April Fishing

[lsuhunter]

What flies and/or tactics are you guys using up their during April?  I am bringing my family up during the week after Easter and hope to get a morning on the river.  This will only be my second time in the area with the last being interrupted by those 2 snowstorms last year.

[darrelln09]

It’s been a while for me but the basics - a Pheasant Tail, a Hare’s Ear, or Euro Nymphs - have always worked pretty well there. Others swear by Woolly Buggers and Soft Hackles on the swing. Don’t be afraid to try a dry fly such as a small BWO, Adams, or Caddis early in the morning or late in the evening. Your best bet though, is to stop at Beavers Bend Fly Shop, strike up a conversation, and then pick up a few things.

[jonbo]

When in doubt, go small. I had good luck in the late winter/early spring with RS2's in about an 18 or 20. However, a couple of weeks ago when I went, in the afternoon they hit on a caddis emerger, swung. I found this year that in the afternoon at the Evening Hole the fish get a little active. I think there's often a modest hatch going on then. You might try swinging a caddis or march brown emerger anywhere in EH. They'll tend to hit on the rise at the end of the drift. One downside of that style is you'll miss a lot of takes as it's an upstream set. That's what kept happening to me last time. You might try what I plan to do if I get a chance to fish again soon. When you feel the take, wait. On my way home I had thought about it. That was a lot of misses. I'll bet I was setting too soon and should instead have dipped the rod tip for a second and given the fish a chance to turn. That's if you try swinging emergers. Good luck!

[lsuhunter]

I appreciate the responses! I should still have a box full of RS2s from when I use to live in Colorado. Interesting idea with the upstream set on emergers, I wonder if you have time to dip it before they spit it out.

[jonbo]

Just a guess. I missed about 15 takes in an hour and have puzzled over it. It's like, you know when you fish dries or for bass with a popper. you have to time the hook set. It's not the moment you see them take it. I didn't think of that possibility while I was fishing the SH's. I just kept doing the same thing over and over, you know, like a genius.

[gui]

Looking back at my LMFR fish pics from last year in April & May, it seems that I had decent success fishing a dry-dropper rig in pocket waters that time of year. Have fun and let us know how it goes!
Looks like my next trip this year won't be until mid May.

[lsuhunter]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will give it a try.

Since it is spring, what effects might heavy rain have on the river? Do certain areas clear up faster than others or get higher water etc. I only got to spend a hour or so on the river last time I went.

[jonbo]

Normally, the rains shouldn't have any effect on flow. The flow is completely governed through the Spillway dam. The rains may may make the water discolored a bit via bank runoff. Terrestrials, such as San Juan worms, may become more effective. BTW, as a knowledgeable poster over at the Texas site said recently, what with the predominant fish in the river being recently stocked trout, simple egg patterns are nearly always effective.

[lsuhunter]

I ended up fishing the Tuesday after Easter, but I only had 2.5 or so hours on the water that morning. I parked at EH since nobody was there at 6:30 AM and start working my way up river. My first fish was a fat 16 inch rainbow on a RS2 variation. Crowds quickly starting showing up after that so I kept on walking and covering water. I don't know the area or any runs so was just trying to cover water, and the water seemed pretty low. The next fish came on a bead hair and copper right where I expected one to be, it was maybe 12 inches. I finally got to a spot where fish were rising like crazy but it was hard to fish. The deep half of the river closest to me was moving pretty good and the fish were mostly on the slack line on the opposite side of the river. It was pretty much impossible to get a drag free drift to them. I tried from upstream downstream and everything in between, throwing huge mends, air mends and it just wasn't happening. I started with about a size 16 adams and worked my way up to smaller flies, I think the 18 got the most attention with a few swipes at it. Finally right before I left, I connected with a little rainbow on a size 22 or so, it was maybe 10 inches. Everyone I talked to on the way back seemed to be struggling that day, and I was extremely shocked with the amount of people fishing on a Tuesday morning. I wish I had more time to figure out the fish in that one section but I had a wife and 3 kids waiting on me to get back for breakfast.