Reservoir Hogs
Just after ice-off, experiment with crayfish, leeches, and other big-ticket subsurface items along shoreline structure and in and around the shallows. Swimming and twitching a leech pattern suspended under a strike indicator can draw vicious strikes.
On a typical day on a South Park stillwater, I begin with midges and scuds in the early morning, followed by damsels, Callibaetis, and dragonflies into late afternoon. When the hatch is off, experiment with leeches, baitfish, crayfish, eggs, and other imitations of protein-rich foods.
Fly Selection
The four main food supplies of the South Park reservoirs are scuds, midges, Callibaetis mayflies, and damselflies. The following selections for each will eliminate some of the guesswork and help you catch more fish every time on the water.
Scuds. South Park scuds are olive, tan, and orange, and range in size from #12-20, although #16-18 are most common. When choosing a pattern, keep in mind that scuds move across the water column at relatively consistent depths and speeds, often on or near the bottom. Unlike mayflies, they do not move from bottom to top through the water column to hatch. Three productive patterns include McClellan’s Hunchback Scud (olive/tan, #14-18), Flashback CDC Scud (olive/tan/orange, #16-18), and Erickson’s Hot Spot Scud (tan/olive, #16-18).
Midges. Midges are an abundant, season-long food source on all three reservoirs. They range in size from #12-18 with three stages of life: larva, pupa, and adult. Midge larvae hug the reservoir bottoms and glow red from the hemoglobin stored in their bodies. Midge pupae (or emergers) are characterized by their segmented bodies, gills, distinct taper, and their propensity to undulate as they ascend toward the surface to hatch. Midge adults hover above the water and eventually skate along the surface while laying their eggs. For fly-fishing purposes, the two most important stages to imitate are the larva and the pupa because of their overall concentrations and vulnerability to trout feeding subsurface.
The two most effective colors are red for larva patterns and black for pupa imitations. Productive flies include Greg Garcia’s Rojo Midge (red/black/green, #12-18), Frostbite Chironomid Pupa (black/red, #12-18), and Frostbite Chironomid Bomber (black, #12-16). For top water, try a Griffith’s Gnat (#14-18).
Callibaetis. All three reservoirs hold high numbers of large Callibaetis mayflies (#12-16)—a reliable food source in the summer months for cruising trout. Imitate Callibaetis with nymphs, emergers, and adults. Unlike some of the other insects dwelling in these reservoirs, trout concentrate on all three stages of the Callibaetis
life cycle. The emerging state is the most productive, and it’s imperative to experiment by varying your presentation depths in order to align your imitations with the moving trout. Trout typically suspend themselves at distinct levels in the water column based on the stage of the hatch, access to the most abundant bug concentrations, and water temperature. Start deep and work your way from bottom to top until you hit the level where the fish seem to be holding.
There are two things to remember about emerging Callibaetis. First, the thorax turns dark brown or black when the insect is ready to emerge. Second, an air bubble appears where the wings will eventually sprout. Good imitations include Beadhead Flashback Pheasant-tail Nymphs (natural/olive, #12-16), Burk’s Aggravator Nymphs (#14-18), A. K.’s Callibaetis Quills (#12-16), and Poly-wing Spinners (tan/brown,
#12-16).
Damselflies. Damselfly nymphs look like little olive snakes cruising just below the surface—usually in shallow water—until they find land, reeds, or a boat to crawl onto and emerge into brightly colored adults. The most productive stage to imitate is the nymph. I find flies with pulsating tails work best to mimic the telltale wiggling movement. This grabs the trout’s attention and often triggers a strike. Effective patterns include Barr’s Damsel (#10-16), Kaufmann’s Marabou Damsel (#10-16), Barr’s Bouface (olive, #10-14). Use blue foam-body patterns (#10-14) to imitate the large buzzing adults when the opportunity arises.
Seasons
Fishing begins in early spring when the ice starts melting around the reservoir edges, or on official opening day when the ice has disappeared completely. Spring is one of the best times to pursue large trout as fish work to put on weight after a long winter below a thick layer of ice. Edge-fishing opportunities vary depending on the weather, sometimes lasting only a few weeks during a warm spring, and longer when cooler air temperatures persist.
After ice-off, the water continues to warm, stirring vegetation growth and increasing insect activity. After
the brisk days of spring depart, the trout begin to disperse to various depths and locations in search of food and cover, and pike take over the shallows.
June is the most productive month to pursue trout on all three reservoirs. The hatches are complex and abundant, and the feeding is often frenzied. The best fishing is often during bankers’ hours, with hatches starting around 8 A.M. and lasting into the afternoon, depending on light and weather conditions.
Spring and early summer afternoons often produce the high winds for which South Park is famous, blowing whitecaps into the reservoir bays and at the dams. These afternoon events stir food up from the bottom of the reservoir, and on good days you can hook trout standing on the edge of the wind-lashed shoreline and casting only 10 feet into the choppy water.
Insect activity lasts through late August, when cooler fall temperatures begin to slow the hatches. While the fishing remains good, it becomes less consistent.
By late September, migratory browns become active, and the fish move back into the shallows. This prespawn window produces some exceptional nearshore results late in the evening, and in overcast or low-light conditions.
Rigging and Retrieves
In spring, the reservoirs start out with barren bottoms with minimal vegetation growth.
Copyright © 2012 Intermedia Outdoors
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