Stillwater flies

BlackLabel · 04-03-2009, 11:18 PM

As long as I'm picking everyones brain about stillwater fishing I'm interested in what kind of flies you guys are using in lakes. I'm thinking streamers like wooly buggers and leaches are probally good and I think some larger midges also live in lakes. Also damselflies and dragonflies I hear are good food items so I'm just looking for some patterns you guys have had luck with.

**TexasChris** · 04-03-2009, 11:35 PM

Big old fat damsel nymphs. Chronimids, water boatmen, callibaetis, most the nymphs that you use now work. Then of course the streamers you mentioned. Nymphs in the lakes are better swimmers than in rivers, so you can put a little movement into your presentations.

alanb_ct · 04-04-2009, 05:06 AM

There is a book you should see "Stillwater Solutions Recipes" by Chan and Rowley.

**LopatNympher** · 04-04-2009, 06:59 PM

I used to finsh a lake in southwest pa. albeit with a spinning rod. I used to tie on a wet fly and put a splitshot about 3 ft up the line and fish it like a carolina rig. It drove the stockies nuts, they would cream it.

**VTflyfishing** · 04-04-2009, 09:53 PM

Crayfish and any streamers that look like bait fish.

**Davyfly** · 04-04-2009, 11:59 PM

Here is my take on this one guys after having more than 40 years fishing stillwaters, both natural lakes and man made reservoir systems.
First thing l would say is this, are the fish wild or stockers as this can and does make a difference.

By and large fertile lakes contain way more food sources than any river system, with the few exceptions of bugs such as stoneflies.
Also by and large both Chironomids and Caddis are larger species than found in most moving water systems.

Overall the number one food source will likely be Chironomids, close to that will be gammarus, then add both dragonfly and damsel nymphs, zoo plankton, beetles and bait fish.
These are the primary food sources available 24/7.
Hatches will in most cases be chironomids, mayfly, caddis, dragon and damsel fly all be it many of the emergences will take place during the hours of dusk and into darkness, which is very typical for stillwaters, given some exceptions such as Calibaetis which can emerge on vast numbers during the day time periods so too damsel fly.

My selections would be first both Chironomids, wet and soft hackles. Dry and streamers certainly have a place at times.
One of the most important issue when fishing stillwaters is you carry a wide range of lines from dry, to intermediate to full sink line of different IPS, sink tips can also be at times the line to use.
Bottom line here is you have to present the fly at the depth the fish are.
So look at it like this.
I may rig up with say 3 nymphs with a long leader system, 15ft, and get no offers. But change to say a 4/5 ips and a shorter leader with the same flies and nail fish.

I know we have dealt with this topic in the past here, but l would say this, by and large Stillwaters are more demanding of relative skills and knowledge than any river system l have fished around the world.
Trout in rivers you know where they are, trout in large lake systems are a very different deal and so is the techniques you will need to know to catch them consistently.

Davy.