Advice needed

[Bow River Bugger]

Hi,

Takeing a Vacation in Ontario next summer(late july), Looking into Smallmouth & Pike oportunities in the Manotick Area figuring fishing from Watsons Mill down to the conservation area would be a good start.

Originally from that area, but only started fly fishing since hitting Alberta a few years back and that is only for Trout would like to find Pike and Bass while there.

Any suggestions as to rod wt to bring and flies so I can start making Arrangement and Tieing the proper flies

[Salar]

Hi Bow River Bugger,

Welcome to the board.

There are a number of urban fishing opportunities for smallmouth and pike in the Ottawa area. Here's a listing of a number of areas:

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/fishing/ottawa ... shhome.htm

Cheers,

Salar.

[Salar]

I forgot to mention the flies....

For smallmouth olive Woolly Buggers, crayfish imitations, and small poppers. For pike you can't go wrong with a black Woolly Bugger. For muskie Lefty’s Deceivers, Dahlberg Megadivers, and large poppers.

My personal preference for smallmouth and mid-sized pike would be a 9' or 9'6 fast-action six weight. It's easier to cast mid-size to large streamers, especially in the wind. For muskie it depends on the size of fly you're using. Rods in the 8-10wt range should be sufficient for most applications. I'd go with a 9'6" rod in the higher weights.

Cheers,

Salar

[Todd B.]

Bow River Bugger,

Welcome aboard. I live 5 mins from that particular stretch of water and fish it quite often. Give me a shout when you're in town, I'd be glad to put you into some of the better stretches of water.

Salar's recommendation for flies is bang on. In July the SM are basically feeding on crayfish or emerging bugs. (The exception being on the Ottawa R. where baitfish patterns will also work year round.) If I were to choose only two files, my personal favorites would be:

• Outcast Crayfish [#6, #8] - Olive rabbit strip claws, olive/dun body, brown shellback
• Panfish poppers [#8, #10] - black or green frog patterns

SM fishing on the Rideau you can get by with 4 or 5 wt rod depending on the wind conditions and whether you're throwing heavy flies. If you're fishing the Ottawa or the Mississippi, I would recommend a 6wt. I typically tie all of my crayfish patterns in standard weight and extra heavy (Tungston) weight for the faster/deeper water.

In late July the Hex hatch should be on so you can expect some good topwater action on big dries in the evenings (i.e. stimulators, etc)

While you only mentioned the stretch from Manotick downstream, keep in mind that there is a lot of great fishable water within 60mins of Manotick. Also be sure to bring along your wading boots. While the water will be warm enough to wet wade, the chances of getting hurt slipping, etc is pretty good without them.

Cheers,
Todd

[Woolly Bugger]

Greetings from one Bugger to another

I have also had some good success with smallmouth bass using Murray's Hellgrammite in a size 6-8 on the Ottawa river nearby. It can be highsticked in the shallower stretches.

http://www.warmwaterflyfisher.com/flymo ... 092002.htm

Good luck,

Woolly Bugger

[Todd B.]

If you are planning to fish the Ottawa, I would also suggest having some foam stoneflies and stonefly nymphs in your box. The Ottawa enjoy a prolific stonefly hatches all season.

[Bow River Bugger]

Thank you for all the Advice,

It is good to hear that I shouldn't need anything over a 6wt, that mean that I only have to bring 2 rods with me (also bringing a 4wt for fishing trout in the Elora Gorge)



I'll start tying some of the crayfish patterns
and figure out some poppers
then just do up some wooly buggers, mudlers and clousers for the trip

Any one ever try some big foam hoppers, and how they work on Smallies
Thanks this is a great start.

P.S.
Todd I always wade in my felts, just that no matter what the waders come off long weekend in may and are put away till mid September.

[Todd B.]

Depending on how dry the summer is you may or may not have hoppers in July. The average hopper size is probably a #6 - #8. While the SM will take a hopper I tend to stick with the poppers or match the hatch. That said, you can expect good caddis, mayfly hatches all season. Depending on what stretch of water you're fishing there's also the possibility of pickup up some nice walleye as well.

The smaller pike should be no problem on your 6wt, though there are some big fish to be caught (or accidentally caught. LOL) Your 4wt is perfect for the Grand. Be sure to pop into Troutfitters in Fergus. The guys in the shop are great. I'm sure they'll tell you to fish the tailwater section upstream of Fergus. One of the problems with the gorge in the summer is that you're competing with the hordes of inner tubers that float down the river.

[Salar]

I have tried foam hopper type patterns for Smallmouth. My favourite would be the Fat Albert in either red/black or tan/brown. It's can be taken as a hopper or stonefly. I've had really good luck with it for both smallmouth and trout.

Here's a link to the instructions:

Tying the Fat Albert

There are several colour variations:

Fat Ablert Tan/Brown

Fat Albert Yellow/Brown

Fat Albert Red/Black

Cheers,

Salar

[Salar]

I've also caught smallies with a dropper nymph off of a foam hopper / stonefly. Try hare's ears, prince nymphs, and chartreuse copper johns in #10, #12. Be prepared for some double headers

Salar.

[Bow River Bugger]

That is what I was thinking,

Out here I often use a hopper/dropper combo for trout, hopper acts as a indi but also provides for a second option for the fish. I suck At High sticking the Nymphs.

Glad they like hares ears, coppers and princes as I will have a tonne of them as always

[uberfish]

My absolute favourite smally topwater fly is the Gartside Gurgler in white about sizes 6-8. I've had great success with this pattern on teh lakes and rivers around here. They're easy to tie and fish. Highly recommended.
I've never used a dropper on this fly but it sounds like a great thing to try. It's frustrating to get a great idea to try just as the water is solidify-ing.

[Salar]

I've never tried a dropper nymph off of a popper. Usually dropper nymphs are dead drifted.

Salar.

[Todd B.]

The popper/dropper setup works well for the smaller bass. The bigger bass are either only interested in the popper or a large meaty offering close to the bottom.

In terms of droppers in general, I was hoping to give the "washing line" method a try this past fall, unfortunately chironomid hatch at Kenauk was non-existant and we were forced to fish baitfish patterns.

[Salar]

This spring I witnessed the "washing line" method work quite successfully for brook trout in lakes. Three flies were used, two wet flies (dark montreal, diawl bach, etc.) and a small bead head attractor nymph. I never thought a triple header was possible till then. It's quite funny to see three brook trout on the end of a fly line all swimming in different directions

Salar.