. We slid the pram to within casting distance. Karen adjusted her Tokaryk Special to just 2 feet below her strike indicator. About 7 or 8 minutes later, this big rainbow took her fly. We had no idea that the rainbow was gigantic! Karen was able to subdue this sizeable trout after a great battle. We both looked at each other and laughed.

Later in the day we went back to a spot that we liked. Karen was hooking more rainbows on Flashback Pheasant Tails, size 14. I could see boatmen everywhere so I decided to strip Flashbacks using my intermediate line. It was a good choice. I hooked 4 brown trout in short order. The boatman were diving all over the place but no trout were rolling on the surface so I stripped my offering just below the surface. The strikes were hard. I loved it!

During our day there were lulls but the fly fishing was excellent. Tiger trout, rainbows and brown trout were all active at some point during the day. I caught browns stripping a Blue Flash Damsel as well as boatmen and backswimmers. I love the jarring takes.

For most of the afternoon, Karen added a Flashback below her Tokaryk Special. It paid off with several trout brought to hand.

Take a look at the throat samples today. Daphnia, immature damsels, shrimp and boatmen were on the menu! That helped us a lot. Most of our trout were caught on the edges although I did catch several stripping my intermediate line with backswimmers and boatmen.

The surface water temperature hovered around 50F all day. The trout were active and aggressive today. We loved that!

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, Canadian style of course! I hope you are able to spend time with your family during the coming days! Family means a lot to Karen and I!

Rinse and Repeat Backswimmer

Size 14 Flashback Pheasant Tail Caught the Attention of this Brown Trout

Throat samples from today!

My favourite trout streamer is a Blue Flash Damsel. I love to strip this streamer with my intermediate line. I count down to get a specific depth. Today I was counting to 10 then retrieving!

 

Beautiful Day at Mitchell Lake

The splendor of autumn was definitely a distraction today. Both Karen and I took in the fall colours as we fly fished at Mitchell Lake. The warm sun and relatively active trout made for a wonderful day. As we got set up this morning, we could see trout near the surface. Karen caught a mid sized tiger trout just three feet below her strike indicator on a Tokaryk Special right away. ...and you guessed it, Karen stuck with a Tokaryk Special all day and brought a lot of trout to hand. Me? Well I wanted to try lots of different tactics. They all worked but not as well as a Tokaryk Special from 3-7 feet below a strike indicator. I caught trout on flashbacks, striping Blue Flash damsels and hanging a Tokaryk Special under a strike indicator. I also got a lot of grabs with backswimmers with a floating line but I kept losing them.  I did see backswimmers darting around under the water. Not a lot but the trout were definitely interested. Oh well.

There is no question the trout are getting aggressive as the water temperature drops. Today, Mitchell Lake was down to 50F in the morning on the surface. Throat samples included daphnia and glass worms. That can make for a frustrating day out on the water. Under these circumstances blobs will get you into trout although Karen and I usually tie on a Tokaryk Special and do well. I do have some chaoborus  (glass worms) flies but we didn't use them today. The water at Mitchell Lake is gin clear. We could see trout cruising in 13 feet of water. Today I hooked several trout as they swam by jigging my fly to get their attention. It is cool to watch them open their mouths and the take your fly!

Have you looked at the upcoming weather forecast. Snow and way cooler temperatures are on the way. Better find your winter jacket.

 

We Have a New Home for Fly Tying

 

Hal fly fishing in the Parkland Region of Manitoba a few years back!

Just as Karen and I got in yesterday from Sylvan Lake, our phone was ringing! It was George's son Jon on the phone offering us a spot at his church for fly tying. More details to follow but we think we have a space for Fly Tying Mondays. I am quite thrilled and thankful to Jon. Just after the phone conversation, a rainbow stretched out right behind our pram. I smiled!