Fish Report for 12-15-2013

Fishing has been fair to good at Keswick Reservoir

12-15-2013
The Fly Shop

Current Reservoir Conditions: Snow at the boat ramp might make for a challenging launch process. We expect the snow to stick around for a couple days.

Fishing has been fair to good. Stripping leeches and buggers on a type VII full sink line worked great this week. Fish going over 20" happen! Releases out of Shasta Dam have been stable. Good place to hire a guide though. Finding these fish requires some special knowledge.

Indicator suspended Birds Nests, Midges, PT Nymphs should work along the edges of the fast water near the Dam. Suspend your flies about 2-3 feet below the indicator. These fish like to come up to the fly. Fish the shallow edges. Stay low!! You will need a motorized boat to get to where the good fishing exists.

The Fly Shop's?? Tips: Suspending Bird's Nests, midge patterns and Pseudo Mays under indicators will work well. For the springtime caddis, try a #14-16 Amber Wing Prince or Sylvie's Pupa in black. Suspended your nymphs under an indicator. Use BB shot to sink your nymphs when fishing the edges of the swirly water found in the upper reservoir. Look for the fish in the slower swirls along the edges above Crystal Creek. The key is moving up into the moving water section of Keswick. Fishing the eddies next to the banks, between boulders, where it's shallow can be productive. Stay low Fishing a Deep-7 on a 7-weight fly rod, stripping buggers has been productive.

A motorized boat is a must for gaining access to the part of this reservoir that holds concentrated numbers of rainbow trout. Motor up towards Shasta Dam, look for slow water and big eddies near boulders. Swing, suspend, strip nymphs, leeches. Dry fly fishing happens late in the summer, near sunset. There are big brown trout here....waiting.

Suggested Flies:

Dry Flies:
• Mercer's Missing Link #16-18
• Adams #14-16
• Mercer's Parachute Profile Spinners #16

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• RK Frosty Flatulator Chironomid #14-18
• Tak's Chironomid
• Chromie #16-18
• Mercer's Gidget
• Pseudo May - #16-18
• GB San Juan Worm - #12
• Mercer's Biot Epoxy Golden Stones #8-12
• Chan's CB Frostbite Midge #16-18
• Chironomid Bomber - Any color #12
• Micro Mayfly - Brown #16-18
• Pats Rubberlegs - Brown #6-8
• CB Birds Nest - #10-14

Streamers / Leeches:v • Bead Belly Leechesv • Crystal Buggersv • Beaded Lite Brite Buggers
• Freshwater Clousers - #6
• Double Bunny - #2
• Zonkers - Natural #4
• BH Halebopp Leech - Olive/Dark Olive #8

Fly Fishing Gear:
• Boles Float Rite Yarn Indicators
• Mucilin Fly Line Silicone
• MayFly™ Troutfisher Lanyard
• Cablz
• William Joseph Squall Jacket
• Fly-Mate?? Floatable Foam Fly Boxes


< Previous Report Next Report >