Author Topic: How to crack the code: 20' deep trout feeding on blood worms (Read 566 times)

Mark Hanes · « **on:** August 02, 2010, 09:53:44 AM »

This weekends lake outing went well but I left with the feeling that I was really only able to catch a few very active fish using buggers and damsels in 20 to 25' of water. We established the thermocline to be right around 20' deep. The fish that were pumped showed to have only blood worms in them. My question is this how would some of the more experienced lake anglers on here try to key in on this blood worm feeding at this depth? I am determined to head back to this lake sometime this year and hopefully key in on this feeding behavior. I was satisfied with the takes I got with buggers and damsels and I was catching fish regularly but I feel I left a few trout behind that I should have caught.

So what would you try?

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #1 on:** August 02, 2010, 09:57:19 AM »

Too funny. We posted exact threads at the exact same time! I'll paste mine here.

As usual your story is a little more half full then mine

What would you do?

Lake X is a deep natural glacial lake with a surface area of 80 acres and an average and maximum depth of 29.0 and 72.6 feet, respectively.

Using a fish finder we found fish suspended on average at about 21 feet. The lake drops off "bowl" style very quickly along the two sides. Some cruising fish were found still suspended at 21ft over 45-60ft of water, but larger concentrations were hugging the bank at the 21foot mark. We targeted these pods of fish, which were only 20feet from the shore, to no avail.

Surface temp 75deg. Stocked with bows, brooks, and browns from fingerlings to 2yrOlds.

Not until we fished a 20-25ft deep "bay" did we start connecting with a few fish. Mostly Type7s and small buggers on a 30ish count.

A stomach sample turned up 14ish sized orange-ish blood worms.

No hatch activity. High blazing sun. Very light sporadic winds mixed with pure glass water.

How could we have better targeted fish at this suspended depth?

My idea was possibly a washing line on a type 5.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #2 on:** August 02, 2010, 09:58:25 AM »

Great minds think alike or in this case clueless fisherman want to know more. LOL

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #3 on:** August 02, 2010, 10:00:18 AM »

Quote from: Mark Hanes on August 02, 2010, 09:58:25 AM

Great minds think alike or in this case clueless fisherman want to know more. LOL

That might be the funniest thing you said in weeks!

And so true.

Michael Yelton · « **Reply #4 on:** August 02, 2010, 11:12:06 AM »

Hey guys,

I read your post, I've seen guys use Chironomid patterns for what you've described. If the fish are deep like that tie on your fly w/ your sinking line and do your count and just either strip it is like a streamer (a little slower) or try the method where you slowly wrap the line around your hand. There is a name for the latter method I can't remember what's it called.

I've seen a guy really whack em doing this in the middle of a slate drake hatch and fish were rising everywhere. I was fishing the hatch and he was doing that method. He caught a lot more fish than I did, so when we were done I asked him what he was using and that's what it was. You can do tandem rigs too. If the fish are 10 feet or less you could use a strike indicator.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #5 on:** August 12, 2010, 09:46:32 AM »

Wanted to bump this up to see if we could get some more responses.

Tim Barker · « **Reply #6 on:** August 12, 2010, 12:29:20 PM »

Michael,

It is called the "hand twist" retrieve:

http://flyanglersonline.com/begin/101/figure8.php

Brian Chan has great info on lake fishing:

http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/tactics/fishing/chironomid-tactics/

PT/TB

Aaron Laing · « **Reply #7 on:** August 12, 2010, 02:42:26 PM »

We do a bit of chironomid fishing in BC (understatement)...

Mike is correct about the method. If you want to go naked (sans indicator), you generally set your leader length a little deeper than the expected target depth. Using a heavier chironomid pattern (mostly for speed of descent, but also to ensure straight line contact with the fly) cast out and allow the fly to reach depth. Use a slow hand twist retrieve and your fly or flies will rise through the water column hitting target depths as it does. If you're doing it loch style (wink, wink) then you should probably look at using a midge tip, otherwise stick with a floating line.

You can also fish chironomids straight down using a full sinking line (DI-7 or 8 for Loch style) with a relatively short leader. This works best if you're fishing at depth.

Aaron