Good Day at Lafayette Res. 3/10

I launched at 10:30 a.m. today and decided to pull a black bead head Crystal Bugger #8 fly.  I couldn't recall anyone using flies here recently and I thought why not.  It is one of my favorite lures when I fish in the Sierra Nev. Mtn. lakes, and I could put out a second line with a Criplure which I was successful with last month here. When I trolled through the southeast shore the bugger was immediately bit by a 16" Rainbow which I landed.  Less than one half hour later not far away I had a larger one on (maybe 18-19"?) that jumped a couple feet (!) out of the water. Since I had a second line out I wasn't able to keep my line taut and it threw the hook. I decided that I had the fish figured out and continued with only the bugger line out. By quitting time at 2:30 I had a total of five fish boated ("kayaked"), lost two (the other broke off - bad knot I would sheepishly write if I hadn't caught the others), and a number of hits.  All fish were thick, meaty Rainbows in the 14-18ish" range.  The Criplure (0 hits) was fire tiger colored and I used it for 45 minutes(?).  There was a lull 12:15-1:30 so I went back to two rods and top-lined a 2.5" broken back silver and blue Rebel, but still only the fly was bit.
All fish were caught along the south east shore from the fishing pier at the point of the mouth of the east cove to the just south of the second buoy to the left of the south cove.  I was toplining the Criplure and Rebel 210' back for nothing.  The black bead head Crystal Bugger #8 was fished with 70' of #4 fluorocarbon and 1 color deep (5' ?) of 30' 12# lead core (total 100' back).  The lake was flat glass until about 1 p.m. then a light breeze of 3 mph blew from west.  I somehow forgot my FF so I couldn't get a water temp.  Visibility was 8' (?)with lots of pollen (?) in the water column, bright sun through thin cirrus and very comfortable air temp.  I was fishing in about 30' of water based on past experience here.
There were a lot of boats out and shore fishers, but only two others had three on Powerbait, and one other had  two fish - one on Fire Tiger F-5 Orig. Rapala and one on gold rooster tail which he put on after talking to me.  Others didn't seem to be catching, so I write this with my chest puffed out and legs ready to strut if I wasn't sitting. This was my best day at Lafayette (I have been skunked quite a few times here in past years and once this year already.).
I almost went to Del Valle today (after reading "Hookups" last night at this website) to meet up with Mooch, Adam and others, but this a.m. decided to stay in my "backyard" and save time and gas.  I'll meet up with you guys sometime in the coming months (maybe chasing Stripers in SF or SP Bay?).
I'll get up and strut now   .
Tom   

Great report and success at a tough lake. Especially thanks on the info of you presentation setup with leadcore. What depth do you think you were at?
I have fished this lake with minimum luck but as you said mostly with the fire rappalla or shad which didn't get  many hits. Oh and welcome to the site you'll have alot of fun with these folks I am sure in the future. Frankfishing

Great detailed report. sounds like a great day and you outfished everyone else. way to figure it out.

Way to go Tom, the last time I was there most of the boater where drifting or trolling Powerbait and doing very well. Welcome and way to go  .

Pat R

Way to go. Never had much luck at LR.

scott

tom, I got some black with a little red trolling flies, maybe I will try them again. thanks for the detailed post.

Frank, the leadcore rule I believe is every 30 feet (30' = "one color") of lead core out equals about 5 feet down.  If you're out 60' your depth is 10', 90' out = abt 15'.  But after 120 or 150' the word is that you max out around 20 or so feet in depth and can't much deeper due to the water resistance.  I hardly ever go out past five colors because there is so much weight on the line and my reel only holds about six colors.  I've never had a big fish on with five colors out, but I'd bet it would spool me and I'd break off.  (If I want to get down deeper I use keel weights or use my homemade downrigger.)  
I was out one color so I figure I was down at least 5 feet.  If you consider oncoming wind and varying the speed of the paddling (in my case I will slow up then speed up to vary the presentation of the fly) then the line will drop a bit deeper, so I'd guess I was down 5-8'.)  I fish from a Cobra Fnd or an Ocean Kayak Prowler.  Yesterday I was out in the Cobra and it is a slower kayak ("barge").  
As far as catching fish yesterday, I was lucky.  I hadn't heard of others using Wooly Buggers at Laf.  so I'd thought it was worth it on a second rod.  I was very surprised when the first fish was on because I was expecting the topline lure to be where the fish were.  As I wrote I've had more than my share of skunked days.  
I'm wondering which hatchery the fish came from.  I suspect each hatchery raises a fish that prefers specfic baits (genetics?).  My brother-in-law fished San Pablo Res. yesterday  in his boat for seven hours and caught two rainbows, one on flashers followed by nightcrawler and the other on an F-7 broken back Fire Tiger Rapala.  These lakes might be 6 miles at most apart, and the bite for these baits seemed similar (somewhat slow).  I wonder if the fish stock is from the same hatchery and if black Crystal Buggers would have been the better choice at SP, also.
Tom

Jmairy,  I'm stubborn.  If I changed to other colors I would go with all black (like a leech or all black Wooly Bugger) on a #10, 8, or 6 hook, next I would try a an olive or brown crystal bugger, then I might try a Matuka.  I like the bead heads because you get more up and down action.  I'm prejudiced against red in flies west of the Sierra crest.  That's what my dad taught me.  Red works great on the east side (Red Humpy, Sierra Bright Spot, Royal Coachman).  Heck give it good try and post a report.  Red in metal and plastic lures works at Laf., why not red in flies?  Good luck.
Tom

I think these are flies made for trolling in lake shasta.  but I could cut the red
down or hit them with the sharpie if you think that might help.

seems like a plastic grub would be at least as good as a fly.

so maybe a dark grub would work well too.

I have been wanting to try the grubs more.

so your fly was 'naked', no dodger, nothing to give it any action?

J

  Jmairey, I always troll flies without flashers and dodgers.   To give it up and down action I frequently vary my paddling. Otherwise the trout just chase it.  They hit just as often when I'm on a steady paddling rhythm.  Other lakes where this works well with the same fly and same action are McCloud Res. and Castle Lake near Mt. Shasta.
  Coloring your fly all black ought to work.  But unless you really want to experiment and maybe come up with a new design, why not stop in any fly shop and buy a couple of flies?  Any fly shop dedicated to fly fishing  will have Crystal Buggers.  The nearest to me in Walnut Creek is Creative Sports on Oak Park Blvd. in Pleasant Hill or you can buy them on-line.  If you try your modified fly, post the results. I (and I'm sure others here) would like to know the results.  Good luck.
Tom

Your hard work has paid-off......nice day for an ADRENALINE high.You are the only Yak'er I know who has trolled a &^%$78 TROUT out of that #$%4 place!
and thanks for the great detail in your report!