Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - may2008 - Index

26
Big tailwaters can often be intimidating to anglers.
Fluctuating flows, small tippets and even smaller flies
all contribute to the frustration level. Armed with the proper
set-up and a few simple techniques, however, you can put
more fish at your feet when visiting your favorite dam.
Rig Right
On almost all tailwaters in North America you can
get by with a 9-foot, 5- or 6-weight rod, floating line, 9- to
10-foot 5X leader, and a couple of spools of tippet. The fish
that call tailwaters home commonly feed on small flies and
require light, hair-like tippets. Imitations are often tiny and
no larger than a size 18, with many instances requiring flies
as small as size 24.
My “go-to” sub-surface rig is a 9-foot 5X leader with the
lead fly tied onto the end of the leader, and a second fly (a
trailer) connected to the lead fly by 12 inches of 6X tippet. I
sometimes rig the flies three deep, which creates a rig over 11
feet long from butt to trailing fly. A strike indicator positioned a
couple of feet toward the leader butt from the first fly provides
visual confirmation of a take. I like to use poly yarn indicators
because they can be purchased in many colors and are very
inexpensive. The rule of thumb for fishing a sub-surface rig
under an indicator is that the length of the leader and tippet
should be 1.5 to 2 times the depth of the water, so the indicator
should be adjusted accordingly depending on depth.
The amount of weight needed to properly suspend the rig
is determined by two factors: the speed of current and the
depth of water you’re fishing. The purpose of added weight
is to bring the flies down into the feeding zone fast enough
that they pass by the fish at the depth they’re holding. It’s
important not to add too much weight, as this will cause the
rig to sink too fast and get hung up on every cast. You have
the right amount of weight when you have to clean debris or
aquatic vegetation from your flies every third to fourth cast.
Killer Tailwater Flies
On most tailwaters, midge and Baetis imitations are solid
bets, as well as scuds (fresh water shrimp) and aquatic worms.
The most commonly used sub-surface midge pattern is the
zebra midge, and it can be fished effectively in both its pupal
and emerger stages. A couple of common Baetis patterns are
the pheasant tail, which represents the nymphal stage of a
Baetis mayfly, and the RS2, which imitates the emerging insect
as it prepares to rise to the surface and transition into a dun.
Scuds are crustaceans that appear similar to tiny shrimp.
Scuds live in many common aquatic grasses and are a staple
of tailwater trout when available. High in protein, these little
guys come in a variety of colors, from pinks to reds, and
greens to browns, and almost every shade in between.
Aquatic worms are commonly imitated by a pattern made
famous in New Mexico called the San Juan worm. San Juan
worms tend to be larger than the patterns previously mentioned,
and can be tied up to two inches in length. The most
effective colors include varying shades of brown and red.
What To Look For
In the previous sections we covered rigging and solid fly
choices, so now we’re going to talk about when and where
to apply your new knowledge. There are three main types of
water I like to focus on when trying to increase the number
of fish caught in my local tailwater, Lee’s Ferry.
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