Lake season is upon us! So far Barnes, Morgan, Six Mile, Jacko, Stump, Edith, Campbell, Scuitto, Dragon, and Sawmill are reported as ice free. There are probably some others as well that we haven't heard about yet, and there should be more coming off every day. Early season staples are chironomids and leeches, but make sure you have all the usuals, including dragon nymphs, scuds, mayflies and damselflies. The fish are generally in shallower water right after ice off, so concentrate your efforts on shoals and drop offs. Most lakes will start to turn over within a week or two of becoming ice free. Turn over usually lasts for around a week, depending on conditions. Catching fish during turn over can be incredibly difficult, so have a back up plan in case you find yourself on a turning lake.
Local lakes have been fishing well. Lakes that were stocked in the last week include Green Timbers, LaFarges, Weaver, Mill, Rice, Deer, Como, Edith, Browning and Brohm.
Cutthroat fishing is still good, but at times can be very tough as they will key in on the salmon fry right now, and if you don't have a good variety of fry patterns to try and match what they are feeding on you may find yourself very frustrated. Make sure your fly box is well stocked. The most important first step to cutty fishing is finding them, so keep your eyes peeled for surfacing fish. Low light conditions, such as early morning and last light, and cloudy days are generally the best times to target cutties. |
