Author Topic: Targeting Fish In Daphnia Bloom....or cluster or whatever (Read 1874 times)

Paul Bourcq · « **on:** February 03, 2010, 03:53:52 PM »

While NC is not a hot spot for lake fishing and in fact quite poor one thing i have noticed is the abundance of Daphnia everywhere I practice lake fishing. Im fresh out of size 100 griffiths gnats so i have gone to fishing "cluster" type patterns out of claret seal fur and paint flecks or just generally hanging close to the pods of daphnia knowing the trout will get on them eventually.

I have some friends from overseas that said fish will be oozing reddish brown muck from eating too much of this stuff.

Im not an expert by no means but notice the bigger pods around may. Although ive been told that trout will key in on them whenever they are available.

As a side note, the headwaters of a creek that feeds a lake near here has kokanee salmon. They arent big, they are easy to spot, and tough to catch. I know Kokanee around here feed on planktonish stuff so i wonder if I could fish my seal fur blob fly on a sinking line to them while they are still in the lake? Thats probably a stretch.

What has your experiences been with targeting fish in and around this stuff?

Nick Naclerio · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2010, 03:58:02 PM »

What size tippet do you have to use for that size 100?

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2010, 04:02:16 PM »

Mark, "reddish brown muck" sounds identical to the stuff we were pumping out of fish on the Clarion. Do you think they could have been targeting some micro organism like this in that substance? If so, I wonder if some appropriate colored version of a carp weed fly might take some fish.

Interesting premise Paul.

Did a quick search. Look at this beast:

Todd Oishi · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2010, 04:27:48 PM »

I have personally done well by fishing leech and blob patterns in similar circumstances. Some fly tyers claim that the blob was designed for daphnia blooms - but that might very well be an attempt on their patrt to justify the use of this some-what controversial pattern...

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2010, 04:34:49 PM »

Dejon,

Interesting idea I think they are just eating paper!

Paul Bourcq · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2010, 04:35:37 PM »

Thanks guys.

Todd-I have thrown orangish brown blobs to these fish but didnt produce much. Im certain is was error on my part. And in hindsight they were cruising and i should have done things a little different.

Dejon-I would say it was. It has a distinct look. I spoked with this fellow years ago that was an ice fisherman. He swore by brown and orange jigs. Said "it looks that ole muck they eat" It was several years later before that comment made sense. Im assuming the daphnia are around in winter but i havent seen em. I know some biologist did a study and some survive exponentially longer in cold weather then others. They didnt know why but they were trying to see if it was some sort of genetic difference that allowed them to tolerate colder longer.

Nick-I use spider silk.....30x

Ronnie Christie · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2010, 04:23:08 PM »

The Blob works wonders ether in Green brown or Orange depending on the colour of the soup. Fish truly feeding on daphnia just need to see your fly try pulling really fast. And then hanging.

Ronnie

Loren Williams · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2010, 05:12:53 PM »

Ronnie, do you compliment the soup or contrast the color?

Domenick Swentosky · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2010, 07:53:38 PM »

Quote from: Mark Hanes on February 03, 2010, 04:34:49 PM

Dejon,

Interesting idea I think they are just eating paper!

\

Me too.

Enjoy the day.
Domenick

Ronnie Christie · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2010, 03:43:37 PM »

Loren,

I always try to match the colour, the way I do this is to spoon my fish and put the contents into a class of water it lets you see exactly what colour and anything else that they are feeding on. You put the additional patterns in between the blobs and when you hang they often turn and take the nymph.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #10 on:** August 11, 2010, 11:46:31 AM »

http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jset/11/2/11_151/_article

Dejon check it out they have been know to use it in papermill effluent treatment. This gives me a new outlook on attacking the River in that area.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #11 on:** August 11, 2010, 12:59:55 PM »

That's interesting.

So what are you thinking? Mushy paper flies?

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2010, 01:09:39 PM »

i am thinking more along the lines of Streamer and egg patterns in that color.

Paul Bourcq · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2010, 11:25:15 PM »

I got to fish those fish and found that orange estaz blobs with extra long claret or yellow or orange tails would take them.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #14 on:** August 12, 2010, 11:53:42 AM »

Paul,

Did you get some of the Kokanee?

I know orange hot spots and beads work well on this section of the river and I want to experiment more with orange streamers and see what happenes.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #15 on:** August 12, 2010, 11:57:07 AM »

Wasn't that "gunk" we pumped out sort of rust red? I'm thinking a flesh fly in that exact color might do the trick!

Paul Bourcq · « **Reply #16 on:** August 12, 2010, 03:01:00 PM »

No Kokanee. They run out of Nantahala Lake up to Standing Indian Campground. I know old timers catch them in the lake trolling way down. I have tried to catch them in the river but they dont eat any flies I tie apparantly.