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Lahontan Cutthroat
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Pictured are Lahontan Cutthroat caught and released from an Eastern Washington alkali lake, called Lake Lenore. For their size Lahontans don't seem to fight as hard as Rainbows or Browns, but what they lack in zip, they make up for, in beauty.
Some of these high Alkali lakes have a spawning/schooling area where the fish congregate and mill about in shallow water. I know I will likely catch the largest trout of the season, in the early months of the year in one of these areas. The Lahontans become active soon after the ice leaves, and they feel the urge to spawn. Why they choose some locations in the lakes is best left to the fish, because I don't see how any eggs could find a successful, (oxygenated) place to develop. The problem is mud bottoms and no obvious source of fresh water. I know for sure they try to spawn, and yet are still interested in a morsel now and then, and therefore will hit a fly.
Depending, on the time of season, it seems the fish want black Woolly Buggers, (size 10 or 12), or Chronimids, Black, Red or Green. Some fishermen use tiny (size 18) Chronimids, others fish large ones (size10). Read up in Lake fishing books, regarding Chronimids, and the huge number of them that are present in all trout lakes. (I don't think that is an incorrect statement)
I use sizes 16 to 12, Black, Red, and Brown, all with a white tuft of yarn to imitate gills at the head. They are tied with floss and a rib of tying thread, with a dubbed thorax. All very basic and simple... And effective.
The 1998 spring seemed to produce larger fish than any year I have been fishing it. One day in early April, on Lake Lenore, I caught 7 fish, and their combined weight must have been well over 50 lbs. I have never caught that many big trout, back to back ever before. It was truly an amazing day. I seemed to have the exact right combination for that day, a black size 12 Chronimids (see picture) with white gills at the head. Also a lightly weighted tippet, and a strike indicator set at about 6 feet. The fish were taking it right on the bottom. We were only fishing in 3 to 4 feet of water, so a slow strip kept the fly out of the mud. Slow means 3" every 2 seconds. The strike indicator would "move funny" as one of these big fish sucked it in, and that was all the indication you got. They were so big that even thought the breed isn't great fighters, they each took me a full 10 minutes to tire out sufficiently to get my photos, revive the great fish, and release.
Beautiful colors are the rewards of catching one of these wonderful fish. They are a cutthroat so the over all look is similar. As I understand it they evolved in a Alkali lake in California, or Nevada somewhere, (possibly Pyramid Lake), and were imported to Eastern Washington lakes to see if they could survive here. They surely do.
My pontoon boat is ideal for cold water. You set high up, with your upper body out of the water. The oars get you across a lake with reasonable speed, and fins, with your back to the wind, can maintain a position in the water. I also rigged up an anchor and use it when I get where I want to spend some time.
I was at the North end of lake Lenore on a day when the crowds were small. Sometimes this area can be very crowded and you see why it is called combat fishing. I try to keep in mind some of these fellows (and women) will not have a chance to catch a trophy sized trout the rest of the fishing year, and exercise patience. But it can become a real zoo when two or three 20+ inch fish are doing their best to braid the lines. I give way if the mood gets hostile, but usually the other fishermen are congenial and polite, with lots of exchanging of information going on. I've had some fun days fishing elbow to elbow with strangers, who by the end of the day were no longer strangers. I look forward to fishing with them again someday. I will admit to learning a lot about Chronimid fishing from a couple of those fellows too. There is nothing like catching a 24 to 30 inch trout on a size 16 Chronimid!
I use a 6 lb. tippet for these big guys. They don't seem to be too leader shy, and besides sometimes the water is less than crystal clear where these guys are milling about anyway. The rule of thumb is, use the heaviest tippet you can and still catch fish. They don't get as tired out as you bring them in and, you don't leave a fly in a lip as often.
Larry Brunning
http://bruningflyfishing.com/
bruningpottery@msn.com |
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