Chironomids, Shrimp and Callebaetis

The last few days have been quite interesting on our local lakes. Yesterday's overcast rain showery day included a very sustained callebaetis hatch. These mid sized grey mayflies are great little morsels for the trout to feed on. Splashy rises to eat a dun can make this hatch quite visual. The trout could be on the callebaetis emergers or the actual nymph so you have to be prepared. A grey parachute adams, a pheasant tail, a herl may are all great patterns to have handy as is a flashback that you can cast and retrieve.

Today, Karen and I tied on a Rusty Nail Chironomids (John Kent pattern) and we both had an outstanding day of fly fishing. Chromies with black ribs or mahogany ribs fished very well when fished 10 plus feet down in 12-14 of water. A Bubba Gump Shrimp early in the day would definitely get you into fish as well. Take a good look at the throat samples from today. They can definitely tell you what the trout are dining on!

 

Don't Forget Chromies!

Oh man yesterday was cold and windy. I still ventured over to Boulder Lake for the afternoon! The north side of the lake was out of the wind and protected. It made the fly fishing quite pleasant! I wandered along the north side using size 14 chromies about 5 or 6 feet below an indicator. I had an excellent afternoon including catching some carry over rainbows from last year! I think the local ospreys were mad at me.

Don't let the wind and cold slow you down. Dress warm and get out there! 

 

Mitchell Pond at Heritage Ranch

Barry Mitchell Pond at Heritage Ranch is a neat little body of water that is full of stocked rainbows. Today I went down to the pond on my bike to clean Barry's plaque and to check to see if the pond was indeed stocked. After riding down to the pond, which does have picnic tables and washroom facilities close by, I got Barry's plaque cleaned up. Shortly after, a city worker saw what I was doing and he made an effort to clean his plaque too!

Usually by May long weekend, the pond is stocked. It took me a few minutes to find the fish because they were not spread out yet. Once I found them, a small micro leech or a small nymph kept me entertained until a heavy shower chased me home on my bike.

Take your kids or grandkids down to Mitchell Pond either by walking or biking. It is an excellent place to spend a few hours.

Just a few updates too. Dickson Trout pond had turned over a few days back so it is a bit off colour, Hansens has some really nice sized trout in it. I got a few dandies on ice minnows. Chironomids have been working well on local lakes as have shrimp patterns.

Sylvan Lake and the Red Deer River are now open. Sylvan is fishing well for whites. The Red Deer River has very little visibility in town but it is fishable around the dam although be careful, the spillway is open. Check the link to Alberta Basins to see if fishing is safe on your favourite rivers.

Enjoy Victoria Day long weekend. Have a great time!