I need help too

[dcs2]

Yesterday I fished on one of the recently stocked rivers. I began with high expectations because I could see rises right in front of me. Two hours later, having tried every nymph iin my box down to size 22, dark and light dries 16-22, and streamers, no hookups amidst the lovely rise circles. The fish were not sipping or rolling. They seemed to be coming up fast because their heads would aften come 3 or 4 inches out of the water. I didn't see any hatch. My inclination is still small nymphs drifted with the current, but what else might work? My only consolation was that the bait guys didn't seem to be doing any better.

[SaltH2oFly]

Sounds like an emerger right in the film - I'm sure there's someone on this site who can provide more insight but I think I would have tried a size 16-20 emerger pattern. Take a look at some of the emerger patterns here:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_directory_tnail.asp?dir_id=1236&Group_ID=1240&cat_id=5837&subcat_id=7149

[fessiewig]

dcs2,

Not having been there I'm at a loss to give advice. It could be even an experienced fly fisher would have been skunked, it could have been you were not making drag-free presentations, it could have been a lot of things and not having been there to observe everything that was happening, there is no way someone can advise you. Have you considered coming to the conclave on May 7th? You might be able to pick up some help there.

[Tangled Tippet]

Ok,,this is what "usually" works for me. I tie on a size 16 or 20 black nymph (to resemble a black midge) slightly weighted so it will break the surface film,and I grease my leader 2 or 3 inches up from the fly almost or all the way to the leader butt.The idea is to similate an emergent insect that is almost to the surface.The greased leader will act as a strike detector as it will twitch when the fish sips it in.I have found that it also helps to slighty twitch the fly now and again ,but ever so slightly. Hope this helps.

[overmywaders]

As bmik answered on the other thread, spawning suckers can fool you. I have often had my adrenalin pump as fish were surfacing, often coming inches out of the water within a few feet of me, only to realize (I'm none too quick on the uptake) that I was in the middle of a mass of spawning suckers. At this point you can do two things -- 1) get out of there and leave the young lovers alone or 2) put on a nymph that resembles sucker eggs and fish it near the bottom, you might take a trout that way.

Best regards,
Reed
www.overmywaders.com

[Venzulo]

I too have been a part of the sucker spawn, very frustrating. However if you were in the midst of a brookie-fest it is probably safe to say they were freshly stocked hatchery fish. If this is the case isn't it also safe to say they wouldn't know a nymph from a cheeseburger? My best bet with brookies is something shiny like a black nose dace with a little silver in it; until they are acclimated to eating in the wild. Unless of course you have a fly that resembles a hatchery pellet. Any thoughts on this? Any advantage in early spring against the worm dunkers? -V

[Tommy Boy]

I have pellet flie that I use in a couple places. One is below a pond where people feed pellets to ducks and trout. You can't fish there, but below the small dam, trout watch for pellets coming down from the pond. I have even bought pellets and created my own "hatch" Have also fished them on my buddie's uncle's pond. I have never found fish so recently stocked that they wouldn't take something, probably just timing. The fly is just deerhair spun around a 16 hook and clipped to shape. Some things to consider are shape, color , silhouette and where it sits in the surface film. Nick Lyons has done a couple stories in the back of some fly fishing mag talking about his pellet flies.

[granger]

Bring a small aquarium net with you. Stick it out into the current and net whatever is drifting in the film. Until you know size and color you may have a tough time. I have found this to be helpful.