I arrived at the stream yesterday and met up with two other guys that I sometimes fish with. We all have been flyfishing for about 3 to 4 years. The weather was good 75 to 80 degrees , a little overcast and a slight breeze. We could see a good hatch of small olives coming off but no fish were rising.After a while we took a walk and saw the fish holding in their normal areas . We dicided to go in the water and try anyway.The bugs were still coming off and after 45 min we met again and we were all skunked. So, does anybody out there know why the fish wouldnt be rising. Secondly I want to thank everybody who answered my post last week about carrtying a spare rod.I ordered today an orvis clearwater 4 piece.(happy fathers day to me). For obvious reasons I need that orvis guarentee.
I can think of a few reasons, but not having been there, I’d just have to chalk it up to an exercise in humility. Flyfishing hands those out to me on a regular basis. Maybe you want to take my input with a block of salt in that case!
-maybe they saw, heard, or smelled you and don’t want to expose themselves to danger by returning to normal feeding patterns.
-maybe they found something yummy on the bottom or subsurface (nymphs, emergers, scuds) that they like better.
-maybe the water down on the bottom is cooler and they don’t want to leave it and stress themselves in hotter surface water.
-maybe they don’t like to eat in front of strangers.
-maybe they don’t like the cut of your jib.
A scene like you describe would have me floating an attractor over them with a scud or weighted nymph attached as a dropper. Or walking upstream to see what else I could find. Those fish don’t want to play, then heck with them!
When I see “small olives rising” I figure it is air trapped in the pimento; usually prefer medium olives (two on a sword), even those little onions are alright, sometimes. If they float on the surface there is definitely a problem. I only saw that happen once, that I remember.
JC
Did you practice catch and release?
Brad
In the words of the venerable Harry Murray:
“if that one won’t take your fly move on downstream and find you a dumber one”
Of course Harry is usually referring to trout when he says that.
Kaboom, yes, in fact I have gotten so good at it I sometimes release then on purpose.
The best way to catch Floating Olives is wait untill they are stuffed then use a cocktail stick.
The trout could well have been dining below the surface. Have Fun. Jax
Getting Old has it’s advantages. It slows you down just enough to get your timing for tightening into a trout Just Right.
OK, here we go (not a smart aleck answer) Flyfishing 101.
Problem: You see a hatch and no rises
Solution: Fish a nymph
Problem: You see a hatch with fish rising but they are not eating duns
Answer: Fish an emerger
Problem: Big splasy rises
Answer: fish a nymph near to the surface with a little movement
Damn. I thought this was another music question like ‘Smoke On The Water’.
Answer: Marvin Gaye
Allan
Maybe they were full???
JC, THAT was funny. I myself, having no fear of Martinis (or Gibsons), have never had that happen " olives rising".
Mark
PS: In my minds eye profile of you though, you’re a bourbon/branch dude.
[This message has been edited by Marco (edited 27 May 2006).]
Two or three olives rising would turn me into a wild man, some called smoke on water. Had to give up the olives.
If you really want to see the small olives rising, drop a couple into a beer. “South Dakota Martini”. Free swimming olives, I must specify. You can then study their behavior until the fish start rising again.
Thomas L, aren’t you glad you asked that question. From bugs to martini’s.
There could have been a lot of reasons just like others have stated, ie. nymphin’, emerging nymphs etc., Weather can cause situations like that to…fronts, falling barometer etc.,
I like my olives shakin’ not stirred.
Speaking of pimento stuffed olives…anyone tried chumming with them?
Tea Stick;
Only in Single’s Bars!!
Don’t forget the Michigan Fish-In August 14th to the 20th. The Holy Water’s of the Au Sable await you!!
Cactus
J.C., you are of course referrimg to a Gibson Martini with the (or a couple) little pearl onions in the drink. I like a Dirty Martini. You can purchase a bottle of the Dirty stuff already to splash into the London Dry or the Russion Dry. Of course there is no comparison to chomping down on a giant stuffed Spanish guy…they change from drab to eye poppin in the juice. I thin we will enjoy the fish-in.
[This message has been edited by Jonezee (edited 30 May 2006).]
Ok jack, get your mind out of the gutter. Hey really though, what size hook would I need for imitation?
Use a thin tippet, 6X or 7X, and a small hook nympth.
You’ll catch a lot of trout with thin flourocarbon and a tiny realistic fly!!.. like a 18 on a 7X.
Only use the heavy stuff if you are throwing a “cheese ball” on a treble hook!! LOL
fish on
I got a catalog today, has an 8.5 foot Orvis Streamline 5wt (made in Korea) for $49.95 Would make a backup rod.