We started our float at exactly 9:00 AM. By 11:00 AM we had each caught more fish than we could count. The water had about 3 feet visibility. Like I said before it's extremely high water, but if you you could locate any slack holding water the fish were stacked in it like fire wood! With the off colored water I decided to dredge the bottom with some larger flys. I started with an egg pattern size 14, with a size 12 caddis pupa dropped of it, and a Muskrat dropped off the caddis pupa.
The first holding water I found, I hooked and landed 6 Bows. All were in the 15 to 16 inch range. All took the caddis. I switched the egg and Muskrat for a Hares Ear Soft hackle, and a Touch Dubbed Hares Ear SH, but the Caddis Pupa stayed on, and the fish kept nailing it. I did take a few on both Soft Hackles but it was obvious, they wanted that big Caddis.
After lunch, we crossed the half way point and also flowed past the confluence with the Crystal River. Just like that the the flows doubled to over 4,000 cfs. No worrys, the fish were still easy to find. A drag free drift almost always resulted in a hook up. Bob nailed a 3.25lb Rainbow first thing in the morning. Most of my Bows were the 15 to 16 inch variety, and I loved catching every single one of them!
I did catch one Brown that was 19 inches long and weighed 2.5 lbs. My big fish of the day was a 24 inch White Fish that weighed 3.75lbs. This September when she is full of eggs, she will be a State record Whitey! I will mention now that mine and Bobs nets have built in scales, and they are accurate to within a couple ounces. Alot of my other fishing buddies will no longer allow me to net their fish anymore. My silly net stops the BS'ing
Caddis Pupa:
Hook - Dai-Riki 135 14-10
Thread- Gudebrod White
Abdomen- Olive Brown D-Rib (Medium)
Thorax- Peacock herl, Muskrat or any color of Hares ear. Today it was Light Chocolate colored Hares mask
Hackle - Brown Hen hackle or Brown Partridge. Today it was Partridge
Head - Tan Ostritch herl
Use a Olive or Brown Sharpy to color the thread as you make your whip finish
This was the average Bow for today. If you ever hear me complaining about fish like these feel free to slap me!
I got the idea for the Caddis pattern on this forum. I wish i could remember who tyed it, but for the life of me I cant
I started using it this Spring with decent results. After fishing it in high water, it now has a permanent spot in my fly box!
