An Introduction and a Question

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
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Hey guys, been reading this site and forum forever, and learning lots while doing it, so thought i’d introduce myself…and ask a question.

Im Brent, I’m 19 and fish the Bow River in Calgary all the time, and heres some pics of fish i’ve caught in the past year (kinda slowed down, being that its -20 degrees up here lately)

And my question

I’ve been looking at Pyramid Lake in NV as a place to drive to during my Spring Break in february, its a long drive from calgary, but it’s something i’ve always been trying to get to. Is February a good time to go, and if so, what should i be bringing for a setup? Thanks guys
Brent

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Brendt,

Welcome to FAOL. I can see you’ll fit in here just fine and will have much to contribute. Great looking fish!

Can’t help you with NV, but I’m sure you’ll get an answer pretty quick.

Joe

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Brent,
Very nice introduction! Great photos!! Welcome to the BB and someone will help you with Pyramid Lake soon.
Doug

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Brent,

Welcome! I have only fly fished PL once. Here is a link that might give you some info. http://www.tahoecountry.com/jerry/jerrypyramid.html

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Brent,

The summer 2007 issue of American Angler has an article titled “Cutts and Ladder” about fishing at Pyramid Lake. The article indicated “Starting in February and for about three months, you can catch fifty fish in an afternoon.” The article further suggests using weighted shooting head setups with popcorn Beetle point flies and a black wooley bugger dropper. The basic technique described was to use a step ladder and wade out to the drop offs, climb the ladder and cast past the drop off use a jerking retrive. Looked interesting and might be worth reading if your headed that way.

Maybe your local library has this issue of American Angler?

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Welcome to the best website of it’s kind bigbadbrendt, what wonderful pictures and trout, thanks and like Joe said…looks like you’ll have lots to contribute. Hope you got all the help you need with Pyramid. Also, if you run the I5 corridor, let me know if you want to stop off in OR to try the North Umpqua, conditions permitting and I’ll be happy to show you around the area.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

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Still looking to figure out what I’m going to be doing…

I did contemplate going through Oregon on the way back home, but wasn’t sure about the time of year i’d want to swing through there… Is February decent fishing…

We (well, the crazy ones) fish the Bow when we get Chinooks up here, or anytime the temp is hovering around freezing, so i can handle cold (im envious of the reports from PL, where they say its cold, and its a nice 10 degrees out haha)

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I also fished PL once – in mid February. As mentioned, it is best to have a ladder to fish from – usually there will be a line of fishermen – standing on ladders to get up higher for easier casting and also get out of the water. You don’t need a ladder; however, it might be a little easier if you have one. You could purchase a cheap one at Costco or Home depot when you get to REno - or just do it the old fashion way and wade.

PL is located on an indian reservation and you need a special licencse when fishing there. One could be obtained just as you reach the reservation. When I was there, they also wanted you to stop in and report what you caught.

Also, abide by the speed limit when you get there – because the will give you a ticket if speeding. Iit is kind of silly as there is nothting out there but desert.

The best fishing is probably in an areaa called the “nets” which is near the hatchery inlet. You have to get there early to get the coveted position nearest the inlet.

You will see the line of fishermen when you get there.

Be prepared for some pretty cold weather. When I was there, it was easily in the 20’s and snowing and windy. However, it could also be fairly mild. Later in the season, it might be warm (march and april)

The fish Icaught were Lohantin Cut throat about the size of what you were showing on your post.

I would take up the suggestion of tryng to hit some of the Oregon rivers on the way down and fish for steelhead-- ending up in Reno, Nevada where you will stay if fishing P.L.as the lake is about 40 minutes from Reno.

Whatever, have a good adventure.

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Hello again bbb, well the fishing can be hot or cold in Feb and the weather can be just about anything, but many times over 40 in Feb. I’ll say this about the N. Umpqua though, it’s reputably the toughest steelhead river in OR. Of course that makes it my favorite. Maybe some of the other OR FAOL’ers will offer up something about their home waters, which may or may not be better/easier fishing than mine is.

Geez, didn’t someone once say that fly fishermen are an ambiguous lot? I don’t mean to be, but that’s just the way the N. Umpqua fly fishes. At any rate, I agree with eveyone else that you should check at least some of the OR rivers and for that matter, the WA rivers, which by Feb hopefully will be below flood stage.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

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Hey there Brent ! Welcome to FAOL, it’s the best online flyfishin joint yer gonna find. Great photos, fabulous fish. You’re gonna fit right in. If you can you oughta take ol’ Montana up on his offer. I’m a So. OR boy too, the N. Umpqua is where I learned flyfishin’ great steelies, though you often have to work for ‘em. Maybe the most beautiful river I’ve ever known. Slickest bottom I ever saw too. MontanaMoose will attest to that I imagine. I’m down further in the south now, callin’ the Rogue my home water, I still love the N. Umpqua and spend a couple weekends at Idelyld Lodge every year. Check out their website, nice folks there…ModocDan

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Hello modocdan, you’ve got that right about the slick bottom of the N. Umpqua, man, sometimes I just can’t venture beyond knee deep, cleats notwithstanding.

BTW, have you ever checked out Steelhead Run B&B? George and Nancy are long time friends of mine. Good rates on ‘fly fishin’ bum’ rooms that include kitchenettes if you’re stayin’ for a while. Great breakfasts each morning also. And nope, I don’t get a cut !

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

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BB Brent,
Orthoman’s description and information is right on. I haven’t been in February but it can be very good if you hit it right. You can camp there too if that’s what you want to do. The biggest fishing obstacle there is usually the wind. When it’s windy i use a 7 or 8 weight with an integrated sink tip or a fast sinking shooting head. If you are a reasonably proficient caster you can fish on all but the nastiest days. (I was there at the end of October for one day and the wind gusts were up to 50 mph or so.) Especially if you have a ladder. I’ve fished it from a pontoon and a ladder and done extremely well to just ok in the past. I’ve been in March, April and October so far and the best trip was last March. The weather was gorgeous and we fished midges under an indicator 90% of the time. It was terrific although i’m still in search of the big one there. My biggest to date is about 24" but i’ve seen a few over 30". Good luck!! If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.
Rich

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Sadly i’ve really only got like 10 days, and at least one full one would be driving (two, if i went by myself)…

What kind of rods do you usually have with you? I’ve got a 4, 5, 6 and a 7 weight spey, which i would probably bring as well, just for distance…

The Oregon trip is also possible…love to do the steelhead thing, but never have done it before, so its an option to…

Do you guys fish it with indicators and chronomids (in February), or the wooly bugger kind of style?

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Brent,
Welcome aboard! Awesome pics!

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bigbadbrent

Welcome aboard, if you go to PL let me know how it went at the border. Hope to be going this summer for some fishing and a Fish in.

I fish around the Lethbridge//SW Alberta area and am always up for some fishing …

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yo bbb,

I sure miss the old flyfishalberta website and the great posts. either way you go, Oregon or NV, you’ll have great fishing at your disposal. You’ll find bulls in Oregon much like your home waters if you hit the Metolius, and within an hour and a half drive of the Met, you can fish the D for steel (late B-runs maybe?), or hit up some of the other rivers for the winter run fish.

Welcome aboard!

Marty

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Went to Pl in Oct 2007 for the first time and had a great time, caught many fish and we were lucky to get great whether although the winds did pick up in the afternoon. We bought ladders at home depot in Reno that worked find but I saw that the locals and regulars made custom ladders taking their step ladders and extending the handle and attaching a stripping basket. Both were a great idea I thought. The ladder if you don’t extend needs a indicator of some sort if too short or you could lose the location if the water level extends over the handle.
I would love to see a photo of one that someone has made as I would love to custom make one as well. We plan to take our 2nd trip in Feb.

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this young man is fly fishing’s future. welcome aboard!

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Great Pics!!! and welcome aboard

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Sorry, Brent, but from my angle… your self portraits, tend to make you out to be a rather nice chap, a good fly fisherman and ANYTHING but “Big & Bad”!? hahaha!!
Just, kidding, don’t hurt me!
Welcome to the FAOL boards and web site!! If you don’t/can’t, learn it here, then you probably don’t need to learn it, or know it, when it pertains to fly fishing.

A couple of things, Brent, that you may need to know in order to understand, FAOL a little better…
“Joe V.” DOES NOT look like Robert Redford, despite his own started, rumors".
“SPAM”, (the canned and banned lunch meat, in 11 Western States), IS made from ground up leisure suits, naval lint and ear wax and despite the claims of some, here, REAL fly fishermen, DON’T eat it.
"DShock", is another very wise fly fisherman with tons of great advice, but always make sure to ask him, “If he’s taken his medications”, before trying out any of his usual suggestions.
“OhioTuber”, also known as “Terror Tuber”, is a wonderful person but if the rumors are true… he likes to “go commando”, under his waders, except for wearing knee high argyle socks and sings old Elvis songs to the fish, using this “funnel type device”, he sticks into the water, while belly boating.
Gads, there are so MANY others, that I’d like to mention to you, Brent so you’ll know beforehand what to maybe expect. But, time and space, limit me to a short entry this time. I’m sure, as you become more and more involved with this wonderful site, they’ll all become apparent to you anyway.

Oh, one thing I just CANNOT leave out… there’s a sort of “sub group” to FAOL, known as “The Nasty Boys Of FAOL”. Usually referred to, in hushed tones, as “The NBOF”.
They’re innocent OF ALL THINGS, that you may hear about them so don’t believe what others say about The NBOF!! Personally, I’m too sweet and innocent, myself to even know that much about them, so I’m only going on conjecture here myself.
Regardless, for now, they seem to be kept well under control and on a short leash, by one of our Senior Members… “Betty”. “Betty” is one of,several,of the FAOL’s “Goddesses in residence” here. Very sweet, very nice, extremely smart on all aspects of fly fishing and if you cross her… she’ll rip off, both your arms and beat you to death with one, or, both.

Anyway, welcome!