Well I had originally wanted to spend some time on the Mississippi yesterday but since my wife was working and I couldn't find anyone else to go with I decided to keep it urban.
Not having fished Hogs Back this season, I thought I'd give it a shot before heading to Black Rapids to wind up the evening. The water level at Hogs Back was good though another 6" lower and some of the nicer holes in the middle of the river will become fishable. In any case I worked my way down the east side from the big pool to baseline bridge then back up the west bank. The bite was pretty good, with about two dozen smallies landed and many more jumping off. The majority of the SM were in the 6" range though I did manage a couple of nice 10" fish and spooked a good 15"er. In any case, lots of fun with a 4wt!
Black Rapids on the other hand was very disappointed last evening. The bite was extremely fickle and the globs of algae floating downstream had you cleaning your fly every other cast. Not even my trusty panfish poppers could stir up much action.
Urban Fishing (Sunday)
Urban Fishing (Sunday)
"There wouldn't have been any butt kickings if that stupid death ray had worked."
I drive past Hog's Back frequently, as my wife works on Colonnade, but I'd never seen anyone fly-fishing out that way.
I tried to get out and do a bit of fishing this weekend, as my wife is back in Newfoundland for a wedding. Saturday morning I set off to try the east bank or the Rideau at Black Rapids, but I couldn't see how to get down to the river. I took a path from Mary Dr., but it led to a private driveway with a "keep off" sign.
Once I drove over to the west side I realized that I'd left my licence at home, so I hastily packed up and went to pick it up.
I then went out to Remic Rapids, catching a couple of smallish bass.
Sunday I headed out to Champlain Bridge (Ontario side). I walked downriver from the bridge, practicing my dry fly technique on the fast moving water (needs work, to make a long story short). After that I walked down to a pool where a fellow with a spinning rod was in the water. I caught a few bass there on wolly buggers, as well as a nice sunburn on the back of my legs (I wore long sleeves, but I spent at least an hour and a half standing on a rock with my lower legs exposed).
As an aside, I've been wading in shorts since I got my flyrod. My buddy has mentined that he'd be worried about leeches, but I haven't really given them a thought. What are people's feelings about standing in the Rideau or Ottawa rivers in bare legs?
I tried to get out and do a bit of fishing this weekend, as my wife is back in Newfoundland for a wedding. Saturday morning I set off to try the east bank or the Rideau at Black Rapids, but I couldn't see how to get down to the river. I took a path from Mary Dr., but it led to a private driveway with a "keep off" sign.
Once I drove over to the west side I realized that I'd left my licence at home, so I hastily packed up and went to pick it up.
I then went out to Remic Rapids, catching a couple of smallish bass.Sunday I headed out to Champlain Bridge (Ontario side). I walked downriver from the bridge, practicing my dry fly technique on the fast moving water (needs work, to make a long story short). After that I walked down to a pool where a fellow with a spinning rod was in the water. I caught a few bass there on wolly buggers, as well as a nice sunburn on the back of my legs (I wore long sleeves, but I spent at least an hour and a half standing on a rock with my lower legs exposed).
As an aside, I've been wading in shorts since I got my flyrod. My buddy has mentined that he'd be worried about leeches, but I haven't really given them a thought. What are people's feelings about standing in the Rideau or Ottawa rivers in bare legs?
Tyttor,
If you drive over the Baseline bridge you might notice a couple of flyfisherman, though there are better places to fish. Hogs Back is a convenient location and for the most part you don't have to compete with other fisherment if you're fishing downstream from the big pool below the falls.
As for the east side at Black Rapids, the gate right by the private driveway sign is Federal Property. Just walk past the gate and down to the dam. You'll have to walk way down the wall before you can find a place to get down. Personally I'd wait till the fall, after all the algea dies off, as it's blanketing everything on that side of the river.
With respect to wet wading, I do it whenever I can, with the exception being if I'm wading a stretch with lots of thick weed cover, or if the deer flies are bad! (bad experience at Billings Bridge with flies) I've never had a problem with leaches on the Ottawa, Rideau or Mississippi.
A group of us from the OFS are most likely going to go out Tuesday evening if you want to join in on the fun.
Cheers,
If you drive over the Baseline bridge you might notice a couple of flyfisherman, though there are better places to fish. Hogs Back is a convenient location and for the most part you don't have to compete with other fisherment if you're fishing downstream from the big pool below the falls.
As for the east side at Black Rapids, the gate right by the private driveway sign is Federal Property. Just walk past the gate and down to the dam. You'll have to walk way down the wall before you can find a place to get down. Personally I'd wait till the fall, after all the algea dies off, as it's blanketing everything on that side of the river.
With respect to wet wading, I do it whenever I can, with the exception being if I'm wading a stretch with lots of thick weed cover, or if the deer flies are bad! (bad experience at Billings Bridge with flies) I've never had a problem with leaches on the Ottawa, Rideau or Mississippi.
A group of us from the OFS are most likely going to go out Tuesday evening if you want to join in on the fun.
Cheers,
"There wouldn't have been any butt kickings if that stupid death ray had worked."
Black Rapids was really slooooowwww on Sunday morning. Caught a few smallies, the largest being about 14" long. Saw something rather large jump in the entrance to the locks.
Fished the Ottawa at Champlain rapids on Sunday evening. It was slower than I expected, but I still managed to get some surface action on a foam hopper. Another 14" smallie was the best of the evening.
Any idea where we're going tomorrow evening?
Fished the Ottawa at Champlain rapids on Sunday evening. It was slower than I expected, but I still managed to get some surface action on a foam hopper. Another 14" smallie was the best of the evening.
Any idea where we're going tomorrow evening?
Time's fun when you're having flies.