How Much Is Too Much?

[ÜberFly]

So my GF, myself, McLeod and his daughter headed up to a backcountry lake today with absolutely no "luck"... Supposedly (with info gained from an SRD Biologist) this lake holds some pretty big fish and plenty of them - last stocked 2006 with little if any winter kill. The lake is very deep and A LOT of food for them to gorge themselves (fresh water shrimp [scuds?] in the thousands, and quite a few visible back swimmers were also VERY abundant). Saw only 1 fish rise (in 3 hours) and 3 (large - 15 +") cutties cruising... Absolutely no takes on anything I had in my 3 fly boxes (including scuds fished anywhere from 3' - 14'), a variety of emergers, dries, etc. and even a spinning outfit (Mcleod's daughter). Plenty of caddis and mayflies on top. As I mentioned only 1 riser.

 

So my question is (as I have have many years of experience fishing for backcountry cutties and they usually go for something...), how much is too much? With the abundance of food available, how do you get them to take what you're offering or is it a lost cause until they feel they want a change... Or do they just have enough food available that nothing else interests them? I fully realize that timing is everything, but in near by lakes I've caught all through the summer at all times though out the day...

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Peter

[jack]

There are several lakes here in BC that will mirror those conditions. One, crystal clear water, marl bottom, inundated with scuds and 16 lb rainbows. It is not a "one day lake". It requires extensive research(in the form of a multitude of flies and much relocation) in order to figure out just what the fish are feeding on and where. This is "the way it is", every time.

Another "trophy lake" is filled with chaborous(by the gazillions), it is an incredible producer of very large trout.

In Lake #1 the strategy is to locate the fish(usually around one of several underwater springs that provides cool, oxygenated and nutrient-rich water, where thick schools of scuds hang out) and dazzle them with "some steak to go with the seafood", like a dragon nymph or olive caddis larvae

In Lake #2, the strategy is to fish chironomids about a foot off the bottom, using a different enough from the chaborous, that it attracts the attention of the trout who are just cruising through the clouds of glassworms with their mouths open.

Many times, on lakes with over-abundant food sources, an oversized black wooly bugger with a red flash tail will distract a feeding trout from the natural feeding trough.

j

 

[ÜberFly]

Certainly did try a black micro leech with red flash... But not an over sized one as that was the box I didn't take, as who would have thought!

 

Cheers,

 

P

 

Many times, on lakes with over-abundant food sources, an oversized black wooly bugger with a red flash tail will distract a feeding trout from the natural feeding trough.

 

[jononfire]

Certainly did try a black micro leech with red flash... But not an over sized one as that was the box I didn't take, as who would have thought!

 

Cheers,

 

P

 

Just curious. I always hear people talking about getting info from a biologist. How can i contact one

 

 

[ÜberFly]

Dunno! Ask Jayhad or McLeod!

 

P

 

Just curious. I always hear people talking about getting info from a biologist. How can i contact one