Is trolling the best method to catch the trout, or can i just cast to them and bring the flies in slowly? Also what are three good starter flies to use in a tandem rig for shiner lake? Fisin for pike sounds fun. Do I just use a clouser to catch one or what works.
Worm
Calabogie trout
How you fish for stillwater trout depends on the area to be covered, water temperature, structure, and the food items they usually target. Trolling a tandem or triple-rigged line is often very effective on larger/deeper bodies of water or in lakes where there is less structure. You'll need a sink-tip or full-sink line to do this effectively.
In smaller/shallower bodies of water, casting to rises or sighted fish is really good. Key on drop-offs and the edges of flats. You can usually use dries in these situations. It's a gas to take brookies or bows on the surface with light rods!
BTW - I find that a float-tube doesn't spook the fish too much at all. It's my inept presentations that do that....
In smaller/shallower bodies of water, casting to rises or sighted fish is really good. Key on drop-offs and the edges of flats. You can usually use dries in these situations. It's a gas to take brookies or bows on the surface with light rods!
BTW - I find that a float-tube doesn't spook the fish too much at all. It's my inept presentations that do that....
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Salar
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I troll with my pontoon boat with either my fins or oars. I find for trolling long distances or in the wind, I prefer the oars. The trick to trolling is to troll slowly. When you think you're going slow enough, go even slower. With the oars, take care when the oars enter and exit the water. Try not to splash too much.
I would still strongly suggest you join one of the fly clubs. You'll be able to find out a lot more information about the lakes in the region and the techniques to fish them.
Salar.
I would still strongly suggest you join one of the fly clubs. You'll be able to find out a lot more information about the lakes in the region and the techniques to fish them.
Salar.
Just like bass fishing, if the fish are holding next to a particular piece of structure, you're going to stay in that spot and cast to the fish till you feel it's time to move on. Guys will typically troll (slowly) to cover water and search for active fish. There are also those that like to move along the shoreline, casting into shore (again, like bass fishing.)
As for dry flies, they are used all season, whenever the fish are actively feeding on the surface during a hatch. You'll have to know what the particular hatch is in order to present the fish with the proper fly.
For flies, some good starting choices would be Wooly Buggers, Bunny and Marabou Leeches, Muddler Minnows, Hamil's Killers and perhaps a few Matuka's. Key colors here for all these would be dark including Olive, Brown and Black. All in sizes 4 to 8. As for nymphs, some good choices would include Hare's Ears, in both natural and Olive. Pheasant Tail Nymphs in natural Brown and Olive. And certainly some soft hackle patterns, such as a Grizzly and Gray, and a Partridge and Olive or Partridge and Brown in both light and dark versions. You'd want these in a bit smaller sizes. Say 12 to 16's.
As for dry flies, they are used all season, whenever the fish are actively feeding on the surface during a hatch. You'll have to know what the particular hatch is in order to present the fish with the proper fly.
For flies, some good starting choices would be Wooly Buggers, Bunny and Marabou Leeches, Muddler Minnows, Hamil's Killers and perhaps a few Matuka's. Key colors here for all these would be dark including Olive, Brown and Black. All in sizes 4 to 8. As for nymphs, some good choices would include Hare's Ears, in both natural and Olive. Pheasant Tail Nymphs in natural Brown and Olive. And certainly some soft hackle patterns, such as a Grizzly and Gray, and a Partridge and Olive or Partridge and Brown in both light and dark versions. You'd want these in a bit smaller sizes. Say 12 to 16's.
Thanks for the replies
Im very interested in joining the algonkin club I would like to go to a fly swap, i think i know a few people who are already in it, but it could be another club. I'll ask by fly fishin buddy if he wants to join too, if thats alright. Also where could I get my hands on a hatch chart for the calabogie area?
Im very interested in joining the algonkin club I would like to go to a fly swap, i think i know a few people who are already in it, but it could be another club. I'll ask by fly fishin buddy if he wants to join too, if thats alright. Also where could I get my hands on a hatch chart for the calabogie area?
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Salar
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The next meeting for the Algonkin Fly Fishers is on February 7th. We're having a presentation on inflatable fly fishing watercraft (float tubes, pontoon boats) and their accessories. I'll send you more details on joining the club. You're friends are welcome to join as well. We could possibly car pool to the meeting.
As for fly swaps, so far two have been held here on Fish-Hawk. Stay tuned for future swaps.
As for hatch charts, I haven't found one specific to this region of Ontario. Honestly, I don't think you really need one. Most of the time you'll be fishing subsurface. In the event that there is a hatch going on, try to match the size. The simplest and one of the most effective dries for stillwater is the Tom Thumb. Tie up some of these in a variety of sizes from #8-16.
Cheers,
Salar
As for fly swaps, so far two have been held here on Fish-Hawk. Stay tuned for future swaps.
As for hatch charts, I haven't found one specific to this region of Ontario. Honestly, I don't think you really need one. Most of the time you'll be fishing subsurface. In the event that there is a hatch going on, try to match the size. The simplest and one of the most effective dries for stillwater is the Tom Thumb. Tie up some of these in a variety of sizes from #8-16.
Cheers,
Salar
If you want to know what flies to use, take a few minutes to observe the water before fishing. Surface action will be self-explanitory...you'll probably see the bugs the fish are keying on.
Sometimes you don't see bug action, but you see rises and jumps. This could be fish chasing minnows, scuds, or subsurface insects. Float around with a streamer for a while until you've seen enough to give you some fly selections that might work.
If you see no action at all, the fish are likely feeding down a little deeper or they have turned off. That's when streamers on sinking lines work best.
Sometimes you don't see bug action, but you see rises and jumps. This could be fish chasing minnows, scuds, or subsurface insects. Float around with a streamer for a while until you've seen enough to give you some fly selections that might work.
If you see no action at all, the fish are likely feeding down a little deeper or they have turned off. That's when streamers on sinking lines work best.
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Salar
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It is possible to troll with a floating line and a long leader but you're better off trolling with sinking lines. The rate of sink depends on the depth of the fish.
In the spring and the fall when the trout are more likely to be near the surface, I troll with a Type 1 clear intermediate full sink line. I like the clear line because it's less likely to spook the trout. I usually will troll with the full 90' out with a 7-9' leader. With 90 feet of line out the trout will hopefull have calmed down after you've passed over them with your boat. I have the Cortland 444 Clear Camo line (type 1). Rio, Scientific Angler, and other maufaturers make clear lines as well.
If the trout are deeper I use, a Type 3 density compensated full sink line with a short 3-5' section of 3X fluorocarbon tippet. If the trout are even deeper you could go with a type 7 full sink. I don't have one, if the trout are that deep, I end up going to fish the rivers for trout down in New York State.
I usually troll with multiple flies to find out what's working. When I find out the hot pattern for the day, I'll switch to just using one fly.
Overall, I'd recommend having a floating line, and a clear intermediate type 1 line to start. Later on, I'd recommend getting a type 3 full sink line.
Cheers,
Salar.
In the spring and the fall when the trout are more likely to be near the surface, I troll with a Type 1 clear intermediate full sink line. I like the clear line because it's less likely to spook the trout. I usually will troll with the full 90' out with a 7-9' leader. With 90 feet of line out the trout will hopefull have calmed down after you've passed over them with your boat. I have the Cortland 444 Clear Camo line (type 1). Rio, Scientific Angler, and other maufaturers make clear lines as well.
If the trout are deeper I use, a Type 3 density compensated full sink line with a short 3-5' section of 3X fluorocarbon tippet. If the trout are even deeper you could go with a type 7 full sink. I don't have one, if the trout are that deep, I end up going to fish the rivers for trout down in New York State.
I usually troll with multiple flies to find out what's working. When I find out the hot pattern for the day, I'll switch to just using one fly.
Overall, I'd recommend having a floating line, and a clear intermediate type 1 line to start. Later on, I'd recommend getting a type 3 full sink line.
Cheers,
Salar.
I've heard that clear fly lines lose their subtleness in cooler and cold weather (more than coloured lines do). Have you experienced this, Salar?
Honestly, I don't think you need clear lines since the trout will focus on the flies and not the fly line. Using longer leaders (12 feet + tippet) does just fine. Most sinking lines are darker or duller in colour than floating lines. They aren't too conspicuous under water. Floating lines are brightly coloured and they don't inhibit trout from taking flies. Presentation is far more important that line colour.
Trout have a limited view of the world. Their field of vison is focussed mostly toward the surface. Their instinct is to flee from objects that look like threats, eat what looks like food, and ignore everything else. If fly line colour or lack of colour made much difference, all fly line would be clear or of one specific colour.
I think that all of us will agree on one thing, however: don't skimp on fly line. Buy good quality line and life will be much easier on the water.
Honestly, I don't think you need clear lines since the trout will focus on the flies and not the fly line. Using longer leaders (12 feet + tippet) does just fine. Most sinking lines are darker or duller in colour than floating lines. They aren't too conspicuous under water. Floating lines are brightly coloured and they don't inhibit trout from taking flies. Presentation is far more important that line colour.
Trout have a limited view of the world. Their field of vison is focussed mostly toward the surface. Their instinct is to flee from objects that look like threats, eat what looks like food, and ignore everything else. If fly line colour or lack of colour made much difference, all fly line would be clear or of one specific colour.
I think that all of us will agree on one thing, however: don't skimp on fly line. Buy good quality line and life will be much easier on the water.
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Salar
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Subtleness or suppleness? Some clear fly lines are less supple in cold weather. The clear lines with a clear mono core have a tendency to have more memory when they're cold and tend to coil. The ones with a braided dacron core stay supple in colder weather since they have the same core as a normal fly line. These lines have less memory and are suited to cold weather. The Cortland 444 Clear Camo line has a braided dacron core. The one disadvantage is the line isn't completely clear since the core isn't clear. The dacron core is a light green.
Clear intermediate lines are a definite favorite with several guys I fish with, especially when trolling. They usually fish one rod with a clear line for a subsurface presentation and have another rod with them with floating line for a surface presentation. Again, depending on time of year and depth you may need to go to a heavier full sink line.
I guess in the end it all comes down to what you're confident with. Anyway, that's my experience with clear lines.
Salar.
Clear intermediate lines are a definite favorite with several guys I fish with, especially when trolling. They usually fish one rod with a clear line for a subsurface presentation and have another rod with them with floating line for a surface presentation. Again, depending on time of year and depth you may need to go to a heavier full sink line.
I guess in the end it all comes down to what you're confident with. Anyway, that's my experience with clear lines.
Salar.
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Salar
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No problem Fishboy, I have day's like that too 
Worm31, here is a link to choosing the right fly line for stillwater situations:
http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/an ... line.phtml
Worm31, here is a link to choosing the right fly line for stillwater situations:
http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/an ... line.phtml