Fish, Hunt & Ride | Spring 2017 FHRSPRING-2017 | Page 26

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A SPRING GUIDE TO WARM-WATER SPECIES – NOT JUST TROUT

BY GRANT HOPKINS
APRIL WAS THE TIME to get the fly gear ready for the best fly fishing of the whole year to come . Many anglers are fixated on trout when it comes to fly fishing – what a shame because there are abundant warm-water species easier to catch and a lot closer to home .
Primary targets are panfish and northern pike in May and early June , and then bass in mid-June and on into summer .
All take flies readily , but not necessarily the same patterns or at the same depths . Flies can imitate a variety of aquatic life , from minnows and insects to leeches and crayfish . Hopefully , they are something that looks good enough to eat and something the fish haven ’ t seen before .
GETTING READY
Breezy , wet days until open water and warmer weather give you a chance to check your flies , gear and paraphernalia to ensure everything is in good working order . After waiting all winter to get on the water , first days can be frustrating if your outfit has gone downhill in the basement or garage all those months .
Lines stored on a reel over the winter tend to peel off in coils , so stretch the first 15-20 feet by putting your foot on the line and pulling tight with your hand . This tension will remove the twists . Then apply fly line cleaner for smoother , straighter casts
Leaders are the weakest link between angler and fish , so they deserve special attention . Any nicks or knots – throw ’ em out . Warm-water species aren ’ t leader-shy , so seven feet of monofilament or fluorocarbon in eight-to-10 pound test is all that ’ s required .
Then be aware that you won ’ t remember where everything is . So organize flies by size and colour into streamers , wets , dries , and nymphs , so you know what you have and where they are . My basic patterns include foam floaters such as Chernobyl ants and gurglers , slow sinkers like black and olive woolly buggers and fast sinking Clouser minnows . A good variety helps , but don ’ t overdo it .
PANFISH ARE FUN
Many anglers think of panfish as kid stuff , but for any age they can offer fast action and a lot of fun on lighter rods . The season is open all year but peaks in May when the fish move into the shallows to spawn . Bluegill and pumpkinseed ( commonly called sunfish ), perch and crappie all take flies with gusto . They can be surprisingly aggressive competing for mates .
Sunfish readily wolf down small poppers , hair bugs and foam flies off the surface , which makes for easy fishing . Crappie stay deeper and are best caught on slow-sinking streamer flies that resemble small baitfish . Perch generally hang close to bottom , so any small weighted fly in bright colours will get their attention .
A floating line rigged on a three- to fourweight rod in eight‐ to 8½-foot length with a light matching reel make a sporty panfish outfit .
PIKE TOO LIKE FLIES For bigger game , northern pike are found in good numbers in the Ottawa River and throughout the Rideau system , and can be taken by a persistent flyrodder . The season opens May 14 in fisheries zone 18 , and a week later on the Ottawa ( zone 12 ). After spawning , pike often linger in the shallows . Put on Polaroid glasses to spot them resting or cruising .
Casting into the shoreline with large flashy , bushy flies like Lefty ’ s Deceivers , bucktail streamers and various rabbit fur creations on an eightweight rod with a floating line is surefire to bring a heart-thumping charge . Use a light steel leader to prevent a biteoff .
BASS IN JUNE
Later , as the weather warms , the bass season opens June 18 ( zone 18 ) and largemouth and smallmouth , or both , are in just about every lake and river in the Ottawa area . Bass respond to artificial flies with zest .
These fish have a reputation as tough guys , so five- to seven-weight rods in 8½- to nine-foot lengths make a fair scrap . If there is a wind , heavier rods may be necessary to handle large flies .
Both largemouth and smallmouth take flies readily off the surface , so large poppers , hair bugs and foam flies cast on a floating line are all deadly . Later in summer when the bass go deeper , a sinking line and minnow imitations work better . Bass flies come in an endless variety , so just about anything goes .
So there you have a look-ahead . As for me , until the ice is gone I ’ ll dream and fiddle with gear in anticipation .
PHOTO BY GOODLUZ PHOTO BY MELISSADOAR
Fly-fishing enthusiast looking for the magic fly .
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