Kern River Fly Fishing Forum - fishing for trout in a lake

Troutking New Member Posts: 9	fishing for trout in a lake Nov 17^th, 2011, 6:45pm What is the best way to fish for trout in a lake
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Rasputinj Silver Member Posts: 221	Re: fishing for trout in a lake Reply #1 - Nov 17^th, 2011, 9:08pm from a boat or float tube casting towards shore or a drop off away from shore.
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driftboatric

New Member

Posts: 48
Gender: male

Re: fishing for trout in a lake
Reply #2 - Nov 17^th, 2011, 10:42pm

Wow! That's as challenging a question as asking how do I fly fish a river, but here's my answer. The best way to prepare to fly fish a lake, especially now that winter is soon to be on us, is to read, read, and read and then find someone to mentor you.

Like fishing a river, you have to locate a place that satisfies at least two of the following three needs of fish: comfort (temperature and adequate oxygen go-hand in-hand here), protection from predators (depth and sheltering structure), and of course food.

Once you confirm or surmise location, now selecting the line or method to put the fly at that depth (strike zone) becomes paramount. I would suggest that you focus next on maintaining a straight, slack-free line. A beginning lake fisherman does not retrieve the fly in a straight line and/or he holds his rod tip upwards, creating slack. He should have the rod tip submerged in the water at a depth that coincides with the angle of depth in which his line is positioned.

Angle of cast is also important. My 30+ years of experience with fly fishing lakes has taught me that most fish I catch occur as a result of casting INTO the wind. I also do well casting across the wind. Although casting with the wind is much easier, I have attracted far fewer takes with such a cast. The reason for this is that fish, as they do in a river, tend to hold and cruise facing the current because they look for the food to come to them.

Hopefully, this gives you the beginnings of some insights that will lead to you catching and releasing some memorable fish! Good Luck!

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Luke

Member

Posts: 79
Gender: male

Re: fishing for trout in a lake
Reply #3 - Nov 18^th, 2011, 4:43pm

Morris and Chan on fly fishing still waters is a very helpful resource for fishing lakes.

I have a few years under my belt now with streams and feel I am competent in my abilities, but success at lakes has alluded me for the most part.

I fully intend on taking this winter season to better understand still waters, being that there are 20 to 1 lakes to streams in my area.

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Troutking New Member Posts: 9	Re: fishing for trout in a lake Reply #4 - Nov 18^th, 2011, 5:55pm Quote from Rasputinj on Nov 17^th, 2011, 9:08pm: from a boat or float tube casting towards shore or a drop off away from shore. Thanks
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LostNutah

Gold Member

Posts: 430
Gender: male

Re: fishing for trout in a lake
Reply #5 - Nov 19^th, 2011, 12:49pm

My favorite time to fish a lake is during ice off. From shore cast right on the ice shelf and let er drop in the water...pause to let the fly sink and start stripping. The next favorite time is when the weather starts getting a bit colder. Fish will come up toward the surface more. YOu can either fish the cruisers from shore or from a floating device and cast toward shore. As far as how and what to use is entirely up to you and the fish. Fish finders help quite a bit but are not necessary during times i have mentioned.

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http://utahstreamaccess.org/usac-wp/category/usac/

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LostNutah

Gold Member

Posts: 430
Gender: male

Re: fishing for trout in a lake
Reply #6 - Nov 19^th, 2011, 12:53pm

Quote from driftboatric on Nov 17^th, 2011, 10:42pm:

Angle of cast is also important. My 30+ years of experience with fly fishing lakes has taught me that most fish I catch occur as a result of casting INTO the wind. I also do well casting across the wind. Although casting with the wind is much easier, I have attracted far fewer takes with such a cast. The reason for this is that fish, as they do in a river, tend to hold and cruise facing the current because they look for the food to come to them.

Hopefully, this gives you the beginnings of some insights that will lead to you catching and releasing some memorable fish! Good Luck!

THis advice holds a lot of water. Aquatic insects that fish feed on will naturally be affected by the current and the current by the wind. Makes total sense.

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http://utahstreamaccess.org/usac-wp/category/usac/

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Loy

Silver Member

Posts: 203
Gender: male

Re: fishing for trout in a lake
Reply #7 - Dec 3^rd, 2011, 10:30am

Most of my fishing was done in lakes for a very long time. Bass, Trout, Cats.....there is a basic truth to lake fishing. All fish relate to structure some how. Temperature gradients (called thermocline) can count as structure in the right conditions. Structure can be a tree hanging over the water, shade from cat tails, a small hump on a flat sandy bottom or even a slight depression in the bottom....even a rock in the water. When targeting sunfish I will offten cast to exposed brush and slightly submerged rocks.

The best simple answer is into the wind, toward shore or parrallel to shore. I find I take most fish by casting parrallel shore along primary points next to deeper water. That is a relative term 10 ft. dropping to 15 ft counts but so does 3 ft dropping to 5 ft. And remember with a few exceptions most lake fish will be taken close to shore in less than 10 ft of water.]

Cloud cover, air and water temperature and specific species will change that. For example @ Skinner Stripped Bass are primarily taken from the inflow are but certain shorelines are very productive to flycasters. Havasu requires deep fishing except at dusk and dawn depending on moon cycle and wind.

Grant can be a very productive lake from shore on warm afternoons at sunset with dry flies. The largest trout I caught from Silver on the fly was on a Black gnat from shore while trying to unwrap the wind blown line from around my neck.....yes it was funny..no no movies that i know of exist....

Hope this helps....

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Loy

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Rasputinj

Silver Member

Posts: 221

Re: fishing for trout in a lake
Reply #8 - Dec 3^rd, 2011, 8:27pm

Quote from Loy on Dec 3^rd, 2011, 10:30am:

Most of my fishing was done in lakes for a very long time. Bass, Trout, Cats.....there is a basic truth to lake fishing. All fish relate to structure some how. Temperature gradients (called thermocline) can count as structure in the right conditions. Structure can be a tree hanging over the water, shade from cat tails, a small hump on a flat sandy bottom or even a slight depression in the bottom....even a rock in the water. When targeting sunfish I will offten cast to exposed brush and slightly submerged rocks.

The best simple answer is into the wind, toward shore or parrallel to shore. I find I take most fish by casting parrallel shore along primary points next to deeper water. That is a relative term 10 ft. dropping to 15 ft counts but so does 3 ft dropping to 5 ft. And remember with a few exceptions most lake fish will be taken close to shore in less than 10 ft of water.]

Cloud cover, air and water temperature and specific species will change that. For example @ Skinner Stripped Bass are primarily taken from the inflow are but certain shorelines are very productive to flycasters. Havasu requires deep fishing except at dusk and dawn depending on moon cycle and wind.

Grant can be a very productive lake from shore on warm afternoons at sunset with dry flies. The largest trout I caught from Silver on the fly was on a Black gnat from shore while trying to unwrap the wind blown line from around my neck.....yes it was funny..no no movies that i know of exist....

Hope this helps....

Your story on Silver is funny. The largest brown trout I caught there was also when I was unwrapping the line around my cheat pack and leg. Luckily my wife was there to laugh at me, no video though. I think was using a stimulator. I like fishing on Silver. I fish a lot on lakes on dawn and sunset on the fly. The Mammoth lakes also produce well for during those times. I always try to look for structures or vegetation.

Parallel casting is the only way to go on lakes when the wind comes up.

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planettrout Gold Member "Go here and DIE DAD!" Posts: 363 Gender:	Re: fishing for trout in a lake Reply #9 - Dec 7^th, 2011, 6:21am Here are three sources for lake fishing information. These guys are probably some of the best around... Denny Rickards: http://www.flyfishingstillwaters.com/ Phil Rowley: http://www.flycraftangling.com/ Brian Chan and others: http://www.chironomid.com/index.html PT/TB
Back to top	TB/PT Daughter to father, " How many arms do you have, how many fly rods do you need?" IP Logged

Ants Platinum Member SSFFC Fly Fishing Book Afishianado Posts: 868	Re: fishing for trout in a lake Reply #10 - Dec 7^th, 2011, 6:58am Since fish and lakes don't change, you may want to consider this one from 1955, 1957, and 1963. How to Fish from Top to Bottom by Sid W. Gordon. Don't forget to tell us about your experiences. Ants
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