Great action is provided on Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Twin Lakes, and Springfield from damselfly actions. Nymphs are sure to work around weed beds, shallows and transitions. But watch for fish taking adults on the surface. Then swith to your dry patterns for a great fly-fishing kick.
If you enjoy fishing damselfly life cycle patterns, Chesterfield Reservoir is the place for you. Set up a floating line and head for coves, transitions and shallows having lily pads and/or submerged weeds. Daniels is also fishing well with damselflies providing action as well as speckled duns beginning to show. Walk the east side shoreline and present damselfly life cycle patterns until wind comes up, then launch your boat or ‘tube and head for the upper end. Slowly troll a small leech using an intermediate line as you go. Watch for fish taking adult damselflies on the surface. On seeing them switch to a floating line to present your favorite adult imitation. This technique will also work on Springfield, Twenty-four Mile, and Hawkins reservoirs. If you do not have responses to damselfly life cycle patterns, midge pupa under an indicator will bring action so long as you find the taking depth.
Drakes have come & gone everywhere on the river. On the Harriman-Last Chance reach mornings and evenings offer the best fishing with PMDs in decreasing sizes (bring life cycle patterns in #18-#22) providing daytime action, then flavs bring evening action. Hoppers are not significant yet, but ant and beetle patterns will bring action anywhere on the river. So will evening caddis flights. On the middle and lower river, a few golden stones can still be seen, but sallys are more numerous, so medium and small stimulator and dry muddler patterns will work well. Likewise, no hoppers of significance yet, but ant, beetle, and PMD life cycle patterns can bring action. Don’t overlook streamer patterns if you will be on the river during evenings.
It’s the same as earlier this week: damselflies are what’s bringing the best action on all these. Now speckled duns are beginning to show here & there, so they may be the next bug to bring action. Want to escape to new waters? Try such as Aldous Lake (cutthroats only), Paul Reservoir (cutthroats only), Horseshoe Lake (put and take grayling & ‘bows), or Harriman Fish Pond (‘bows and brookies). Get in touch with us to see how to get to these and fishing strategies for fishing them.
Damselflies, nymphs and adults, is the big happening on all of these: Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Springfield, Twenty-Four Mile. This means try the shallower waters and around submerged vegetation: use floating lines for adults and either floating or intermediate lines for nymphs, all in your favorite patterns. Even holds true on Twin Lakes where warm water types are most numerous. Want to try a different still water? Pack your float tube into Aldous Lake above Kilgore to enjoy the damselflies there. Or drive to Paul Reservoir off Interstate 15 for more of the same.
Big news here is the damselfly emergence. It’s going on from all our reservoirs, late as it is. Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Springfield, Twin Lakes and Twenty-four Mile reservoirs all feature this event that makes for a great chance for a fish of the year. Look to fish the coves, submerged weed beds and shallows. Your favorite pattern on an intermediate line will do nicely. Midging is still effective on some of these including Springfield, but when fish begin sipping dry damselflies, most everyone changes over to fishing the surface.
They are all fishing good! Damselfly patterns, speckled dun life cycle patterns, midge pupa patterns at taking depth under indicators, small leech and scud patterns: they are working everywhere. In particular, bloodworm patterns are working on the west end springs of Island Park Reservoir, damselfly nymphs and callibaetis life cycle patterns on Chesterfield Res., Daniels Res., Harriman Fish Pond, and Hawkins Res. Midge pupa patterns seem best on Springfield Res., but consider trying dry damselfly patterns, or callibaetis dries if you see rises there.
A lot of action is taking place here. Chesterfield is at its best at the upper end where you can get away from boating & skiing recreationists. Try damselfly nymphs, midge pupa, speckled dun life cycle patterns and small leeches. At Daniels Reservoir fish shorelines with damselfly nymphs and speckled dun life cycle patterns before the wind kicks in. When it does head for the upper end with the same flies and midge pupa. Remember the gold ribbed hare’s ear? It is still the best callibaetis emerger (size 10-14) going when fished just under the surface. Pretty much the same goes for Hawkins Reservoir when things turn windy. Small black leeches and midge pupa are producing on Springfield Reservoir, and we have word that Island Park Reservoir is producing quite well for those presenting blood worm patterns at the taking depth. Twin Lakes bluegills continue to be active, but so are boating recreationists. So head for the willows there. Want to try a gentle place? the Harriman Fish Pond is a good choice. Very few of the large fish remain, but the 10-14 inch catchables will provide good action for the neophyte, the physically challenged, or for the fly-fisher seeking just a change of location.
Plan on all of those with easy access to be crowded this upcoming weekend. That includes Chesterfield, Daniels, Hawkins, Island Park, Springfield, Twin Lakes, and Twenty-Four Mile, But all will be good fishing. Again try transitions, coves, weed beds, and shallows with midge pupa, damselfly nymphs, small leeches and callibaetis life cycle patterns. These areas are also less attractive to boating recreationists, too
Chesterfield Res. is producing some great fishing. Damselfly nymphs, speckled dun life cycle patterns, and midge pupa are the top producers. Coves and bays, transitions, weedy areas are best. Don’t overlook trying backswimmer and waterboatman patterns in shallow water. All the same applies for Daniels Res. : the upper end and east shoreline are great places for action. The east shoreline early and late in the day when the wind is not blowing may just provide action that keeps you out of a boat or tube. At Hawkins Res. try the upper end where coves and submerged vegetation host a lot of the same insects. For Twenty-Four Mile Res., try creek inlets with damsefly nymphs and small leech patterns. Twin Lakes bluegills remain active.