The star of the Central Washington Fish-In is Rocky Ford
Creek. This is public water, catch and release, fly only!
It's famous for big rainbows - and everyone who attended
last year DID catch fish!
Here is a partial list of flies for Rocky Ford Creek from "Z":
Streamers: woolly buggers in black, olive, white in
sizes from 8 to 12 (weighted with a bead head).
Nymphs: scuds, olive, tan or orange in sizes 12 to 16.
Mayfly nymphs: - just about any will do, have a range
of colors and sizes down to 20.
Brassies: - red or brass, down to 16.
Drys: I prefer standard mayfly patterns, sizes
14 to 20 parachute and standard tie. Have some that
are light (pmd's ect) and some dark (adams ect). Check
out the F-100
(a past Fly of the Week that Linemender ties). JC and LF
had good result with a gray
Wally Wing, also in the Fly of the Week Archives.
I do most of my fishing on the Ford with drys, and
typically find a fish that is working the surface
and float the fly over it. Some days an Adams works
well, other times it's something else. I have
noticed they prefer thin bodies and sparse hackle. ~ "Z"
Co-host Cary Morlan has sent his suggestions for flies
for 'the ford', add these to your list:
My friend Z has pretty much covered all the
basics for "The Ford." As for myself; I pretty
much stick to dries. Good sight fishermen have
tremendous success with scuds and nymphs. I
would mention that it works best if your scuds
are weighted. Bounce them along the bottom until
just in front of the targeted fish and after a
pause, a subtle lift in front of the nose generally
prompts a gentle take. Scud fishermen will catch
greater numbers of fish than I, but I am happy to
put one fish on the bank a day after watching with
knees knocking as that pig lifts his carcass off
the bottom to sip my delicate little bugs.
Scuds are usually the only wets I fish and only
when I am afraid of going home fishless. Yes, fear
drives me to deviate from my patterns. I have tried
buggers and streamers, and remain unconvinced that
I can have any success with them, but that is me
and my lack of willingness to try something I have
no confidence in.
Dry flies, and the surface take, motivate me to
spend countless hours casting over fish. I too
like to look for working fish but have on many
occasions, simply by being persistent, coaxed
fish to rise to my offering. Frequently it is
many casts over a fish, until I am fortunate
enough to hit the dead drift that allows the
fish to rise with the least effort, and accept
my offering.
The flies I have the most success with are all
small 18-22 and include:
Griffiths Gnats
Adams
BWO's
PMD's
Spinner patterns in black, cream, and rust
F-100s
And my new favorite is a Cream Spinner I received
from Skilled Fisherman in a midge swap.
I will also use emergers but I dress them to fish
in the film.
The regulations have changed so it is now legal
to fish droppers. All flies must be barbless and
the local gendarmes have been known to stick flies
in the sleeves of their sweaters to see if they
snag when removed, so be sure of what you tie on.
I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new. ~ Linemender
This really is a fun time with a great bunch of folks.
If you plan on attending, drop me a note and I'll put
you on the CWFI '07 Going List!
publisher@flyanglersonline.com.
Going List!
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