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Tips, Ties And Tactics
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 Nymphing For Monster Brown Trout: Canada Border
Posted by trout-bumm on Thursday, April 05 @ 07:59:52 PDT
I recently had an experience of a lifetime that I would like to pass on. I live in Montana and every spring and fall a group of my hearty fishing compatriots and I make semi-annual treks to a lake up near the Canadian Border. The lake has been written about in numerous fly-fishing journals in the past and described as a “blue ribbon trout lake”; however, the country itself is not for the weak at heart. The lake is located in the middle of a Blackfeet Indian reservation nestled up against the Rocky Mountain range as it passes into Canada near the eastern entrance to Glacier National Park. There are no fishing lodges or five star bed & breakfast accommodations to pamper the discriminating Orvis catalogue shopper. Incidentally, I’ll take liberties to poke fun at the Orvis contingent merely
because my group has been divided into two warring factions….Team Orvis and Team Sage. I am the founding member and leader of Team Sage and have the “responsibility” to trash Orvis at every opportunity that may present itself (even though Team Orvis is comprised of some of my very dearest friends!!!). The climate at this circuit is anything but friendly. Our group has, through years of testing, determined that the water will begin lifting off the lake when the winds approach 40mph (most of the trees surrounding the lake grow with a distinct “wind slant”). Furthermore, we have found that although the water temperature may hold at a balmy 38 degrees, your rod guides tend to ice up when temperatures drop below 10 degrees. In addition, unless you have a drag system that is completely self-contained, your reel WILL freeze up when the wind and temperature combine for sub-zero wind-chill factors. Needless to say, when you pack for a fall fishing trip in the north, you should bring your winter HUNTING gear.
You probably find yourself asking why anyone in their right mind would brave such elements in pursuit of a FISH. The answer lies in a combination of three things. First of all, although the countryside is harsh, it also plays host to some of the most beautiful scenery to grace the planet. Sharp jutting mountain formations like Chief Mountain create a westerly horizon to the lake that is breathtaking. Also, the cold autumn temperatures pull out all the full fall colors in vivid detail. The yellow/orange/red Birch and Aspen leaves and orange Tamarack needles against a snowy mountain backdrop create a fiery image that will burn in your memory forever….not to mention the promise of seeing the Northern Lights in all their Technicolor splendor. Secondly, the comradery of good friends, excellent meals, fine wine and the scent of your favorite cigar at the end of each day cannot be matched. Finally, this particular lake has the lure of some MONSTER fish. The lake is loaded with fish; however, it boasts some of the biggest Rainbow and Brown Trout known to man and that is what sets the hook deeply in my fly-fishing jaw.
The gear used on this lake is standard trout lake fare. First of all, a good fast action 6 weight rod is a must. For those of you using Orvis rods, you may want to bring an 8 or 9 weight….just to “keep up with the Sage XP”. I have an Abel .5 that I keep loaded with SA Mastery XXD Maximum Distance Taper for sight casting to spring spawning Bows; however, during the fall I fish exclusively with a Loop 7ten reel for two critical reasons. First of all, the large arbor and large drag adjustment spool allow you to adjust “on the fly” (bad pun) when getting schooled by a charging 10 pound Bow. Secondly, the totally sealed, infinitely adjustable drag system will not freeze up and allows you to stay on the lake when the Orvis crowd has long vacated for cozier surroundings. We use Dai-Riki fluorocarbon 4X (approximately 6# test), usually using about 9 feet to combat our leader-shy prey. This lake is a relatively shallow lake and during the fall, most of the larger fish are cruising the perimeters of weed beds to store up for the long cold winter (when the ice can get well over 4 feet thick). My attack combination is a bead-head prince nymph (12), while sometimes trailing a scud behind about 3 feet. To get the presentation in the right water column, I use an Intermediate I slow sink line.
The particular fall day I have chosen to relate to you was, in my mind, the perfect fishing setting. The temperature was hovering around the 10-15 degree mark, and a light snow had begun to fall STRAIGHT DOWN (yes, the day was windless…an anomaly for this area!!!). I’m not sure how many of you have had the good fortune to fish while it is snowing….there is nothing more peaceful or serene. The snow muffles everything….the best descriptive is “deafening silence”. All I could hear was the muted underwater scraping of my Simms Guideweight waders as I slowly kicked my float tube into position around some structure I like to fish (after about a half hour of slow kicking). Just as I got into place, I had a huge freight train hit. My rod went from straight to 90 degrees in seconds….then ping. One thing I forgot to mention….when fishing in cold water, you want a drag system that is self-contained so it will not freeze up; however, your spool will still freeze to the frame! My first move after setting the hook should ALWAYS be dunking my reel to free the spool. After a few minutes of self-critique and some language not fit for print, I reeled in to find everything from the fly line out was gone. I re-rigged and began my pursuit in quiet solitude. I landed some nice 3-6 pound rainbow during the next few hours as I saw members of the fishless and frozen Orvis group head to the cabin to crank up the heat, compare knitting patterns and debate about WHEN Orvis would be coming out with waders in pastels.
As the day progresses, I find that even the remainder of Team Sage has thrown in the towel as it begins to snow heavy enough to start accumulating on my float tube. It is now, when I feel as though I’m the only person remaining on the lake, that I begin to revel in the sheer peace of fly-fishing. I contemplate my family at home, anxiously awaiting my return while snuggling up in front of the fireplace, my loving and understanding wife, and the realization of just how blessed I am to have the opportunity to experience this moment. I then decide that I need to head for Evinrude Point (affectionately named for the number of propellers that have succumbed to the rocky outcropping just below the water line). From years of kicking around this track, I have found this location a prime feeding ground for some monster Brown Trout. As many of you know, the Brown Trout can be a crafty and elusive fish. Some argue that they are truly at the top of the food chain and they merely allow us to feel superior…at times! To out-fox a brown trout, you need stealth, persistence and the patience of Job. I decide to change my arsenal and re-rig with about 12 feet of 5X Dai-Riki (a stealthier 5# version), attaching a lone Zug Bug. One of the techniques I implore during a slow troll or strip retrieve is to “think like a fish”. If I’m the fish in search of food, I want the fattest freshwater shrimp that I can find. I then picture how the shrimp move….deadfloating for a bit and then utilizing rhythmic thrusts to propel themselves. I try to emulate this action when I’m nymphing with scuds or the like. After floating the length of Evinrude Point, I’m in the middle of one of these slow strips, my mind drifting a little as I watch the large snow flakes hit the water and melt, when I feel a slight tug. Rather than set the hook, I remain motionless for a moment then give a reluctant pull with my stripping hand. The water erupts and within seconds the fish has taken out the stripped line and is on the reel (yes, I remembered to dunk it), and the locomotive does not stop until I’m well into the backing. This is a big fish….really big. I can tell because I can feel the individual thrusts during it’s hasty retreat from me. The fish pauses and I am careful to not get more than a 90 degree bend in my rod, keeping the rod at a near right angle to the fish at all times. Just as I get to the point where I have reeled my nail knot thru the end guide, the fish explodes for another powerful run…this time so far into my backing that I see a hint of black. Now I’m getting a little worried that I might get spooled; however, I know I have more than enough backing because I have a reel that accommodates 7 to 10 weight line but I have mine loaded with 6 weight line and LOTS of backing. My biggest concern now is to not get impatient and horse the fish because I remember how delicate the 5X tippet is. I begin to regain line and finally get the fish close enough to see some color in the crystal clear water…the fish is BIG…with lots of spots. As I get it closer I see that she’s a monster Brown Trout hen. By now, my adrenaline is pumping, my once frozen fingers are steaming, and my heart is pounding so hard I swear I can hear it over the dead silence of the snowy dusk. The fish made a couple crafty runs directly at me and I could barely keep the line from going slack. I also had a near-netting that almost resulted in a break-off…..more self-critique and more language my mother would NOT be proud of. After about 45 minutes of peaks and valleys, charges and rallies, I finally netted what turned out to be the larges Brown Trout I have ever caught. With trembling hands I tied the fish off on some nylon line I had in my tube (not trusting my stringer with this behemoth) before taking time to admire the beauty of this 13-pound hen. She measured 30 inches with a huge football-shaped girth, a gaping 8 inches across the mid section. I was now overcome with the adrenaline rush and all I could do was lean back in my tube in total awe and thank my maker.
Knowing I had precious few minutes of remaining daylight, I feverously kicked my way back to the cabin (no easy chore in itself when hauling two 5+ pound Rainbow and a VERY unhappy Brown Trout) where the poker game broke up long enough to come down to greet me at waters edge to see how the day’s competition ended. They were used to me coming in at dusk, but were getting a little worried because I was later than usual. On arrival, I kept MY cards close to the vest and didn’t let on to my catch for the day. I learned that Team Orvis was two fish up on total count for the day, and also had largest at 7.3 pounds. Everyone impatiently groused me about what I had on the stringer so I let on that I had 3 fish. I then agreed that 7.3 pounds was an awfully impressive fish (and prodded that it MUST have been landed on the 9 weight, and ONLY with the help of a Team Sage member’s proficient netting skills). As Team Orvis began to celebrate, I finally let out that I WAS able to land a Brown Trout (a rarity in itself). When asked if I kept it, I nodded and pulled at the nylon line to coax the hen up for her surface debut.
Sitting on that shoreline with a fresh Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur and relating this story to some of my closest friends, I’m reminded of what draws me to this lake each year…..scenic beauty, the companionship of great friends, and THE FISH.
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Re: Nymphing For Monster Brown Trout: Canada Border
by greg on Thursday, April 05 @ 10:17:56 PDT | | Great story, one that would move me to action if I din't have 14 inches of fresh snow to move. I recently fished a finger lake in New York during blinding snow and ice and caught some nice fish but nothing meeting the sizes you speak of. Your story was great as you exsplain the reasons we all fish, Thanks |
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