[Alosa]

I've had my eye on a desert canyon near the Idaho-Nevada border for about a year now, and finally decided to do some exploring. Glad I did. I'm not giving our details beyond that because I plan to go back. Let's just say it was a good day.

Glorious early morning

Nevada mountains in the distance with fresh snow

Dropping into the canyon

First glimpse of the river

After parking the car I walked a primitive trail downstream for about an hour before getting in the water. The trail crossed a couple of skree fields which proved tricky in spots (I have bad ankles). It was a moderate hike with tricky spots and I was glad I brought my wading staff.

Finally got in the water and began working my way back upstream. I was fishing stimulators all day on 6X tippet. Fiesty rainbows behind every rock, and taking flies aggressively - literally jumping out the water with the fly in its mouth the moment it hit the water. Nothing huge, typically 8-12 inchers, but the fish of the day pushed it closer to 14. I'm going back there for sure. Here's more pics. Enjoy.

 

[Jim F.]

Definitely a pristine & out of the way place. Thanks for sharing (even if some of the photos did make my knees ache, lol.).

 

[Mark Walker]

Nothing like a good walk for the old and infirm!
Nice pics.

 

[Buzzy]

Great pictures and you got me hooked with the trout behind every boulder! Thanks for sharing.

 

[dust in the wind]

Can not beat that!

 

[Eyejuggler]

I love Juniper woodland! So much beauty and it look like some great catching! Thank you for sharing!

 

[Batt B]

Very cool spot! Pretty big flies for 6X tippet. You have any trouble turning them over with the light tippet? Why so light?

 

[Alosa]

Very cool spot! Pretty big flies for 6X tippet. You have any trouble turning them over with the light tippet? Why so light?

Good question. I did have some trouble at first with 15 feet of 6X, so I trimmed it back to 12 feet and just spent a little more time with my cast until I got the correct rhythm down (I'm not the best caster, and it had been a month or more since my last outing). I went with light tippet b/c of low and clear water - I didn't want to spook fish. None of them broke me off and they all came to hand fairly quick. I wouldn't have gone any lighter, but I probably could have done ok with 12 feet of 5X.

 

[Batt B]

Good question. I did have some trouble at first with 15 feet of 6X, so I trimmed it back to 12 feet and just spent a little more time with my cast until I got the correct rhythm down (I'm not the best caster, and it had been a month or more since my last outing). I went with light tippet b/c of low and clear water - I didn't want to spook fish. None of them broke me off and they all came to hand fairly quick. I wouldn't have gone any lighter, but I probably could have done ok with 12 feet of 5X.

Impressive, and interesting. The flies look like size 10s or so. I don't think I could get a 12 foot 6X leader to work very well with that setup. With flies that size on small streams I usually go with 4X. The guidelines seem to agree with me, but of course rules are made to be broken. I wonder if, as an experiment, you had tried larger tippet, that would have resulted in fewer hookups.

 

[Alosa]

Impressive, and interesting. The flies look like size 10s or so. I don't think I could get a 12 foot 6X leader to work very well with that setup. With flies that size on small streams I usually go with 4X. The guidelines seem to agree with me, but of course rules are made to be broken. I wonder if, as an experiment, you had tried larger tippet, that would have resulted in fewer hookups.

I dunno - there are so many variables to consider in that kind of comparison that could impact catch rates that it would be hard to say whether 4X vs 6X would have been the difference maker. I just go with my gut on these things after looking at the situation on the river. If things aren't working I switch it up, but I was catching fish steadily so I just left things as they were. I probably could have gotten away with a 5X 9ft tapered leader, but the setup was working, so why mess with it? I was just happy that my blood knots held up!!!

That's an interesting series of charts to follow as a general rule of thumb. I still consider myself a novice, but I am improving, and those charts should help with the learning curve. Thanks!

 

[Batt B]

I like some of what Deeter wrote about trout and tippet size. Consider: http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/flytalk/2012/08/maxima-dry-fly-test-tippet-size

 

[Alosa]

I like some of what Deeter wrote about trout and tippet size. Consider: http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/flytalk/2012/08/maxima-dry-fly-test-tippet-size

Interesting read. Maybe I'll save my lighter tippets for spring creeks. Thanks for the link.

 

[The Drifter]

Yep, I dig it. Good stuff.

 

[Eyejuggler]

I like some of what Deeter wrote about trout and tippet size.

I would say just fish and leave all that nonsense in the trunk

 

[Batt B]

I would say just fish and leave all that nonsense in the trunk

Did you read it? That's basically what the editorial says.

I was just trying to possibly simplify things for Alosa. I acknowledge there are many ways to skin a cat; you got yers and I got mine. The important thing is to have as much fun as humanly possible. Slapping around a size 10 stimmy with an 8-10' leader on a semi-remote small freestone stream is a good way to approach that in my book. A shorter, stouter leader makes it easier for me to be accurate in my casts and mends. I could see where Alosa might want to go long and fine to a fish holding in a glassy tailout or something but I bet the fish were up in the deeper pockets at the head and middle of riffles and runs, given the low, end-of-summer water. Plus, when you put in the footwork like Alosa did the fish are usually less cautious. Hey Alosa nice choice of thread color btw.

 

[Alosa]

I bet the fish were up in the deeper pockets at the head and middle of riffles and runs, given the low, end-of-summer water. Plus, when you put in the footwork like Alosa did the fish are usually less cautious. Hey Alosa nice choice of thread color btw.

You are correct, they were in the deeper pockets at the heads/middle of riffles and runs. You are also correct that they weren't as spooky as I thought they would be, so in hindsight I didn't have to go as light as I did...I think that's probably because they rarely see flies (it's a pretty remote area). Thread color? You mean my tippet?

 

[Batt B]

Fire orange thread on the head of the fly. That's how I tie most of my stimulators.

 

[Alosa]

Oh....you can thank Hill's Discount Flies for that. LOL.

 

[Greg Price]

Great report.

I would love to fish that creek with my 2 wt.

Looks like good for body (exercise) mind and soul.

My favorite fishing involves a creek about that size. Fished in summer hot weather while wet wading. Simple fun and exercise

 

[Nooksack Mac]

The thread title is "Desert Canyon," not "Success with The Perfect Leader." A 15 foot 6X would be a perfect leader for Silver Creek; for that location, where the trout may go weeks between human contacts, I agree with Matt B.