Do You Use Tungsten Head Turner Beads for Your Micro Leeches?

Early season, the trout are usually shallow and looking for staple food items like leeches, dragon/damsel nymphs, water boatmen and shrimp. Oxygen within the water is a bit better higher up in the water column because decomposition will decrease oxygen near the bottom. I love fly fishing with micro leeches early in the season. I have been tying most of my micro leeches using tungsten head turner beads that are slid onto a jig hook. Size 12-16 jig hooks are excellent to use for these small flies. 

When you fish a micro leech tied on a jig hook using a tungsten head turner bead, use a clinch knot and you can present these tasty little morsels in a horizontal position under a strike indicator. 

Glen's Leech, Ice Minnows and Bubba Gump Shrimp are always handy just after ice is off!

 

A Few Fishing Updates

A few lake updates.

Kerbes Pond-stocked and ready to go-Ice Minnows (size 14 jig hooks) worked great there a few days ago along the edges fished 10-15 inches down below an indicator

Boulder Lake (Blackfalds)-some carry over fish are around and it has been stocked with rainbows and tiger trout!

Hanson's Reservoir-766 south of Eckville 2 km-has carry over rainbows that wintered

Dickson Trout Pond-ice free-my buddy caught a 17 inch rainbow there yesterday-there was a partial fall fish kill last year

Beaver- not completely ice free- fishable from shore or with a floating craft you can drag to open water

Fish and Game (West Lake) is ice free and fishing well-you need a membership to fish here!

Len Thompson Pond in Lacombe-ready to go

 

Kerbe's Pond-South of Erskine

I have been watching the Alberta Stocking Report. I noticed that Kerbe's Pond has been stocked with 1000 tiger trout, 500 rainbows and 250 brown trout! Karen and I decided to get out and check it out!  We drove to Erskine east of Red Deer then headed about 23 km south and then a couple of km east to the lake. There are no signs so use your google maps to get there!

We were pleasantly surprised to see that the water level of Kerbe's Pond was up from last year. The 7 aerators were also working although I do not understand why they do not to run in the winter. When we arrived, we were thrilled to see it was pleasantly warm with very little wind. We tied on our usual ice minnows and fished then just 10-18 inches below a strike indicator along the weed lines.  The tiny minnow population in Kerbe's is amazing and the trout fatten up quickly by feeding on them! A fellow fishing from a kayak said the water temperature was in the high 40sF! We caught lots of stocker rainbows and we were pleasantly surprised to catch lots of hold over fish from last year! The visibility in Kerbe's is always low. Today is was a bit better than usual.

The best part of the day was watching Karen fly fish for the first time since her broken leg! She had to fly fish from a lawn chair and she loved her day! Karen caught lots of rainbows. We will come back soon for the tigers and the browns.

I would recommend going out to Kerbe's. There are washrooms and an excellent parking area. Take boots or waders. There is a boat launch so you can definitely launch a pram or pontoon boat! On the drive out, we encountered 1000's of geese. We took the time to watch them as they passed through to their summer grounds.

Remember that Kerbe's is a trophy fishery and you can only harvest fish larger that 50 cm.

 

Hanson's Reservoir-Eckville

Karen and I stopped in at Hanson's Reservoir yesterday! The aerators were working and there were hold over trout from last year rising. Great news.

 

Understanding Your Electronics-Thursday April 25th at 8 pm!

 This will be an excellent presentation from Phil Rowley. It will give you the chance to tune up the settings on your electronics! You can see this presentation from Phil's Facebook page or his you tube channel!

Thursday April 25th at 8 pm

Refushia Chironomid-A Variation of Phil Rowley's Chromie-Rib Colour Matters!

Ryan Emeret's Refusia is a variation of Phil Rowley's Chromie. The difference is basically the rib colour. It is an easy tie and you might want to add a few to your lake fly box! There are times that rib colour does matter. Take a look!

 

Upper Reaches of the Red Deer River

It felt amazing to get out and wander along the upper Red Deer River.  The RDR in the upper section opens on April 1st. My buddy, Steve, and I had a great time wandering along the upper Red Deer. We found some browns and rocky mountain whitefish to tangle with. As the river slowly starts to rise, it will be tougher to get around so take care and be cautious! Steve fly fished with streamers and I nymphed using wiggle worms. It was an awesome day. It was good to spend time with my friend. I am pretty sure that Chili dog had the most fun!

 

Ice Off is Happening Every Where

I bet your favourite lakes have some open water! Winter is shedding its icy skin.

 

52 Buick is a Great Searching Pattern, ...take a look!

Easy to tie and an excellent fish catcher. Take a look!

 

Ice Off is Near, ...Real Near

I have been taking a look at several lakes and ponds in Central Alberta. Ice off is close, real close. Are you ready to go? Fishing License (Alberta Relm), rod, reel, net and fly fishing kit in the corner ready to go. I bet we see open water this week in a few places.

 

Five of Diamonds Streamer,...Why Not

The Five of Diamonds is the number one seller for Len Thompson Lures in Lacombe. It is an amazing lure, so why don't we have a fly fishing equivalent? We do now! I got the tails at OFF, Out Flyfishing Outfitters in Calgary.  A couple of streamer brushes and a few Bauer Rig snaps later, a Five of Diamonds Poor Man's Whistler! What a great idea!

 Five of Diamonds Poor Man's Whistler

Tokaryk Specials-An Excellent Ice Off Pattern

The Tokaryk Special is an outstanding fly fished as a streamer. jigged or dangling under an indicator. For some reason, the trout love them. I always have a few dozen ready to go. I tie them mainly on jig hooks from sizes 8-12. I use them when the trout are on daphnia and as a general searching pattern. If you are tying them with just a jig hook, use tungsten head turner beads. Of course you can use your favourite streamer hook so you can cast and retrieve! I like using hares ear ice dub for the body but you certainly can use basic ice dubs as well!

Tied Balanced

Tied using a tungsten head turner bead similar to the video above!

 

Fly Fishing the Parkland Region of Manitoba

The New Fly Fisher paid a visit to the Parkland Region of Manitoba last Fall. Phil Rowley did an outstanding job showing how he likes to fish this region in the Fall. Take a look. It is an educational show.

An excellent show from the Parkland Region of Manitoba!

 

Maligne Lake Streamer and Blue Flash Damsel for Maligne Lake

I just finished tying up several streamers for our trip to Maligne Lake in July! Maligne Lake is spectacular place to fly fish and camp. Parks Canada has three designated camps on the lake that require reservations. Karen, several of our friends and lately our grandkids have gone to Maligne Lake. We love the fly fishing and you feel like your are part of a scene from a post card. It is a very special place.

Last year, We had excellent success fly fishing with Blue Flash Damsels and this year we are going to try a tried and true streamer that several guides use at Maligne Lake. Never forget chironomids, caddis patterns and some micro leeches.

If you spend any time fly fishing at this treasure, be sure to add a few of these streamers to your fly box.

 

Gearing Up for the New Season

It is April 1st and that means getting organized for the upcoming season! Filling in empty spots in fly boxes is a high priority! I have been checking my batteries and I opened my kit bag to quite the mess that needed serious help from Karen and I. It is at least under control! If you are under the age of 65, head over to Alberta Relm and get you 2024 fishing license too!

Happy Easter everyone from Karen and I!

 

Trout Unlimited Canada's Annual Report 2023

Trout Unlimited Canada's Annual Report. I am very glad that I am a member of TUC. The freshwater conservation work that they are involved with is amazing. Take a look! (Click on each slide to make it easier to read)!