Snow Cones

[Dillon]

Last week I went to a local private trout pond that had recently been stocked with fat, sassy rainbows. This time of year is known for prolific Chironomid hatches. It doesn’t take long for these fish to key on them if they to survive without pellets. The larva live in the mud and the pupa ascend vertically to the surface where they transform into a winged adult. Trout may eat them there, or intercept them anywhere in between. I didn’t see any surface activity when I arrived. However, I did see a bent rod in the middle of the lake so I figured they were feeding sub surface. I tied on a weighted wooley bugger for weight, and afixed a 5x leader to the bend of the hook. Then attached a size 12 Snow Cone Midge pupa pattern to the 2 foot leader. I cast out, let it sink and retrieved it slower than slow. A few nice trout sucked up the Snow Cone.

Yesterday, I returned to the lake in the afternoon. It was snowing when I got there and not too inviting. However, before long the snow stopped and the sun popped out. The shallow shoals came alive with boiling trout. It looked like they were cruising and taking midge pupa just below the surface so i tied on a dry fly and again attached the Snow Cone from the bend. The fish proved to be finicky. They would’nt eat the snow cone, but they did rise to the dry fly, a small Griffith’s Gnat.

Snow Cone
http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j349/jspassov/DSCF1053.jpg

[Ed Fast]

pretty cool!

what's the head made out of? My first ever fly fishing 'lesson' in Seattle, the guy told us to learn and love the Chironomid.

Ed

[Gabe]

right on! always fun to catch the big fatties on a fly rod.

[Dillon]

pretty cool!

what's the head made out of? My first ever fly fishing 'lesson' in Seattle, the guy told us to learn and love the Chironomid.

Ed

The head is just a white bead. I bought a couple different sizes at a bead shop. I got more than i will ever use for a few bucks. This fly is quick and easy to tie. The body is black thread ribbed with a strand of crystal flash. I used rhea for the thorax. Pea**** herl is also good.

[steelhead_stalkers]

I used to make those a lot when I fished ponds and lakes for trout.

[wfocharlie]

I'm used to tying these big winter intruder flies. I'm going to have to get my spectacles out to try one of those. I wonder if in and area like this that doesn't get much snow, if a snow event can fool the fish into thinking its some kind of hatch event when the flakes first start hitting the surface of the water.

[Eastcostborn]

Charlie,
You got some fly recipes ya wanna share with me?
Maybe just size and color for different water and weather conditions?

[Arctic]

Charlie we do get weird Midge, and Chironomid hatches during the winter. If the avg. air temp has been hovering just below freezuing for any duration, the day it breeches the 32 degree mark for any amount of hours... the midges will come off in some streams. And every trout in the stream will start to feed off the surface. It aint like Montana, but it can be exceptionally fun for trout fishin! Hell, Roslyn Lake used to get a Hex hatch that absolutely nobody cared to fish, or simply didnt know about! That was later in the spring, but still, I was amazed to almost never see anyone out there for it!

[wfocharlie]

Charlie,
You got some fly recipes ya wanna share with me?
Maybe just size and color for different water and weather conditions?

Go down a half a dozen theads to Recent Ties. The second and third photo (black,blue,purple pink butt, and pink, orange intruders) are what all of my fish have come on this year. If you're not a tier you can buy flies (signature intruder, jumbo critter etc) that look just like these.

[wfocharlie]

By the way I was at that pond with Dillion the first day and he put on a trout clinic for me catching a half dozen or more really nice (some quit large) rainbows while I flailed away trying to get the hang of single hand casting.

[Dillon]

I'm used to tying these big winter intruder flies. I'm going to have to get my spectacles out to try one of those. I wonder if in and area like this that doesn't get much snow, if a snow event can fool the fish into thinking its some kind of hatch event when the flakes first start hitting the surface of the water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGQEPZqNZU8
This is a good video on the life cycle of a Chironomid. I fished another pond in the area Friday. At one point I looked up and the sky was filled with swarming midges. They looked like little transparent snow flakes. Some of the females could be seen landing and skittering across the water surface depositing ova. The trout weren't eating them though. They usually key on the ascending pupa.

This pond had been reportedly stocked with trout to 24". Later, some large fish could be seen cruising, occaisionally making a swirling rise. I was fishing two Snow Cones under a small white strike indicator. One about a a foot under it and the other about 4ft. The fishing, was pretty good for about an hour. A couple of the big ones rose under the indicator. I managed to land one of them. A smaller agressive fish looked like it ate the indicator. Turned out it was the first fly. It was fun until it started getting colder and the bite turned off.

[todd_brooks555]

My girl got us a guided trip on Crain Prarie some years ago. That little thing was the only fly we used. His where even smaller, I don't think there was as big a head. Looked like a bare hook with the smallest color wrapped around the shank. I couldn't believe it at the time. I of course was out fished by the misses with the biggest bows I've ever seen. As I type this I remember him saying the head was an air bubble they ride to the surface. I've always wanted to take my boat for a road trip back there but have yet to do it.

[Ed Fast]

CRANE PRAIRIE ROAD TRIP!!

That would be fun!

Ed

[Osmosis]

I fished a couple (7) lakes/ponds yesterday and had a great time!
Chrono's, and boring 'ol hares ear (my standby) were gettin bit.

Then my old abused 5wf stopped floating! Probably head back out this afternoon :D

[Dillon]

I fished a couple (7) lakes/ponds yesterday and had a great time!
Chrono's, and boring 'ol hares ear (my standby) were gettin bit.

Then my old abused 5wf stopped floating! Probably head back out this afternoon :D

I assume you were fishing the OFC ponds too. Have you ever fished the one in the gorge? I will be heading there soon. I love to search the shorelines with streamers. Cast, strip, and hang on...