[Buzzy]

I hadn't been to damsel point in maybe six or seven years. The last time I managed to get out of bed early enough to wade and fish this shoreline when the damsels and callibaetis were migrating/hatching, I sight casted to and landed a 30-inch Lahontan. I hoped to do the same this morning...........

When the sun gets on the water, in my experience it is "game over" but that 45 minutes to an hour after sunrise and before the sun gets above the cliffs, it can be pretty good fishing the shallows.

This morning I found trout cruising and feeding tight against the reeds. When I first got there, it was too dark to see the fish but as the sun lit up the far side of the lake, and before it was directly shining into this water, "it" started. It = the bite.

"IT" didn't last long, maybe 45 minutes but about half of that time I was busy. A size 16 (TMC 2457) flash back bead head hare's ear was the ticket. I hooked six fish, landed five and four of the five were hooked sight casting. Two were pushing 24-inches, no 30 inchers today. I didn't care, I was pretty happy. No ticks, no rattlesnakes, only a few deer flies.

Certainly a lot of evidence of damsels hatching, shucks everywhere. And there were lots of adults in the reeds when I bushwhacked through them. I saw quite a few dragon fly adults and it seemed like they were hovering to attack insects in the air although I couldn't tell if the dragons were getting mayflies, midges, damsels or (I wish) deer flies.

I didn't see any damsel nymphs swimming towards shore, probably too early in the day. I saw several adult caddis but I think I dislodged those when I moved through the reeds.

Crummy picture, maybe 17 inches but girthy and this little fish jumped when I set the hook and then did it one more time. A jumping Lahontan!

 

[junkie]

Great report!! I've had lahontans jump before, but not very often.

 

[Buzzy]

Great report!! I've had lahontans jump before, but not very often.

Thanks TR! @Starman77 and I each had a Lahonton or two jump this past week at one of those other alkaline lakes. I'm headed back up there later this week; won't be takin' my shirt off in that heat.

 

[TexBC]

Whoa - that sounds like an awesome way to spend 45 minutes. Great report, thank you!

 

[Irafly]

Thanks TR! @Starman77 and I each had a Lahonton or two jump this past week at one of those other alkaline lakes. I'm headed back up there later this week; won't be takin' my shirt off in that heat.

I may join you. Although I have not experienced catching fish there at that particular time, I have pick up a few right off of there where it drops into deeper water. I'll try to be there earlier next time.

 

[Jim F.]

Great report, Buzzy. I haven't visited that area in years; I may have to reconsider that after the current heat wave subsides - supposed to be in the 80's by 10 today, so it will be "45 minutes" of carp for me.

 

[Buzzy]

Great report, Buzzy. I haven't visited that area in years; I may have to reconsider that after the current heat wave subsides - supposed to be in the 80's by 10 today, so it will be "45 minutes" of carp for me.

I was going to head up to that large reservoir after hitting damsel point but: white caps in the Sun Lakes Chain so I came home instead........... good luck this morning on the carp!

 

[Jim F.]

Changed my mind - 71 degrees before 0600 - I'll try to cool-down the house a little, then fire-up the AC & tie flies (AC ran most of the night - I really dislike hot weather anymore.). Guess I should put-out water again for the little birds & pesky tree rats.