Hooch help, please!

06-14-99, 05:57 PM

Hello everyone!
It’s time for me to post my first note and see if I can’t draw a little advice out of the wealth of knowledge that thrives on this board. I have been reading your posts and fly casting, for trout, for only a couple of months now and I can confidently say that I am an addict. I was lucky enough to have caught my first trout on a fly on my first trip to the Chattahoochee back in April, thanks to the fly suggestions by the great guys at the Fish Hawk. And it has been hit or miss ever since, which I can certainly accept as being the norm not the exception.

My main reason for posting this question stems from my last outing to the hooch at I.F. There was very little surface activity throughout most of the evening and the ole standbys weren’t working (ehc, bhp, etc.) At about eight o’clock however, I found myself on a fairly shallow shoal and covered-up with rising browns. They obviously weren’t feeding predominantly on the surface (no splashing) but I would see their backs come out of the water and then their tails as they turned back towards the bottom. This was the result of trout feeding on emergers, no? Now I’ve got a small selection of emergers purchased as advised by the fellers at the F.H., and you can bet I threw every one of them and just about everything else in my fly box. No luck.

Are there particular patterns known to be used on the hooch in this type of situation? Should I carry a small seine to help give me a clue? Even if I did, without a degree in entomology, how am I supposed to recognize the little buggers? I guess what I am asking is, were can I find information specific to the places I fish. Now again I am fairly new to this sport and I know that I have a lot of literature to cover but, everything I pick-up seems to be very broad in nature. Each stream in itself is its own ecosystem and thrives on its own variety of aquatic organisms. How do I find out what works well and when? How does a beginner break through when the fish get picky?

TIA,
Confused

P.S. Sorry I missed the fling. I was up in them there hills chasin them wild’uns.

Hooker · 06-14-99, 06:46 PM

Pecheur,
If you don't catch fish everytime you go, don't be discouraged, because even the best fisherman who ever lived can't do it either.
You've answered all your own questions. Now just add some time and patience.

The Ole Man · 06-14-99, 08:08 PM

Pecheur
Glad you decided to begin posting and welcome to the board. Hooker is right. Some days they just laugh at all of your efforts. It's best just to enjoy being on the water and any fish you catch is just the whipped cream.

Owl · 06-14-99, 09:26 PM

Backs and tails and flashes of fish underwater......these aren't rises, these are fish taking nymphs. Looks like rising ( rings) fish , go down and try a Hare's ear or an " Insult" from Mr. Sago !

Practice makes better luck. Don't give up. The harder I practice , the luckier I get !

Drifter · 06-14-99, 09:35 PM

Pechuer types: "....everything I pick-up seems to be very broad in nature. "

Hooker is too modest to suggest his book so I'll do it for him. Get Hooker's book! Go to http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/cata...cessories.html

Everything you need to know regarding trout fishing on the Hooch!

Welcome to NGTO.

Drifter

RScott · 06-14-99, 11:49 PM

Pechuer,

I can attest and validate your observations of the rising Browns at IF. Congratulations on your addiction, it is a pleasurable one and will soon eliminate any need to invest in the market as you will have no money. Welcome to the club.

I agree with the advice on the "Hooker Book", it is fine reading written by the closet thing to an expert I know. What you are purportedly seeing is a feast on incredibly small midges. I myself have encountered this at IF on about every evening trip in June, July & August. I had luck ONCE with a #22 black midge and occasionally with a #22 Griffiths Gnat. I always have the best luck at IF with a #18 - #16 pheasant tail, fished as deep as possible until the sun goes down.

I am convinced, however that I was hallucinating about catching the fish and have since began ignoring these phantom rises, as I generally never draw a strike. Should you find a better fly, I am sure that you will be kind enough to post...after you tell me.....RScott

J Byrd · 06-15-99, 09:00 AM

Just wait until you see them taking caddis 3 to 4 inches above the water. That gets frustrating, hard to make a fly hover. J. Byrd

Loren · 06-16-99, 08:06 AM

Never saw trout eating in the air, but read posts about it occassionally. I did read an article about two guys that successfully caught fish above the surface. It takes two fisherman with tippets tied to each other's rod and a willingness to take turns retreaving the fish.

06-16-99, 12:07 PM

The ole rainbow archer fish only a little less graceful, now this I gotta see!

Thanks for the welcome, advice and encouragement everyone. I'm doing my best to get on the water as often as work and weather allow. Drifter, thanks for pointing-out Hooker's book, I am eagerly awaiting its arrival (and the river to clear-up).

NC

The Ole Man · 06-16-99, 01:01 PM

Pecheur
I have observed them taking caddis in mid-air everytime I've been to the Hooch this year. They seem to be quite good at it-rarely missing. It is great to watch-close up.

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06-14-99, 05:57 PM	#1
Pecheur Guest Posts: n/a	Hello everyone! It’s time for me to post my first note and see if I can’t draw a little advice out of the wealth of knowledge that thrives on this board. I have been reading your posts and fly casting, for trout, for only a couple of months now and I can confidently say that I am an addict. I was lucky enough to have caught my first trout on a fly on my first trip to the Chattahoochee back in April, thanks to the fly suggestions by the great guys at the Fish Hawk. And it has been hit or miss ever since, which I can certainly accept as being the norm not the exception. My main reason for posting this question stems from my last outing to the hooch at I.F. There was very little surface activity throughout most of the evening and the ole standbys weren’t working (ehc, bhp, etc.) At about eight o’clock however, I found myself on a fairly shallow shoal and covered-up with rising browns. They obviously weren’t feeding predominantly on the surface (no splashing) but I would see their backs come out of the water and then their tails as they turned back towards the bottom. This was the result of trout feeding on emergers, no? Now I’ve got a small selection of emergers purchased as advised by the fellers at the F.H., and you can bet I threw every one of them and just about everything else in my fly box. No luck. Are there particular patterns known to be used on the hooch in this type of situation? Should I carry a small seine to help give me a clue? Even if I did, without a degree in entomology, how am I supposed to recognize the little buggers? I guess what I am asking is, were can I find information specific to the places I fish. Now again I am fairly new to this sport and I know that I have a lot of literature to cover but, everything I pick-up seems to be very broad in nature. Each stream in itself is its own ecosystem and thrives on its own variety of aquatic organisms. How do I find out what works well and when? How does a beginner break through when the fish get picky? TIA, Confused P.S. Sorry I missed the fling. I was up in them there hills chasin them wild’uns.

06-14-99, 06:46 PM	#2
Hooker Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Loganville, Georgia USA Posts: 872	Pecheur, If you don't catch fish everytime you go, don't be discouraged, because even the best fisherman who ever lived can't do it either. You've answered all your own questions. Now just add some time and patience.

06-14-99, 08:08 PM	#3
The Ole Man Chief Financial Officer, Past Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: NW Georgia Posts: 8,004	Pecheur Glad you decided to begin posting and welcome to the board. Hooker is right. Some days they just laugh at all of your efforts. It's best just to enjoy being on the water and any fish you catch is just the whipped cream.

06-14-99, 09:26 PM	#4
Owl Ex Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Temple, GA / USA Posts: 968	Backs and tails and flashes of fish underwater......these aren't rises, these are fish taking nymphs. Looks like rising ( rings) fish , go down and try a Hare's ear or an " Insult" from Mr. Sago ! Practice makes better luck. Don't give up. The harder I practice , the luckier I get !

06-14-99, 09:35 PM	#5
Drifter Former Director, HOF Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: Newnan, GA and on the banks of the Tuck Posts: 5,853	Pechuer types: "....everything I pick-up seems to be very broad in nature. " Hooker is too modest to suggest his book so I'll do it for him. Get Hooker's book! Go to http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/cata...cessories.html Everything you need to know regarding trout fishing on the Hooch! Welcome to NGTO. Drifter

06-14-99, 11:49 PM	#6
RScott Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Jonesboro, GA Posts: 2,795	Pechuer, I can attest and validate your observations of the rising Browns at IF. Congratulations on your addiction, it is a pleasurable one and will soon eliminate any need to invest in the market as you will have no money. Welcome to the club. I agree with the advice on the "Hooker Book", it is fine reading written by the closet thing to an expert I know. What you are purportedly seeing is a feast on incredibly small midges. I myself have encountered this at IF on about every evening trip in June, July & August. I had luck ONCE with a #22 black midge and occasionally with a #22 Griffiths Gnat. I always have the best luck at IF with a #18 - #16 pheasant tail, fished as deep as possible until the sun goes down. I am convinced, however that I was hallucinating about catching the fish and have since began ignoring these phantom rises, as I generally never draw a strike. Should you find a better fly, I am sure that you will be kind enough to post...after you tell me.....RScott

06-15-99, 09:00 AM	#7
J Byrd Native Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 507	Just wait until you see them taking caddis 3 to 4 inches above the water. That gets frustrating, hard to make a fly hover. J. Byrd

06-16-99, 08:06 AM	#8
Loren Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Newnan, GA, USA Posts: 329	Never saw trout eating in the air, but read posts about it occassionally. I did read an article about two guys that successfully caught fish above the surface. It takes two fisherman with tippets tied to each other's rod and a willingness to take turns retreaving the fish.

06-16-99, 12:07 PM	#9
Pecheur Guest Posts: n/a	The ole rainbow archer fish only a little less graceful, now this I gotta see! Thanks for the welcome, advice and encouragement everyone. I'm doing my best to get on the water as often as work and weather allow. Drifter, thanks for pointing-out Hooker's book, I am eagerly awaiting its arrival (and the river to clear-up). NC

06-16-99, 01:01 PM	#10
The Ole Man Chief Financial Officer, Past Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: NW Georgia Posts: 8,004	Pecheur I have observed them taking caddis in mid-air everytime I've been to the Hooch this year. They seem to be quite good at it-rarely missing. It is great to watch-close up.