Terry s Fishing Tips. Fly Fishing Lakes in the Peace Country

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1 Terry s Fishing Tips Fly Fishing Lakes in the Peace Country

2 Getting ready for Spring Fishing! Before you set out on a spring fishing trip there are a few things you need to take care of: - Pull out and dust off all your gear and equipment that has been stored all winter and take an Inventory of what you have or may need for your first trip. - Make a Checklist of all the equipment you are going to need for your trip at least a week or two ahead, so you can have time to purchase any items you may still need, and you have a list to refer to at the last minute to make sure you packed everything. - Make sure you have Repaired or Replaced Equipment that was broken or worn out from last season (should have been done in the winter months heh?) - Pack your gear in an orderly fashion so when you arrive at that spot you have been dreaming of all winter, you are not spending all those precious moments on your first trip looking for things while your buddies have already landed their first fish! - Make sure you have picked up the appropriate Fishing License, before you leave town, for wherever it is you are going fishing. - Read the Regulations to familiarize yourself with where you can legally fish and what species you can legally fish for and keep! (You don t want to get busted and embarrassed on the first trip out!). Make sure you know how to get where you are planning to end up. Take a Map if necessary. - Organize the time to meet with your buddies and Be on Time! - Have a safe trip, GO FISH and practice Catch and Release! Take the Camera for proof!

3 Equipment to Start out with : Fishing License and Regulations for where you will be fishing Map of Area and Lakes and Rivers to be fished 2 or 3 Fly Rods suitable for type of fishing (normally a 4wt 6wt rod for the Peace Region) Assortment of Reels and Fly Lines ( Floating line, Sink tip line, Full sink line) Assortment of Leader material Assortment of Flies to use Wet and Dry Net with soft webbing for easy, quick harmless release Neoprene or breathable waders, wader slippers or boots and flippers Life preserver jacket or vest with whistle attached Float tube, pontoon boat or other type of boat with oars Anchor system for your boat Camera for that Trophy shot!

4 Sample equipment Float tube, Rod & Reel, Flippers, Net and a couple of Nice Rainbows!

5 Spring trip When you reach that serene lake you have been dreaming about all winter, you will probably want to Assess the environment to see what things look like. If you have been to this lake before, you will be looking for anything that has changed or is different from when you were last here. If it is a new lake, you will be looking for things like the Boat Launch area, Picnic and Camping areas, Outhouses, Fish cleaning stations etc. You will also want to assess the shoreline quickly to see if there are any open bays that have Protection from the wind (usually there is lots of wind in the spring). You will look for Structure along the shorelines where baitfish and insects may congregate in the warmer water as this is most likely where the best early season fishing will be. If there is still some ice on the lake, be cautious of where it may drift to so you don t get trapped. If there is ice in shallow bays, this is sometimes a good place to start by dropping your flies off the edge of the ice to trigger a strike. Trout are still a bit sluggish in the cold water so you will probably need to do a Slow Presentation of your flies and let them sink close to the bottom to initiate strikes. Most species in Northern Alberta lakes will hit on Wooly Buggers, Wooly Worms and Bead Headed Nymphs during the spring season. Use Full Sink or Sink Tip lines unless you are lucky enough to see some fish actually rising to the surface. Start by casting out and just letting your line sink to the bottom; if you don t get any strikes, start to slowly drag your fly at different depths and speeds until you start getting fish on. Try fishing from Shallow water to deeper water and back again to find a zone and temperature where the fish are hanging out. Temperature, light and availability of feed are all critical for spring fishing. When you get the right combination you can holler FISH ON! Get your Camera ready!

6 First Spring trip at Ice Out!

7 Summer flies When the waters in the local Peace Country lakes start to warm up, so does the Activity in the water. Larvae, caddis, pupae, worms, choronomids and other forms and stages of Insects hatch and rise in the water columns. During the early summer, you may still be able to attract Trout with sinking lines and wet flies, especially on cold windy days, but you will notice that there are days where the spring fishing strategies don t work anymore. You will need to change your Presentation until you find what it is the Trout are feeding on. They become more finicky as the availability of feed increases and their appetite switches to whatever suits their fancy. As the water warms, you will need to find the Temperature Zone the fish are concentrating in and entice them with flies that Match the Hatch on any given hour of any given day. Experienced Trout fisherman soon learn that there are specific hatches at specific times of the day that may require them to change line types and flies to get the Trout to strike. Dry flies are more commonly used during the summer months, especially when you see lots of fish rising to the top, or swirling in the shallows. Early morning and Late evening are the best times to fish dry flies, usually when the fish are in the shallows after the numerous insect hatches. Try casting into the edge of the weeds and Drifting your flies slowly out. If it s a windy day and fishing is slow, try slowly drifting with the wind just like the bugs would. Summer brings more Light. You will have better success with flies on the surface that silhouette in low light during the early and late hours (flies with appendages attached). Fishing is usually slower on bright days, so slow down your presentation and look for ripples on the water that break up the light so Trout can t identify your fly as easily. Keep a Tight line!

8 Typical Flies to Use.

9 Autumn leaves Late summer and early fall brings another transition to Peace Country lakes. As the days get shorter and there is less sunlight, the water starts to cool down and the weed growth that took place over the summer goes to seed and starts to die off. The maturing plants create plenty of seed and plant matter which floats to the surface and starts to lower oxygen levels. This film of matter on the surface makes it difficult for Trout to see Insect activity on the surface, therefore it is a good idea to switch to Sink tip or Sinking line, unless it is a windy day and the plant matter has blown off the lake. Casting out sinking line types will help you find the depth the Trout are cruising at while slowly drifting or trolling in your Float tube or Pontoon boat. These are the most popular types of flotation devices used by Fly fishermen on Peace Country lakes. A good pair of Neoprene waders keeps you warm and dry in the cooling waters and a sturdy set of Flippers will help to move you quickly around the lake. Trout are fairly active during the early fall and are used to chasing insects quite aggressively this time of year; so you will find that you can either strip line quickly or kick and troll your float tube fairly fast under most conditions. Sometimes a combination of stripping in line while trolling works well also. As late fall approaches, the water cools even more and the Trout move into the warmer zones that are deeper down, rising only at certain times of the day to follow specific hatches up in the water columns. You will need to be more observant; if there is activity on the surface you might continue using Floating line and dry flies, but switch to Sinking tip line to fish below the surface with Muddler minnows and Wooly worms. The days are getting shorter so you better pack your gear and Go Fish! Winter is Coming!

10 Fall Fishing

11 Winter Ice Well it s hard to imagine catching Trout on flies in the Peace Country when all the lakes are frozen over, but the hardy and avid fisherman won t be beaten by the winter blues. Those who are determined will tie up some weighted Bead headed nymphs or some weighted Marabou leeches, Ice worms, or Minnow imitations and gather up some warm gear and head for the lake. Usually winter fishing requires an Ice hut, an Ice auger and a super sensitive Ice Fishing Rod. Don t forget the Jerky and Hot Chocolate to keep you warm. (or whatever else you enjoy). Winter activity for Insects is mostly on the bottom of the lake, therefore you will want to drop a Limp and sensitive line with your fly attached to the bottom of the lake. Bounce or wiggle your fly off the bottom and then let it settle slowly down. Twitch the fly up every few seconds and then let it settle again. Try jerking your fly slowly to the surface and then slowly letting it descend. If you get a strike, pay attention to the depth as you may want to re-visit that zone. Trout cruise in Temperature zones that they are comfortable in. Once you get a hit, slowly retrieve the line, being careful not to snag the edge of the ice. Remember how Trout like to run? Play your fish gently into the hole and flip it out onto the ice. If you thought to bring the frying pan and some butter and spices, you could have a Fish fry! There s nothing like an outing with your fishing buddies; re-living those awesome summer days and telling some tall stories to get you through another long winter. Now s a good time to Tie some Flies that you have been thinking will catch you that Trophy Trout next year. Good Luck and Good Fishing! written by: Terry Taylor

12 Winter Ice Fishing East Dollar

13 Let s GO Fishing! - Tips for Success Do an Inventory or Checklist of Your Equipment before each Trip Repair or Replace all worn or damaged equipment before each Trip Pack your Gear in an orderly fashion so You can be Organized when you get there Familiarize yourself with regional Regulations Assess the Environment at your Destination Boat launch, Camping, Outhouses, Shoreline structures etc. Set up according to the Conditions access, weather, water, other heavy use areas Improvise according to the Conditions Cold or Warm, Deep or Shallow, Hatch or No Hatch Observe Activity on the Water, Temperature Zones, Light Conditions Take appropriate Equipment such as various Fly Rods, Fly lines, Flies Use different Casting or Trolling techniques to see what works best Have Fun - Practice Catch & Release take Pictures F- Familiarize I- Improvise S Set Up H Have Fun!

14 Now that is Success! F Familiarize yourself - Regulations & environment I Improvise according to activity & water conditions S- Set Up according to Access, weather, lake usage H Have Fun, Catch Fish & Take Pictures! Ian s Catch of the Day!