Not a Salmonfly

Here are a few more of my favorite bug photos from this past summer:

Isogenoides colubrinus (adult male)

Isogenoides colubrinus (larval exuvia - the white filaments are the
linings of the tracheal tubules that are shed upon emergence)

Isogenoides colubrinus is one of the larger stoneflies that emerges on the North Saskatchewan River downstream from Drayton Valley (this one was photographed at Victoria Park in Edmonton). These large stoneflies are often mistaken for Salmonflies by local fly anglers dreaming of more trouty waters.



Here's looking forward to a new year of fly fishing, photography, and videography (along with the usual outdoor adventures). My hopes are to be more active in the blogosphere than this past year, and to share more of my adventures with others.

Happy New Year to All, and all the best in 2013!!

Cheers,
Rob

Arachnophobia

Over the summer I managed to photograph a fair number of interesting bugs. One of the most entertaining was a Fishing Spider (Dolomedes triton) that I spotted along the edge of a local lake.

 

 

Dolomedes have apparently been known to capture small fish; and they do venture underwater on occasion – but most of their time is spent on the surface hiding amongst shoreline vegetation waiting to pounce on any unsuspecting bugs that wander within range. In this case, the victim was a Water Boatman (Family: Corixidae) that was darting to the surface to replenish its air supply. The spider moved with lightning fast speed; and before I could blink, it had scurried out, plucked the Corixid from the water, and returned to its perch to feed.

 

Dolomedes triton feeding on a Corixid

 

Wood Fly Rod Materials List

Here is the list of materials needed to complete the wood fly rod build:

Small hand held saw – this is used to cut the sapling and trim it to length. I carry a small folding saw with a 4” blade that fits conveniently in a pocket but any saw will do.

4 lengths of electrical conduit 1/2” x 10’, 2 lengths of electrical conduit 3/4” x 10’, and 20 hose clamps (big enough to go around all 4 lengths of conduit and the cut blank) – these are used to hold the blank straight while drying, and while heat treating the blank. Other types of metal tubing could also work but electrical conduit is the least expensive that I have found.

Heavy duty fixed blade hunting knife – this is used to trim and shave down any small branches and knots, and shave off the bark once drying is complete.

80, 100, and 120 grit sand paper (2 sheets of each) – used during initial sanding.

220, 400, and 600 grit emery paper (2 sheets of each) – used during final sanding.

Tape measure and digital caliper – the tape measure is for making general measurements (overall rod length and guide placement) and the calipers are used to check the rod taper as you work (although much of what I do is by feel).

Fine-tooth saw – to trim blank to final length; a fine tooth saw is needed to avoid splintering of the fine tip when the final cut to length is made. A hack saw will work fine.

Electric heat gun – this is used to heat treat the blank. Most split cane rod builders make their own heat treating oven using a length of black pipe which they heat with a propane torch. I find it is too easy to scorch the blank with this set-up and prefer the more controlled temperature I get from the heat gun.

 

10’ of 3/4” ID clear PVC tubing – used to hold the rod blank and Varathane mixture during the pseudo-lamination process.

Roll of electrical tape – to tape PVC tubing to 2 lengths of electrical conduit.

1L of clear Varathane (semi-gloss, solvent based) – used to “laminate” the blank, and for final finishing. I prefer the natural look of the clear semi-gloss but if you want a darker rod you could try various tinted colors provided they are solvent based.

Mineral spirits – to thin out the Varathane.

Mixing container – to mix the Varathane and mineral spirits (I use an old jam jar).

Small funnel – to pour the thinned Varathane mix into the PVC tubing.

Clamps – used to clamp the ends of the PVC tubing shut.

Small good quality paint brushes – for varnishing the blank and thread windings.

Cork grip & reel seat kit, rod guides, hook keeper, and rod winding thread – all of this should be available from your local fly shop. You may need some lead time if they need to order it. If you wanted to you could buy cork rings and sand your own custom grip but I prefer the simplicity of pre-fab grip and reel seat kits.

Small round chainsaw file – to shape inside of cork grip.

2 part epoxy – for gluing the reel seat and grip to the blank.

Rod winding jig – used to maintain proper tension when winding guides onto the blank. I built my own simple jig out of some scrap lumber but commercial models are available.

 

Home made rod winding jig; the eye can be moved to either side as required.
 Functional but not as adjustable as some of the commercially available models.

A Few Odds and Ends

I have been spending some time this morning looking back through some of my adventures from this past fishing season and thought I would share a few photos from some of my more memorable trips.

I made several mountain bike trips into the North Ram this fall - one of them took me all the way to forks.


Old trappers cabbin on North Ram Trail
 

A nice cutthroat on the main stem of the Ram

 

A much needed rest break on the ride out
 

Summer was a mixed bag - not much fishing but some interesting scenery.

Clouds diffusing the mid-morning light

Sunset at Lower Chain Lakes

Winter was a great time to head to a more tropical locale - Mayaguana in the Bahamas was the destination of choice this year.


Bonefish flats as far as the eye can see

Searching for Bones near the mangroves

Not a Bonefish, but still fun to catch

Wooden Fly Rod Update

As snowy weather settles in, a fly angler’s thoughts typically turn to winter projects. Cleaning and lubing fly reels, replacing fly lines and leaders, and re-stocking fly boxes are generally at the top of the list. But aside from the usual maintenance duties, there is also time to work on some of the more pie-in-the-sky type projects. One such project that I started last winter was the build on my fourth wooden fly rod (see How to Build a Wooden Fly Rod under Gear Guide). This new rod will be a replacement for my 8’ 4”, 5 weight wood fly rod that started to split last summer.

Building wooden fly rods has definitely been a learn as you go endeavor – some of the rods that I have built over the years have eventually succumbed to the strain of casting, either developing cracks or breaking. Most of the rod failures can be traced back to flaws in the original blank or poorly designed tapers. Despite the setbacks, I currently have two wood rods in my arsenal that have survived the test of time and that I have caught many good trout on. The one that I use most often, a 6’ 6”, 3 weight, is meant for working small streams but I recently had it out a few times on the North Ram during the low flows of late September. The other rod is the first fly rod I built; a 7’ 1”, 6 weight. It is a little clunky to cast but it gets the job done – and I like the look and feel of the solid wood grip.

The rod blank that I cut last winter has been casually seasoning (i.e. drying) in the garage all summer and will be ready for construction by March. I plan to start sourcing materials to complete the new wooden rod next week – I will compile a list of the tools and parts needed and post it next chance I get.

Desperate Times

I was pushing the envelope and I knew it.

The weather on Saturday was certainly far from ideal for fly fishing. Hell, it was far from ideal just for driving. But as I continued on through near white out conditions at times, I kept desperatly hoping that there would be a break in the weather - just enough to wet a line, maybe hook a fish or two, and collect a few bugs. It was a valiant effort, but in the end I was forced to turn back about 20 kilometers west of Rocky Mountain House due to decreasing visibility and ice starting to form on the highway.

Every now and then even a die-hard fly angler has a rational thought.

Stretching Out the Season

I was hoping to sneak in another trip to the foothills this weekend but I see the forecast calls for a high of 1C and snow. I have fished in conditions like this before - sometimes it can be magical, and sometimes miserable. Right now I am on the fence. I will be keeping an eye on the forecast, and we'll see how desperate I am come Friday.

Memories of streamside lunches and lazy summer days

Hatches, Headwaters, and the Tail End of the Season

Now is definitely a prime time to get out on the local trout lakes. Most lakes are fishing very good right now, with lots of fish in the 2-4 pound range to be caught. My favorite strategies for larger fish are working the shallows at dusk in a float tube - moving along as quietly as possible and slowly working various nymph patterns along the weed edges, and right on top of weedy shoals that have ready access to deeper water. During the day I like to work my flies deeper (12'-15' depth), working them slowly right along the bottom. If you are lucky (and observant), you may catch the fleeting surface action of an afternoon backswimmer "hatch".

Despite all of this, I seem to be drawn more to moving water this year. Headwaters cutthroat streams are generally fishing good and there are still enough hatches trickling off to keep things interesting. This past weekend saw a good emergence of Red Quill Mayflies (Cinygmula sp.) on the higher elevation freestone streams. Admittedly the fishing was a little sparse on the waters we chose to ply, but the intense fall colors, pleasantly warm days, and relaxed company more than made up for the shortage of fish.


Cinygmula sp. (female spinner)



Cinygmula sp. (male spinner)

Cinygmula duns look similar to the spinners but with a more dusky appearance; and they tend to be more important and accessible to the trout than the spinners. The most effective dun patterns are a parachute style fly with an amber or reddish brown body in size #14 to #16, or a cripple emerger in the same colors and sizes (we caught most of our fish on the cripple emerger). The slightly reddish cast of the females is due to the eggs that fill the abdomen - once egg laying is complete, the spent spinner is a transparent empty husk with minimal food value.

Cinygmula sp. (spent female spinner)



Typical headwaters Cinygmula sp. habitat

 Cinygmula nymphs prefer cooler reaches of headwaters streams and rivers.

Glossosoma and North Ram River Update

It was back to the North Ram River this past weekend. Since I only had Saturday free I chose to spend it on one of the lower reaches. To expedite access, and add a little challenge/adventure to the trip, I relied on pedal power to get me to my destination. The trail was a little rougher than usual (probably the worst I have seen it over the years) - it seems the ATV crowd, in their quest to avoid the very trail damage they cause, have expanded the mud holes to mammoth proportions and are chewing up a maze of ancillary trails - none of which are conducive to walking or biking.

I went in armed with a few simple #18 naked caddis larva and pupa to immitate the Glossosoma caddisflies that were so prevelant a few weeks back. The theory was that even if the hatch had already occured, the trout would still have a strong search immage of the larva or pupa, and respond accordingly.

 

The lower reach I was on did not seem to have as many Glossosoma larva attached to the rocks as the upper stretch I fished two weeks ago. I am not sure if this was due to the hatch having already occured, or simply less larvae in the lower reach. Regardless, I alternated between the larva and pupa all morning; finding the larva pattern to be very effective.

  

The day was bright and sunny until about 2:00pm - late afternoon saw a few rain squalls blow through. The resulting Mayfly hatch made for some fast and furious action on small gray Baetis emerger patterns. It was a spectacular way to close out the day.

A Quick Float on the Red Deer River

Early morning cool temperatures and wind kept most hatches (or at least rising fish) in check on the Red Deer River this past weekend.  The few fish that were rising were doing so sporadically and I was unable to figure them out. Things did calm down in the afternoon as temperatures climbed into the high 20's but the blazing sun did little to entice fish into surface feeding mode. I am sure that if I could have stayed on the river into the evening, more rising fish would have materialized.



Early morning on the Red Deer River

Regardless, I did well working Green Drake and Baetis nymphs in the runs, and soft water along the edges. I did hook a few decent browns but it was the good numbers of chunky whitefish that provided most of the entertainment for the day.

Good Things Are Yet to Come

We spent this past weekend on the North Ram – the fishing was steady, pleasant, and what I would call no frills. With multiple mayfly hatches going on at the same time (mostly PMD’s, Rhithrogena, and Epeorus), the fish were decidedly non-selective. We did well with a few general dry fly patterns (mainly Parachute Adams #14, and Harrop style PMD’s #16 & #18). I did work a Drunella (Green Drake) nymph with good success here and there, but with the fish more than cooperative on top, why bother going deep.

What struck me the most however was the number of Glossosoma caddisfly larvae inhabiting the river this year. I have seen previous years where Brachycentrus caddisflies were way more prolific than usual (often after a few consecutive years of stable flows and mild runoff), and fishing larval patterns was pure dynamite. But this is the first year I have seen an “outbreak” of Glossosoma. Just about every rock had a few larval cases attached, and some rockes were virtually covered in them. They were everwhere.

We often think of aquatic insect populations as being relatively stable on any given stream – with perhaps some variation in the timing of the hatch. But in reality, population levels can vary substantially from one year to the next as overall stream conditions change (e.g. average and peak temperatures, average and peak flows, predation, parasites, etc.). This leads to years where the population of a particular species is low, and years where the population is high (think about how mosquito populations can vary depending on local conditions).  Of course when a prey source is abundant, the predators (i.e. trout) take notice.

Several dozen Glossosoma sp. larva attached to a submerged rock

Caddisflies in the genus Glossosoma are known as turtle case makers. Rather than constructing a tube like case that they can add to as they grow, Glossosoma builds a simple dome like structure out of small pebbles. They spend much of their time safely huddled under their unassuming mound of pebbles slowly grazing on the thin layer of algae that covers the rocks. As they outgrow their lair, they must abandon their old case and build a larger one. This is most often done under the cover of darkness but the process often commences just as dusk takes hold. With the added activity of thousands of larvae moving down off their grazing rocks to find suitable construction materials, many larvae find their way into the drift, and the waiting maws of hungry trout.

Close-up of Glossosoma sp. larval case attached to rock

There are four species of Glossosoma in Alberta which can emerge anywhere from June to late September. Most of the Glossosoma that I saw on the North Ram were in the later stages of larval development indicating that they will begin pupating soon, and will likely emerge some time in mid to late September (note that adults are needed to pin down the exact species).

Glossosoma sp. larva in case viewed from the bottom
(ventral) side - note the opening at either end

Glossosoma sp. larva "naked" (i.e. without its case)

If happen to find yourself on the North Ram late into the evening over the next week or so, and the mayflies have shut down due to cool evening temperatures, try drifting a simple “naked” caddis larva pattern along the bottom. Tan, cream and pale green would be the colors of choice in size #18 or #20. Later in September as the hatch gets rolling a soft hackle or sparkle emerger pattern should do the trick.

I plan to return to the North Ram in mid-September to see if the hatch materializes as I have anticipated; and perhaps collect and identify some of the adults.

Gettin' Skunked (The Hard Way)

Over the years I have embarked on many questionable fishing trips; trips where information about the final destination is sketchy at best. These trips are often motivated by my desire to explore new territory and experience a little adventure – the need to go where few, if any, have gone before. Common elements of these excursions often include not knowing exactly how the fishing is (or even if there are any fish there at all), and difficult access (this usually means no trails, or at the very least a near impossible hike).  Despite the uncertainty, and varied outcomes, these forays into the wilderness are among my most memorable and satisfying experiences – even if I do sometimes come out fishless.

The August long weekend found me on such an excursion; into a lake that is known to contain fish but one that few have traveled to. It all started with me pouring over topo maps and making a few discrete inquiries. The many questionable looks I got told me that I was on the right track with this one – it was definitely a lake worth checking out. There were three possible approaches to the lake. The shortest one was out due to high water, the second one had limited trail information (as in not sure if there really was a trail), and the third (and longest) one involved a 22 km hike with a significant amount of bushwhacking. Naturally I chose the third approach.

The hike in went as expected and by dinner time I found myself (a little blistered and battered) on the shores of a remote mountain lake with almost no sign of anyone having ever been there – no garbage, no beer cans, no old fire pits...nothing. It was so quiet and still, save for the sounds of wind, birds and bugs. And the scenery was nothing short of amazing. This was paradise.

My first view of the lake

The morning view from camp - looking west

Come evening I did see the odd fish rise but the terrain surrounding the lake was quite rugged in places and steep slopes right down to the shoreline impeded access and/or casting. Waders would have helped here but I opted not to bring any in favor of a lighter pack. I did manage to get some short casts off in a few locations around the lake but the few small risers always seemed to be just out of reach.

Low impact camping - no tent and no fire

In the end I left the lake just as I found it - all fish unmolested, and no fire scar. I have to admit that the long hike out in the blazing sun all but did me in, but never before has getting skunked been so satisfying.

You don't get out much, do you?

That seems to be the question I have been asking myself lately. Not that I have been keeping track, but it has been seven weeks, two days, and four hours since I last did any serious fly fishing (actually, I don't really know how long its been - but that seems like a reasonable estimate). Clearly one of the strangest years on record; I can't remember a summer this devoid of angling action in over thirtyfive years.

I wouldn't say the summer has been a dissapointment thus far. Just....different. I have been out camping a few times, and have even managed to dabble a line here and there, but my activities have not afforded me the opportunity to pursue the main purpose of my blog. That being to provide timely information on insect hatches, flys, and flyfishing in Alberta. I guess this is just one of those summers where other things take prioroty.

I do enjoy identifying, documenting and photographing any hatches I see in my travels - I find it to be a natural addition to my flyfishing experience. I also enjoy sharing my experiences with others - not to sell something, or bolster my ego, but to simply point out aspects of the bug world that generally go unnoticed; things that often lead to those ah-ha moments that increase our overall enjoyment and facination with the sport.

So if things are a little sparse on my blog for awhile, bear with me - things will pick up again as my life returns to normal (whatever that is).

Pike on the Fly

It has been a few weeks since I was last able to venture into trout infested waters – and with other home projects and family commitments, it will likely be a couple more. The best I could manage this weekend was a short foray to one of my favorite Northern Pike haunts on the North Saskatchewan River.

Conditions were ideal. With the river still in runoff, many of the backwater areas just off the river that are normally too shallow were now several feet deep. The high water pushes the bait fish into these backwater areas as they try to avoid the main thrust of the current; and if the water is deep enough, the pike will follow. Under conditions such as this large pike can sometimes be found several hundred meters from the main river. This makes for some exciting fishing – stalking pike in the narrow channels with surface flies.



Tall grass and willows along the banks make roll casting a necessity

The takes can be spectacular (and sometimes downright violent), and the fish seem to fight harder in the confined quarters. Most fish are small (2-4 pound range) but I did manage to hook a nice 7 or 8 pounder that tore up and down the channel, stripping line and taking air at one point.

One of the many smaller Northern Pike found in the North Saskatchewan River

Simple 4” long slider or popper patterns tied tube style are the way to go.

All black, or yellow/olive are the most common colors that I use.

Expect fish to materialize from anywhere. I usually alternate between casting straight to the far bank, quartering down and across, and straight shots down the near bank. Always let the fly sit a few seconds and then give it a few final twitches before picking up for the next cast - pike will often follow the fly right into shallow water before making a final lunge for it.

Marabou Dragon

Here is the dragonfly nymph pattern that I fish most often – this version is designed to imitate dragonfly crawlers (Family: Aeshnidae).

Hook: 3XL #8

                        Thread: 6/0 brown

                        Abdomen: brown angora yarn under-body, brown marabou over-wing

                        Thorax: brown chenille, medium

                        Legs: rubber hackle, mottled brown/burnt orange

                        Eyes: black or brown beads on heavy monofilament

When the marabou gets wet it slicks back forming a nicely tapered abdomen that looks very similar to the naturals; it also undulates enticingly as the fly is worked – in a way that only marabou can. The legs and eyes are two other important features that play a key role in triggering trout to strike.

To create the eyes, thread two beads on a short section of heavy monofilament (#60 to #80 test). The ends are melted by holding the tip of the line just close enough to an open flame to get it to melt into a small ball that prevents the beads from falling off. Once complete, there should be a space between the beads to facilitate attachment to the hook.

I also tie a short, stubby olive version on a 2XL hook with a shorter marabou over-wing to imitate members of the families Libellulidae and Corduliidae. Since this version is fished right on the bottom, I tie it upside-down – resulting in the hook point facing up.

For ideas on how to fish this pattern see my post on Sprawlers and Crawlers.

Sprawlers and Crawlers (and how to avoid the tiddlers)

It was bound to happen sooner or later. The warm weather and recent rains have spiked most rivers into muddy torrents – making this a good time to focus on lake fishing. Admittedly I missed the spring window of opportunity for rivers like the Red Deer and upper NSR this year; instead choosing to ply the local trout lakes.

Local lakes have been fishing good these past two weeks with many nice fish in the three or four year class being caught. Chironomid and Callibaetis hatches have been off and on depending on the weather, and the dragonflies have just started to emerge on most lakes. This past weekend at Chain Lake saw a few dozen adult American Emeralds flying along the shoreline (Cordulia shurtleffii – usually the first species to emerge), and Spiny Baskettails (Epitheca spinigera) should be coming off heavy over the next week or so.

The first hatches of dragonflies are good news for most anglers since the large, active nymphs tend to draw the attention of larger fish (the tiddlers tend to focus more on the midges and mayflies). Trout can be quite gluttonous during dragonfly nymph migrations; I have caught big trout that were stuffed so full of these bugs that the fish were literally regurgitating handfuls of live, squirming nymphs as they were being released. If you want to bypass the newly stocked runts of the year, try working a dragonfly imitation along the bottom – either in 12 to 15’ of water during the day, or in the shallows as dusk approaches.

As far as dragonfly nymphs go, there are basically two types to consider: Sprawlers in the families’ Corduliidae and Libellulidae, and crawlers (sometimes called Darners) in the family Aeshnidae.

Aeshnidae nymphs are long and relatively narrow in profile and are generally seen in shades of brown or dark olive. The nymphs have a two to four year lifecycle and can be up to 50 mm long. These crawlers like to lurk on dead logs and stumps, stalking unsuspecting prey (virtually anything they can subdue – including small minnows). Their preference for woody debris means that they are most often found in shallow water but they occasionally venture deeper if conditions allow.

Aeshna sp. (nymph)

Corduliidae and Libellulidae nymphs have a shorter and wider profile, and are somewhat flattened so they can lie tight to the bottom. Nymphs have a two to three year life cycle and can be up to 30 mm long. Their color tends to match whatever substrate they are on (usually shades of green, olive, brown, or tan). They are also covered in fine hairs that give them a ragged appearance. The hairs also tend to trap sand or silt adding to their camoflage. Sprawlers lie in wait on the bottom for other invertebrates to venture within striking range. These nymphs will often range out into deeper water (as deep as 12-15’).

Epitheca spinigera (nymph) Family: Corduliidae

Regardless of the species, all dragonfly nymphs have internal gills with the gill chamber opening located on the tail end. Their most common mode of travel is a slow crawl but when they need to get somewhere fast (or escape from predators), they can forcefully expel water from the gill chamber giving them jet like propulsion.

I have posted a video of the migrating nymphs (both sprawlers and crawlers) so you can get a sense of how they look and act:

Dragonfly Nymphs on the Move

The video should give you a few ideas as far as what flies to use and how to present them. If I have time this week I will post instruction on how to tie two versions of my favorite pattern – the Marabou Dragon.

With the multi-year lifecycles, these nymphs are available to trout year round, making a dragonfly nymph imitation a good searching pattern if nothing else is emerging. When ready to emerge, the nymphs will migrate into shallow water and wait till dark to make their way to shore where they crawl out onto rushes and grasses to emerge under the cover of darkness. It is during these inshore migrations (usually late afternoon to evening) that large trout will key in on the more active and exposed nymphs.

Cranefly Hatch

I was out at a local wetland a few days ago and was witness to a small cranefly hatch. Most people have seen an adult cranefly and may not even know it - they are most often mistaken for giant mosquitos.

Craneflies (Tipulidae) are two winged insects in the Order Diptera (true flies). This order not only includes the family Tipulidae, but also a few families more familiar to fly anglers: Midges (Chironomidae) and Mosquitos (Culicidae).

Like all Diptera, craneflies undergo complete metamorphosis. They start out as wormlike larvae burrowing in mud or damp soil where they feed on decomposing debris (although a few species are predatory - eating small worms or midge larva). The terrestrial or shallow water habitat of most Tipulidae larva make them unavailable to trout most of the time; but they can sometimes be found in the drift during high water. Their large size (up to 50 mm long) make them a tasty mouthfull to any trout, and a larva pattern can be effective as stream levels drop after a rain.

Tipula sp. larva from the Red Deer River

When the larva matures, it will enter the pupa phase. Many species pupate in damp soil along the stream bank or lake margin while others pupate under logs or rocks just below the waterline. Emergence is an event that trout rarely get to witness making emerger patterns inconsequential. The large adults can sometimes be seen clambering along the water surface and are sometimes taken by trout opportunistically.

Tipulidae (just starting to emerge)

You can see the pupal shuck just under the waters surface on the left

Tipulidae (emergence almost complete)

Tipulidae (teneral adult) shortly after emerging &
waiting for wings and exoskeleton to harden

Tipulidae (adult)

Tipulidae (male & female in copula)

I did not collect a specimen so I can not say for sure what the genus or species is.