Too amny projects to do. Thats what uas got in the way of me fishing. It has also been far too long since I have written on my blog. I have managed to get out fishing this spring. I took a trip to Dragon lake in Quesnel for the day, fished for bull trout on the Nechako River in Vanderhoof and most recently a morning trip to Cobb Lake.
Dragon was a beautiful lake, big rainbows and tight lips. Saw some amazing fish cruise by but none that wanted to play so there isn't much to say there.
The Nechako proved to be fruitful this spring, just after ice off. I found some riffles where the bull trout were hiding and landed six of them unfortunately the biggest popped the hook. A bulldog fly, similar to a redish brown wooly bugger, was the ticket and the takes were aggressive.
Cobb lake was an early morning trip today. I took my pontoon out and found many rising fish early. I lost track of the number of rainbows I caught, and even managed one brookie. All were caught on a black doc spratley fly both trolling and anchored and casting to risers. As the campers started to head on to the lake after their late breakfast the bite slowed.
Unfortunately fishing has had to take a back seat to building a chicken coop, but that will be done soon and the local rivers and streams are opening soon.
I had one of THOSE days today. No not an everything going wrong, nothing going my way sort of days. One of those fishing days where no matter where you toss your fly your going to get into fish.
This weekend is the nicest weather we have had this year, it hit 23 degrees and I slept in. I knew I was planning on getting to a lake today to toss a fly but neglected (on purpose) to set an alarm. By the time I got up, loaded my gear and pontoon into the truck and made my way to the lake it was nearing noon.
The lake of choice was a local one, Cobb lake. I didn't want to travel too far and it has produced for me in the past.
Upon arriving, I noticed two things. One, there were a lot of campers at the lake and two, the fish were rising. I eagerly got myself set up and on the water with my go to generic fly; a black doc spratley size 12. I barely made it a hundred yards and I was into fish. A good start by any standards. I let the fish go and kept rowing to where I wanted to go. Another thirty yards and I had another fish on. I landed and released the rainbow and made a mental note of where I was, thinking if my destination was not producing I would come back here. Well, long story short, I ended up coming back as my other spot was a dead as a Norwegian Blue parrot being brought back to a certain pet store in Bolton. I anchored up near where I had landed the other two fish and proceeded to catch fish after fish.
I could see the schools direction of travel by where they were sipping bugs and splashing at the surface. A cast a few feet ahead and a couple strips and they hit the fly hard. It was almost too easy. I was literally calling when the fish wer going to strike. 3... 2... 1... HIT!.. and I was pretty close with my prediction many times over. At one point I went seven casts and seven fish. I lost count of the total number of fish caught but I'd say 30-40 or so.
All the fish were rainbow trout ranging from 12"-17" except one 17" brookie that decided to play and gave up a fantastic fight, and all were caught in six to ten feet of water.
It was just one of those days...
The sun was shining, the air was crisp and the fish were calling. It had been far too long since I had gne fishing so I took the opportunity this morning to wet a line.
My destination was Cobb lake again, since I have been having success through the ice at this lake. Today was no different. I was only there for a couple of hours but managed a few rainbows and a nice brook trout. Bait of choice was once again pro cured shrimp dangled down a rather lengthy tunnel of ice into the depths below. I was only fishing in about 10 feet of water but the ice was nearly three feet thick! My auger was only just long enough to drill through.
The action started with some small rainbows, switched to a bit bigger brookie and then finished off with another little rainbow. The sky was blue and the sun was bright and I had the lake to myself, for most of the time. Until an noble guest decided to check out what I was doing. A healthy, large bald eagle turned up after I pulled out a fish and decided to bonk it. I decided to give the eagle the free meal it was looking for so I gutted the fish and took off the head wondering if I could get the bird to come down and pick it up on camera. Only problem was I only had my cell phone for a camera today as I left my gopro at home.
I propped my phone up in the snow and placed the fish entrails and head away from where I was fishing. The big eagle knew what I had and he wanted it. After setting my phone to record video I backed away and sat down to watch as I continued to fish. It didnt take long and the eagle swooped down and flew off with his free meal. I did end up getting some cool video but was cursing not having my gopro. Ah well, there's always next time.
With the weather holding in the negative, but not too negative, I decided to get in some ice fishing before Christmas.
On Saturday I made it out to Cobb lake to find plenty of ice. With the wife and kids in tow we trekked out on to the ice and drilled a couple of holes. It wasn't long and we had a small brook trout to hand. A quick picture and it was back down the hole to its friends. We stayed for a couple of hours, the kids played on the ice and I watched a few more fish sniff my bait, but no takers. One even tried to eat my swivel just below the ice right in front of my face.
Today I went back to Cobb to try my luck again. I drilled a hole, near to where I was two days before. After about twenty minutes i could see a brookie swirling around my bait. I twitched it a couple times and watched the fish slurp it in. It doesnt matter how many times I have seen it, I love watching fish taking my offering. I set the hook and after a quick fight I had the first fish landed. I quickly dealt with the fish and had my hook back in the hole. Within minutes, and out of no where a good size brookie shot out from under the ice, smashed my offering and took off with my bait. Line was instantly peeling off my reel and my rod had a good healthy bend. This fish had energy and went on a few good runs.
The day ended with me enticing a few more fish but they decided they weren't hungry, just sniffed it.
Both fish I landed today were hooked just inches under the ice, in about 6 feet of water, and the bait of choice was procured shrimp. I did pump the stomach of the fish and found lots of mayfly nymphs, some shrimp and a water boatman. These fish were well fed.
Can't wait to get out again, and neither can my youngest daughter.
Well the weather cooperated, the stars aligned, school reports are done so I went fishing. Ice fishing that is.
This was a new adventure and my first time ice fishing.
I had a late start and packed up all my gear to head to Cobb Lake. Through a snow filled back road and to the lake, I found two groups already on the ice. One guy was just landing a nice brookie and my hopes were high.
I carried all my gear out onto the ice and drilled my first hole. Easier than I thought it would be, I was expecting it to be harder. The ice was about 5-6" thick. I put on my bait, procured shrimp, and dropped it down the hole. With my bait in the water and the occasional lift to give it a bit of movement I took the opportunity to gaze around the lake. After all, there no need to watch into a hole in the ice all day. No sooner had i taken my eyes offthe hole, I felt a little tug, then another and then another. I set the hook and had a fish on. Now, I'd like to say it was a long hard battle but to be honest it was over pretty quick. My bait was probably only a foot under the ice and the little rainbow came in with ease. I pulled out my phone and quickly snapped a shot, but the fish must have been shy. It flipped out of my hand and back into the hole it went. It would have been nice to get a proper picture with my first ever ice fishing catch, but I was going to let it go anyway.
Unfortunately for me, I only had one other fish on all day which spat the hook before i realized it was on. In my books it was still a good day out, and I can't wait to try again soon.
On a side note, the thermometer read -15 degrees Celsius when I left this morning. Officially my coldest day of fishing.
Well our house move is done and we are now living in Vanderhoof BC. There's a lack of salmon fishing in the immediate area but I am closer to the Skeena system now, which I will visit in the future for sure. For now, there's supposed to be excellent lake and river fishing for other species such as rainbows, brookies and dolly varden (to name a few).
I got out for my first fishing trip up here in region 7 today. It was a late start and i didnt get to the lake until about 11:30. I went out on the lake with my fly rod and a black doc sprately (my go to lake fly). After rowing around a bit (i need an electric on my pontoon) and tiring my arms I anchored up near some fallen trees and began casting. I was hoping there were a few fish hiding under the tree. I saw a few rise and one even rose to the fly just after it hit the water but I didn't hook into anything. I rowed back down the lake trolling a fly and at the drop off had a rainbow smash my fly. It hit hard and peeled line right away. I landed that fish and circled back. That stretch of water gave up about a dozen bright rainbows of varying sizes. I circled back a few more times before calling it a day.
Not a bad day out for a first trip in the region. The lake was deadly quiet and there was only one other person fishing this so called "urban" lake.
Next week I may take a trip to the stellako river. A class 2 river with a lot of potential...
