Walter & Group....
From Pete Greenan :
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Bob Tabbert weighs in:
Gordy, A short version of how to fish cold water spring ponds: When fishing
small spring ponds in northern WI, MI & MN for native brook trout, for the
best all year round fishing, find the spring holes, (low 50F waters). In
late summer these spring holes become sanctuaries, (low temps, high oxygen), for
the brook trout. When hatches are coming off in the surrounding
marshes fish the incoming warm water drainage streams carrying the hatch
from the marsh, match the hatch coming in, nymphs or floaters.
In smaller spring ponds brook trout frequently school for
protection and cruise, making laps around the pond looking for food.
Midges because of the colder waters are usually the only common hatches
in spring ponds, they come off daily, weather permitting.
Scuds are common. Ants, beetles,and grass hoppers in late
summer will bring action. Streamers, (such as Hornbergs),
replicatng minnows such as stickle backs, fished deep will find the larger
brookies. Good Luck! Bob
Robert L. Tabbert
Conservation, Fly Fishing, Exploration
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Fishing stillwaters on two continents by Elie Beerten :
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Stillwater fishing in Ireland, by Liam Duffy :
Hi Gordy,
Lough style (note spelling!) has been practiced in Ireland from time immorial,
and yes it should work in the circumstances you describe as we have a number of
rainbow fisheries here in Ireland. Over here we call it
"stockie bashin'"
I would highly recommend Peter O'Reilly's (C.C.I., M.C.I.
T.H.C.I) book "Flyfishing in Ireland" which details equipment, flies,
methods, etc., for this style of fishing. Peter has recently
retired as Game Angling Consultant to the C.F.B.(Central Fisheries Board)
in Ireland and what Peter does not know "ain't worth knowing". I am honoured to
call Peter a personal friend and if you have any difficulty in getting hold
of his books (he has also written "trout and salmon loughs of Ireland"
and "Trout and salmon Rivers of Ireland") just let me know and I will
forward them to you these books are a goldmine of information, just facts,
no"B******t" I would recommend these books to ANYBODY!!!!
Peter also wrote "Flies of Ireland" with beautiful colour plates. Just as an aside, if F.F.F. are doing a list of definitions of angling terms let me have some input with regard to terms that are applicable on this side of the water. Any questions just ask me whether about techniques, boats, methods, etc. .
Best Regards,
Liam Duffy M.C.I. T.H.C.I.
P.S. Always remember with some people "If B******t" was music they'de be a BRASS BAND!!" (old Dublin saying) but (Not so with Peter!)
Liam Duffy
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Liam... Yes ! My error in failing to include his writings in my first message on stillwaters. I had the honor of discussing this and many other issues with Peter this summer.
We will soon get cranking again with our FFF Glossary Committee. A few snags to smooth out before we have the definitions refined.
G.
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Capt. John Hand has a wealth of experience fishing salty
"stillwaters" in Florida. His message :
|
DON,
YES, LOCH STYLE FISHING WORKS GREAT ON THE FLATS FOR SPECKLED
TROUT.
I USE IT ON DEEP GRASS FLATS IN TAMPA BAY, FL WITH A 3 FLY NYMPH
RIG.
ALSO. IN HOLES FOR MANGROVE SNAPPER.
CAPT. JOHN HAND |
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From Raf Mascaro of Italy :
Hi Gordy,
in my opinion british loch style fishing work everywhere in the
World. From UK to US, going west to Tasmania and continuing in Europe.
Stillwater fishing in UK is so popular that
those guys invent some new tricks and flies almost every day.
Best Regards
Raf
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From Phil White :
>Hi Gordy
I have been getting regular posts from Jim Gill over here
in England with all the latest from your group and have to come in on this
question from Don Pendleton.
First things first.
I would say the the word 'rake' is almost certainly a typo and should be
'rate'. However, I have sent this on to Charles Jardine for him to
respond if he wishes. Catch rate is a term used to specify the
amount of fish being caught in a given time - something that has really come in
since the huge growth of Competition Fishing. It seemingly being
important to catch lots of fish quickly which, from my 'grumpy old man'
description, it is clear I do not really enjoy these days although, to be fair,
it was important when I was learning 50 years ago.
In answer to the
question about loch style fishing the answer is a resounding yes.
Loch style works on large still waters(50 acres plus) but it is important
to understand what is meant by loch style. There is the traditional
loch (Scottish) and Lough(Irish) style fishing, casting short lines -
30feet - and 3 or 4 flies in front of a drifting boat with a boatman, or
one of the rods(fishermen), controlling the boat and the way it
drifts. Then there is loch style fishing as used in modern
Competition Fishing where the boat is fitted with a drogue, if wind strength
permits/requires, and allowed to drift whilst the rods hurl,
sorry cast, their flies as far as they can - 30 yards - in front
of the boat and strip back all manner of gaudy lures, boobys, blobs etc., as
fast as they can, winding up the stocked rainbows until they launch themselves
at the flies. This is of course the extreme and as such is about as
much like loch/lough style as an elephant is to a camel.
However there
are many methods in between that are very successful and I suggest they will
work very well in this case. It is important to understand
depth, the value of the different densities of lines and speed. It
equally important to understand the food forms and their behaviour to be totally
successful, especially if the Rainbows are either natural or long established
stocked fish. I spend quite a lot of my time teaching/guiding on
this sort of fishing and these are the things I teach, including the modern
style I was so disparaging about. My own choice for this sort of
fishing is a 10 foot rod, floating line, a range of imitative patterns, dry and
wet/nymphs to suit the fauna, a drogue in windy conditions or a good
ghillie(guide) and fish feeding in the top 3 to 5 feet of the
lake. A drifting boat searches the water for structure or
allows you to fish along contour lines and/or feeding lanes, all very
important features, and you cover an immense amount of water and, hopefully,
feeding fish in the process.
If only Don was nearer!
Phil
White APGAI
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Phil...
I'd be honored to have you joing our Study Group. No obligations of any kind. Simply let me know if you are interested.
Best,
Gordy
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A very practical answer to flyfishers who attempt to fish stillwaters when not familiar with the fishery or techniques from Jim Bass :
Gordy, when we flatland
fly fishers go to a different type of country fishing, we ask the locals.
We might hire a guide and find out there ways of finding and catching
fish. We don?t have many Trout in the lakes in Texas but we do have some
Stripers and the locals are a great help when we go to a lake we have not fished
before. The best to you and the group Jim.
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Don Pendleton's response: