Rocky Ford bugs

dep · Mar 24, 2023

I tied these for some guys that fish with me at the Ford. They are WSU students and don't have much for fly fishing. I made them this care package of bugs that work for me.
I also got them: tippet, nippers and needlenose pliers so they quit asking for mine when they catch a fish.

just thought I would share.

dp

Draketake · Mar 24, 2023

Nicely done.

They will dig it.

Bob

Long_Rod_Silvers · Mar 24, 2023

Not sure why, but this made me think of the vending machine (that has fishing gear) at Desert Angler - is that still there?

dep · Mar 24, 2023

yes, the machine is still there. and these kids (one is my daughter's boyfriend) will appreciate this stuff.

Wade Rivers · Mar 26, 2023

Very thoughtful of you. If he fishes a lot he'll stay away from your daughter...

Curious about the small flies...are they scuds/sowbugs? How do you fish those? Under a bobber?

Thanks

dep · Mar 27, 2023

my version of a scud - and yes, fished under a bobber/indicator/float.

dep · Apr 1, 2023

gonna try these tomorrow

dep · Apr 3, 2023

fishing was tough. maybe 10 guys working the system and not much to show for it.
My buddy, who is a fishing machine, hooked up once.
I went 1 for 3. the one I landed was probably 12 inches. took the leech on the first cast when we fished the tail end of the system.
I had a nice on one for about 10 seconds and he spit the hook. we saw it and it was one of those 24 inch monsters.
had another on for about .5 seconds and saw his flanks and then it was gone.
one of the darker leeches got me my takes. tried the scud under the indication - nothing.
as we discussed it over a beer, we probably should have thrown small patterns (like a pheasant tail or an egg pattern).
Lots of pelicans through out the system. the weather was nice and calm though.

dp

Buzzy · Apr 3, 2023

dep said:
fishing was tough. maybe 10 guys working the system and not much to show for it.
My buddy, who is a fishing machine, hooked up once.
I went 1 for 3. the one I landed was probably 12 inches. took the leech on the first cast when we fished the tail end of the system.
I had a nice on one for about 10 seconds and he spit the hook. we saw it and it was one of those 24 inch monsters.
had another on for about .5 seconds and saw his flanks and then it was gone.
one of the darker leeches got me my takes. tried the scud under the indication - nothing.
as we discussed it over a beer, we probably should have thrown small patterns (like a pheasant tail or an egg pattern).
Lots of pelicans through out the system. the weather was nice and calm though.

dp

I think RF trout may recognize indicators, maybe. Try your scud bobberless. A technique that (sometimes) works is a small olive leech with a scud dropper, longish leader, no Iracator.

dep · Apr 3, 2023

the last time I was there, a fish went for my lime green indicator.
bobber down!

Buzzy · Apr 3, 2023

dep said:
the last time I was there, a fish went for my lime green indicator.
bobber down!

Floss ‘em

dep · Apr 4, 2023

not me....

Irafly · Apr 6, 2023

I tie my scuds so heavy for the Ford that I’ve been accused of using split shot. This gives me bottom control. I like to put them right on the rocks that I see fish eating scuds off of. When I scud it here, I often don’t put my fly in front of the fish. I watch their patterns and drop a fly behind them and wait for them to come back. Twitch twitch, YouTube hey eat, I miss, say a bad word and try again

dep · Apr 6, 2023

I remember you fishing the Ford once and you were literally sitting on one of the large rocks and dropping your line straight down.
I think you hooked up though.
Bill (Zen), got the group together.
you may have had a ladder too.

Irafly · Apr 6, 2023

dep said:
I remember you fishing the Ford once and you were literally sitting on one of the large rocks and dropping your line straight down.
I think you hooked up though.
Bill (Zen), got the group together.
you may have had a ladder too.

Zen watched me hook a bunch and how I was doing it, and decided that I wasn’t fly fishing. He wasn’t being judgmental, just observational of the approach and to be honest I had never actually thought about it before, I just new it worked. Sometimes I’d hook fish without any fly line in the water, so there is that!

dep · Apr 6, 2023

Zen was a good guy. He met me at the Rock a few times and would fish, but not hard like most people. he was amused and content to hook fish a tiny bugs. and he would watch you. one time he was watching me while we chatted but he was behind me on my left side. Being left handed, he was right in my loading zone, if you will, and I was struggling with my casting. he finally caught on saying he was a fool for not realizing his positioning to my casting.
good guy for sure.