Enjoy it while it lasts

Big T · 12-13-17, 06:21 PM

Fished the northern end of the tailwater the last couple of days. The visibility is getting a lot better I can see bottom in knee deep water now. Take advantage of the stain while you can.

This year I learned that cloudy conditions call for nymphing heavy large bugs that are easy to see while sunny days are best using bright shiny midges. Today was sunny and the midge bite was on. Lots of small black flies are starting their traditional winter hatches, as soon as the water clears look to have to downsize your offerings a lot to get bit consistently.

Today was a good one, over 30 to the net in under three hours of fishing and all but 4 were browns. Nice size on a lot of the browns with at least 8 of them over 12 inches.

If you fish that section a good bit stock up on small soft hackles and midges as the water clears, and bowmans gnats as an adult dry fly imitation. I will try and put together a video on that fly sometime.

splatek16 · 12-13-17, 06:45 PM

Similar experience today, got about two dozen all but one were browns. One beast bent my 2x hook, ugh argh 😠

But I was fishing size 16 and 18 flies, natural... The water clarity seems to come and go with the releases... I'm loving it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ChaChung · 12-14-17, 08:06 AM

Good report. Thanks. Glad some of you are out fishing while most of us have to be content checking the forum and looking at fish pics from the office multiple times a day. haha

Big T · 12-14-17, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaChung

Good report. Thanks. Glad some of you are out fishing while most of us have to be content checking the forum and looking at fish pics from the office multiple times a day. haha

I get out when guiding slows, mostly to help RScott. He enjoys it when I post pictures of fish while he is working. Especially when he has to travel out of state with no chance to fish.

RScott · 12-14-17, 03:56 PM

I have had enough help, thank you. Now just stop...

GoutUnlimited · 12-14-17, 04:05 PM

Did anyone else notice Big T got a big ole strike indicator on

gau16 · 12-14-17, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoutUnlimited

Did anyone else notice Big T got a big ole strike indicator on

I saw that! Didn't want to wake the bear though...ha!

T, I went out today and you're right on the money with water clarity. Haven't been out in 2 weeks and its much clearer now.

I did get some butter. Pics to follow...

gau16 · 12-14-17, 05:05 PM

Here's today.

The browns were straight bull dogging flys today. They took it and just RAN. Solid 14-16 inchers but they dug down and hugged bottom or became very acrobatic.

Like T said. Water was clearer than it has been so I switched from an orange bug to a more natural one and that got them moving.

Another small small tip. At one point I felt like I wasnt really ticking bottom so I moved my indicator up about 8 inches maybe and right after that started catching. Maybe was the right move or just coincidence.

Fun couple of hours!

Big T · 12-14-17, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoutUnlimited

Did anyone else notice Big T got a big ole strike indicator on

It's a dry fly tied with EP fibers, might as well be an indicator based on the dry fly bites lately.

splatek16 · 12-14-17, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gau16

Here's today.

The browns were straight bull dogging flys today. They took it and just RAN. Solid 14-16 inchers but they dug down and hugged bottom or became very acrobatic.

Like T said. Water was clearer than it has been so I switched from an orange bug to a more natural one and that got them moving.

Another small small tip. At one point I felt like I wasnt really ticking bottom so I moved my indicator up about 8 inches maybe and right after that started catching. Maybe was the right move or just coincidence.

Fun couple of hours!

Yeah, dude - it was sick out there today. Clear, but not too clear - can get reasonably close, but...
I started nymphing then that wind that is so common on the TW whipped up, switched to Dry-drop - had a combo of nymphs under the dry, one flashy(ish) and another more natty - they didn't care, would eat anything that came near them. I was tempted to toss in an empty hook, but didn't have any..

12-13-17, 06:21 PM	#1
Big T BOD HOF SSQTCH Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Hiding from mankind Posts: 2,321	Enjoy it while it lasts Fished the northern end of the tailwater the last couple of days. The visibility is getting a lot better I can see bottom in knee deep water now. Take advantage of the stain while you can. This year I learned that cloudy conditions call for nymphing heavy large bugs that are easy to see while sunny days are best using bright shiny midges. Today was sunny and the midge bite was on. Lots of small black flies are starting their traditional winter hatches, as soon as the water clears look to have to downsize your offerings a lot to get bit consistently. Today was a good one, over 30 to the net in under three hours of fishing and all but 4 were browns. Nice size on a lot of the browns with at least 8 of them over 12 inches. If you fish that section a good bit stock up on small soft hackles and midges as the water clears, and bowmans gnats as an adult dry fly imitation. I will try and put together a video on that fly sometime. __________________ http://www.bigtflyfishing.com Use Promo Code NGTO for 5% off

12-14-17, 08:06 AM	#3
ChaChung Native Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Johns Creek, GA Posts: 460	Good report. Thanks. Glad some of you are out fishing while most of us have to be content checking the forum and looking at fish pics from the office multiple times a day. haha __________________ Hi my name is Charles and I'm a fishaholic. Some days I'm the hook and some days I'm the fish. Instagram @charles_the_toothsmith

12-14-17, 03:56 PM	#5
RScott Ex-President, Victim of the Cajun Rebellion Join Date: Jan 1999 Posts: 5,928	I have had enough help, thank you. Now just stop... __________________ RScott Support the Mission Statement - buy the TU License Plate!

12-14-17, 04:05 PM	#6
GoutUnlimited Red Menace Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Peachtree Cors Posts: 2,116	Did anyone else notice Big T got a big ole strike indicator on __________________ We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers And sitting by desolate streams; World losers and world forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams.

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12-13-17, 06:45 PM	#2
splatek16 Moderator Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Suwanee, GA Posts: 1,832	Similar experience today, got about two dozen all but one were browns. One beast bent my 2x hook, ugh argh 😠 But I was fishing size 16 and 18 flies, natural... The water clarity seems to come and go with the releases... I'm loving it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

12-14-17, 05:05 PM	#8
gau16 Native Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Westview, Atlanta, GA Posts: 706	Here's today. The browns were straight bull dogging flys today. They took it and just RAN. Solid 14-16 inchers but they dug down and hugged bottom or became very acrobatic. Like T said. Water was clearer than it has been so I switched from an orange bug to a more natural one and that got them moving. Another small small tip. At one point I felt like I wasnt really ticking bottom so I moved my indicator up about 8 inches maybe and right after that started catching. Maybe was the right move or just coincidence. Fun couple of hours!