SilverDoctor

Lilly pads in the lake where about two feet under the water, the growth hadn't reached the surface yet. The trout kept ripping through pad stems, he sure was mad.

Work, work, work, nothing but work lately. The last few months have not seem me on the water because of job commitments. A week off for the wife and me and the pair of us decided to visit the folks in Kelowna for a week. They’re getting on and we try to spend time with them. Driving up the wife said “take a day and get out on a mountain lake“ It rained fairly steady through the week and I hoped for a break in the weather. Brother in law and I decide Friday would have to do, he had a day off and I had to head home the next day so Friday it was.. We rolled out of bed at 5 am packed up the truck with the gear and hit a Macdonalds for breakie. I had visited a great local fly shop the day before and they suggested Oyama lake. I grew up in Kelowna and had not fished that lake in quite a few years. It would be nice to check out an old haunt. We drove out to Oyama munching McMuffins and gulping coffee. Rain dotted the windshield. The road was great compared to my youth. A great scenic drive along the switchbacks ascending up to the lake area. We arrived about a half hour before the small store at Oyama lake opened. I stared out on the cold grey lake looking for a break in the weather. The wind was whipping spray up to the lodge. It was Quite cold (you could see your breath) but we where dressed in layers and the promise of time on the water does wonders to one’s spirit. The store opened up and we wandered in. Looking over the fly selection a lot of the names rang out of my childhood. Alaxandia, Queen of the Waters, 52 Buick plus many new ones. We settled up on the boat rental and hiked the gear down to the boat dock. The boats and motors where very well cared for. I was impressed with the lodger owner, he bailed out the previous day’s rain and topped up the gas before testing the motor. The lake has quite a number of small islands and a lot of visible structure. We headed up the lake shoreline and anchored in a bay. An hour of fishing nymphs and chromonids on sinking lines produced no action and the wind was whipping up a storm with low black clouds rolling across the sky. It was hard casting and we resorted to downwind rollcasts. Hands numbing, we decided to find a more sheltered bay and we ran up the lake bucking whitecaps. I headed straight upwind and after a half hour I found a shelter in a shallow bay that was surrounded by high pines, enough to keep the water calm. We cut for lunch and coffee to warm up. Our hands where stiff with cold and the coffee burned but we warmed. Sitting and watching with hands in pockets for a while there was the odd rise. I scooped a few tiny caddis and mayflies off the water. Switched over to the dry line and and flicked a small tom thumb over to the shore line. I got an instant answer and a fat 14 inch rainbow spiraled into the air. The Acton was fairly steady with fish from 10 to 18 inches hitting dries along the edges of logs. Lost a lot of flies with fish wrapping around submerged wood. Great action for another two hours, many of the rainbows leapt out of the water and hit the flies on the way down. Well like all good things the wind changed about 3 o’clock and 46 fish later opening up our special bay to the chop. The action stopped. We decided on shore lunch and after some searching found a great little spot to land on one of the small islands. The undergrowth was soaked and it was hard to find dry wood for a fire. What we could find was damp. The smell of wet pine was perfume. I found some dry stuff under a log and in no time brother in law and I where enjoying a small fire. Out came the bacon and beans, coffee and bread and we where in heaven. Under the pines we where protected from the steady drizzle and kicking wind whistling through the branches. Kicking back and staring out over the lake life was great. A loon that we had spied through the day was calling trying to locate it’s mate. We decided on that note to pack up and head er back to the dock. The day had been good and the fish cooperative.

Drop them in a tying bag under the vice. Collect it all in a shoe box then when I have enough run them through a coffee grinder to make some great dubbing. thus no waste. Produces some great dubbing. that I use alone or blen with other dubbing.

When I get a fly rod in my hands I feel Like a kid again. Does that count?

Here ya go Hopper tube...

Yea Poppy has em at Red Shed, bought some when I was down there last year. I know the fishing Hole had some Rio loops a couple of months ago.

Love to have some to try also.

I have used the Nore-Vice for a few years now and although I own a few other vices (renzettti and peak etc) I have found myself using it all the time now. I really like it for dubbing as you can spin dubbing quickly and without a tool often without a loop. Love it for tying Atlantic's where I like to spin the fly a lot to check out balance and add special weavs. A lot of the guys I know who tie Classics have gone over to them. Funny I just won another Nore in a tying contest.

Great stone pattern thanks for posting.

Happy B Day Chris

Take that doctor's advice to heart. Enjoy good times on bright water for body and soul.

Best wishes for a good recovery from me and all my family. Your words have inspired.

Kook idea Din, looks like an emerger. Have to do some up when I get a chance to tie for myself.

Have a great one!!!!

Happy Birthday Glen!!!!

Blue wing olives are coming off this morning. Along with midges and.

For me on the Bow it's corkies in hte wind. I flip to thingamabobs when it's calm. Mind you most of the time I use not indicator.

I'm a fan of the Palomar Knot. It's solid, for a hook bend dropper ties. The thing to be sure of with all knots is to moisten the knot with water before tightening. Makes a more solid and tight connection. I also use droppers using a dropper loop when I fish wets. Works well as long as you keep the droppers short. Be sure to occasionally check your knots.

I grew up in Kelowna and fly fished for Bass in that area. Few people in those days appreciated or even knew about the fishery. Very few took advantage of it. Nice to see it noticed. I still skitter deer hair bugs and streamers there every summer.

Lovely old rod, nice find

Good one got to tite up someof those babies.

I'll stick to fully barbless. Better penetration and less evasive to the fish.

What!!!!!! Just 2 rods.

If you have a spare butt section to give away say in a two piece 6 wt.......

It's a good method, it does require some special equipment to be done properly. It truely is "float fishing".Centerpin Reels and float systems would work well on the bow. The float rods are extra long for easier line mending and added hook setting power. Just depends how you want to fish, and what equipment you want to focus on. It's one of a great many methods and gear selections.