Re: late October Conasauga trip

Posted by b.uzz on September 24, 1997 at 20:17:55:

In Reply to: Re: late October Conasauga trip posted by b.uzz on September 24, 1997 at 17:49:19:

> > I'm gonna hike in Hickory Creek Trail, go downstream
> > and camp/fly fish for about three days. When I've
> > fished there before in October, I've had few takes on
> > dries or nymphs except right after rains stained the
> > river a bit, at which times I've taken a number of bows
> > and browns on woolly worms. Doesn't say much for my
> > stealth or technique, I suppose.
> > Any tips for a relative novice? How heavy a tippet
> > can I get away with? I'm going in well armed with
> > muddlers, hoppers, ants, beetles, adams parachutes and
> > elk hair caddis (what size? hmmm). What else should I
> > offer to leave hanging in the mountain laurel?
> > Any input is greatly appreciated.

> Around mid-august to late october there is usually a night-time
> emergence of cinnamon and blonde caddis (really big bugs #10-12).
> The cinnamon seems to be more prevalent than the blonde. I’m not
> sure what the pupa looks like, but a Stimulator tied with an orange
> body (readily available pattern at most fly shops) can be a good
> imitation of the adult. This bug will get ya noticed in the faster
> pocket-water and plunges but it’ll get ya laughed at by the fish
> in the slower pools. I usually fish above Tearbritches trail and
> the fish in the pools up there are usually midging. I’ve caught some
> of these guys on Griffith’s gnats and midge pupa & emergers
> (occasionally an ant). Usually anything above a size 20 scares the
> excrement out of these little weenies in late season low water - so
> I often stick to the pockets and plunges. Brown or ginger bodied
> elk-haired caddis work pretty good during this time too. I bet big
> Henryvilles and Lawson’s Stillwater Caddises would rule (lower profile
> - more realistic) but I’ve never tied any this large so I don’t know.
> Large soft hackles might work for the pupa. Definately try small
> (#18-16) pheasant-tail nymphs (next year’s crop of mayflies will be
> small, brown, and in the periodic drift). A lot of people will tell
> you to fish attractors on N.GA freestones year-round. My experience
> on the Conasauga is that the fish are far more selective (and spooky)
> than most freestone trout and it can take the better part of an outing
> to get “wired”. Have great time - I love the Conasauga.

As if I wasn’t long winded enough, I forgot to mention that if you arrive
during regular daylight hours – you won’t see any of these caddis. Possibly
one or two on the underside of leaves, but if you’re expecting to see them
during the day - you won’t. However, at night around 8 or 9pm they can hatch
so heavy that you’ll be diggin’ them out of your beenie-weenies if you get
a late start on dinner. Consequently, even though they’re not around in the
day – a bunch of fish will still be keyed on that size 10 caddis silhouette
during the day. If anybody out there knows what the pupa of these monster
fall-time cinnamon caddis look like please post it. I think they’re a
southeastern variety of “pycnopsyche guttifer” but I ain’t no entymologist.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup