Lake Davis Fly Fishing Report

Jon Baiocchi / Baiocchi’s Troutfitters Reports on 10.8.2015

After weeks of the same weather pattern across much of Northern California, there have been a few weak low pressure systems roll through, and the last brought a decent amount of precipitation to Northern California. Water temperatures are now ranging from 56 to 61 degrees. We will warm up again for the next week, after that, those temperatures will be dropping down to normal. The rainbows are still on the move adjusting to the fall season, if you are not having any luck in a certain area, move to a new location. A little more fishing pressure than last Sunday, but still plenty of water and shoreline to find your own spot. I also heard a few good reports from the north end of the lake.  The bad news is after a few stomach samplings the trout are eating daphnia (zooplankton), all they have to do is swim around with their mouths open until full. This happened last fall and catch rates plummeted. The good news is there are still some trout that are eating off the surface and can be sight fished to.

Hatches of blood midge and callibaetis have been decent one day and the next nothing, just a few bugs here and there. The go to flies for dry fly trout stalking have been Jonny’s UV blood midge emerger #14, and Spirit River’s UV2 Adams Parachute #16. Catching a rainbow on the dry fly is worth 5 on the nymph, it’s really special. A few tips to help you hook those dry fly eaters; Set the hook late after the take. Cast left or right of the last rise form and anticipate the take, if you have the right fly on, it will happen. These fish move slowly when taking helpless emergers, duns, and adults. It also helps to give your fly a twitch every now and then to make it appear it is a living aquatic insect. Go to flies for fall at Lake Davis include wiggle tails in burnt orange and cinnamon, sheep creek specials, and flashback pheasant tails. Conditions should slightly improve as the weeks march on; we still need colder overnight temps. Keep in mind that the hatches tend to disappear after water temperatures go below 55 degrees. The time for good quality dry fly fishing is now. Get after it….