Lone Lake (Whidbey Island) Report - 1/24/09

I apologize for the length of this post. I didn't plan to write this much when I got started...

One of my fishing buddies called Friday night to ask if I was interested in hitting Lone Lake for rainbows the next morning. HECK YEAH! I answered.

Dave is an avid fly fisherman and, although he doesn't know it yet, a future kayaker (for now he's stuck in the slow lane in his swim fin propelled Fishcat). After picking up Dave in Smokey Point and another buddy, Scott, in Mukilteo, we caught the ferry over to Whidbey.

Although it was a chilly 28 degrees F when we arrived at the lake, we were glad that at least the dreary damp blanket of fog had lifted. And as the sun edged up so did the temps.

After rigging and layering up, we hit the water. Our mantra was 'low and slow' since my DF displayed a water temp of 37.6 (externally mounted transducer). I wanted to get in some paddling so Dave suggested some spots across the lake and he handed me three identical flies. Dave, who designed and tied these flies, has a cool name for them that I can never remember. Actually, I remember their name, but, because it irritates him, I call them 'Dave's Green Things'. 

The paddle across the lake warmed me up and I began a very slow troll with 4 wt full sink and one of 'Dave's Green Things'. After about an hour of no luck, Dave and Scott arrived. First pass through the area, Dave hooks up and lands a fat 16" bow. A few minutes later he hooked and landed #2. We were rigged exactly the same and fishing the same depth, but something was different. Finally, when we were side by side, I realized that his troll was far slower than mine. I tried to match his pace but then I couldn't stay in a straight line. The back and forth swinging action might be effective later on in different (warmer) conditions, but it wasn't the ticket Saturday.

I decided to try an idea that occurred to me this week. At Goodwin last week, Zee and Yarjammer gave some me good tips and advice that solved some ergonomic and safety issues I was having (thanks!). One thing they taught me was how to sit side-saddle, making it easier to access items stored behind me. They also mentioned that they often sit side-saddle while fishing. Having recently moved from a float tube to a kayak I wondered if there might be some benefits to sitting side-saddle with fins on. So, planning to maybe try the idea for a few minutes at some point, I had my force fins with me.

Putting on the force fins while on the water was a challenge. I got it done, but it would have been smarter to paddle to shore. I started slowly trolling the same area I'd fished earlier. It was perfect; the fins allowed me to move the yak's mass sideways, slowing my troll way down and keeping it mostly straight. An added benefit was that the fins freed up my hands for fishing. The mild breeze that kicked up didn't cause any problems but obviously, stronger breezes would make this unsafe. Once bass fishing kicks into gear I'm looking forward to working around docks and along shorelines with this method. Anyone else ever tried this? Note to Pedaddlers: Don't waste keystrokes telling me about your water bicycles... I can't afford a new Hobie with a Mirage Drive right now 

Anyway, within a few minutes of putting the fins on, I hooked up and landed a 15 or 16 inch bow. Great fighter in such cold water! I didn't remove it from the water for measuring because it wouldn't have qualified for AOTY. The limit at Lone Lake is one fish, 18" or over. I hooked up again a few minutes later. This one felt like it would put me on the board. As it got closer, I was sure it was at least 18". After landing it, however, I had trouble with my crude measurement system (have the hawg troughs been ordered yet?). If measured while laying completely flat, it may have touched the 18 inch mark. Although it may appear to be 18" in the attached photo, it's really an eighth inch short. Dave pulled alongside and suggested holding it flat on the side of my yak while he measured it. I felt this trout had already endured enough poor treatment, and immediately released it. I managed one more 16 incher before we called it a day. It was good day!



- Karl

No need to apologize for an informative post! Heck, a high quality photo of one of those "Dave's Green Things" would have added even more. 

Sounds like a nice day on the water.

I was drilling holes through 14" of ice.

Good on you NY.

And nice release on the heartbreak shorty.  There will be others.  It's a karma thing ...

-Allen

Nice report Karl!  Very informative.

Any chance you'll share a pic of Dave's Green Thing? (That just sounds wrong) 

Heck, a high quality photo of one of those "Dave's Green Things" would have added even more. 

Any chance you'll share a pic of Dave's Green Thing? (That just sounds wrong)

PS and Spot,
To make sure that I have photo-worthy green things, Dave is going to tie a few more tonight. He also e-mailed me the fly's ingredients and tying instructions. I'll post photos and instructions tomorrow night.

- Karl

Nice report there NY. Maybe some day we will get to fish together up there. My Sister lives on the island in Langley. I need to plan a trip up there to visit in the next few months.

I was thinking trying to coincide with the Mayfield Muskie Massacre(the catch and release kind), either on the way up or way down.

Got any ideas for fishing in the island area? I would love to pedaddle the Deception Pass.

Nice report there NY. Maybe some day we will get to fish together up there. My Sister lives on the island in Langley. I need to plan a trip up there to visit in the next few months.

I was thinking trying to coincide with the Mayfield Muskie Massacre(the catch and release kind), either on the way up or way down.

Got any ideas for fishing in the island area? I would love to pedaddle the Deception Pass.

If you're gonna be in Langley, you'll have a great shot of upgrading your trout points at Lone Lake. Heck, I think Lone lake is only 2 or 3 miles from Langley! That's it, however, regarding what I know about island fishing during the first half of the year. Late summer and fall I've fished various Whidbey beaches for coho. If you're willing to leave the island, there are many opportunities I can share with you, especially if you can time your trip around mid april. Or, considering how cold it's been this winter, maybe early May.

Regardless of when you come up, we'll figure something out. In fact your visit will be a good excuse to get the Seattle area crew together.

Looking forward to meeting you!

- Karl

PS and Spot,
To make sure that I have photo-worthy green things, Dave is going to tie a few more tonight. He also e-mailed me the fly's ingredients and tying instructions. I'll post photos and instructions tomorrow night.

Oops, I forgot that we're going to the boat show tonight. I'll post the photos and instructions tomorrow night (Wednesday)

- Karl

As promised - Dave's Green Thing

You may be underwhelmed when you see this fly, but it's a proven producer!

Dave's comments and tying instructions:
I like this fly because it's versatile. It can be fished fast or slow and you can also use it as a damsel fly nymph in a pinch. For best success, the tail needs to be a shade or two darker than the body.

Hook: Size 8, 10, 12
Body: Medium Olive Hare's Ear Dubbing
Thread: Olive
Tail: Zonker Strip, Dark Olive
Head: Red Thread or Floss

Instructions:
1. Trim off a couple of pinches of zonker strips. Do not leave the back leathery section. I like the zonker strips because the color variates from the beginning to the end creating a more life-like tail.
2. For the body, create a large dubbing loop right in front of the tail. Dub in the hare's ear thick and work your way to the head. (Note: this should take a couple of loops if you are tying the fly thick enough.) Note: The hare's ear breathes in the water much better than angora or the synthetic dubbing you would use on a micro leach.
3. Tie Red thread to head. Cement head if you are feeling ambitious.
4. Pick out dubbed body for a buggier look.





This is Dave with a nice rainbow at Lone Lake

Nice simple pattern!  I'm going to have to tie up a few of these.

Great more materials I need to buy at the fly shop.  It seems every time I go to tie a new fly it seems to cost me $20 to buy the materials and I inevitably buy a new tool or two at the same time (I'm slowing upgrading from a kit).

Anyway, it looks like he leaves a lot of guard hairs in that rabbit eat dubbing. 

Brian

Anyway, it looks like he leaves a lot of guard hairs in that rabbit eat dubbing. 

Brian

Yup, looks like an untrimmed wooly bugger or an olive hare's ear nympy before wrapping the ribbing.  I wonder how this would perform with the addition of a gold bead at the front? 

Hey Brian, most kits have the olive Hare's Ear Dubbing.  If you just need a pinch I think I can bring you some on Sunday.

3. Tie Red thread to head. Cement head if you are feeling ambitious.

Not only am I not ambitious enough to cement the head, I'm not going to perform any of the other steps either... Instead, I'm going to continue to obtain 'Dave's Green Things' from the source. And, lest any of you think me an inconsiderate moocher , buddy Dave will be receiving a custom hawg trough as soon as my order arrives.

For those of you that are feeling ambitious; Dave says this is a simple fly to tie, but if needed (Brian?), we could do step by step photos. Let me know.

- Karl

Thanks Karl,

It doesn't really sound like that hard of a fly to tie based no Dave's instructions.  I'll just need to get some of the materials if I want to make it any time soon.

Brian 

Step back everyone, I just had an idea!

How 'bout a local event where all participants need to manufacture their own fly/lure on the scene.  Biggest fish wins everybody else' lure/fly.