Fishing Report: Fireworks on the Lil E

Just before the last run of monsoons, I decided to give a beat of the Little Elkhart River a second chance. This particular section happens to be outside the catch and release area, is extremely remote, and just happened to kick my ass a few weeks before, resulting in many lost flies and a broken rod tip. #angermanagement.

The waters were just starting to clear up the first of July and the air temps were hovering around 70 degrees! Mid May weather in July?? Time to fish! Having fished for a few hours the night before, I was expecting a good bite. I parked my wagon at the bridge and made my way upstream. Experience has taught me that if you catch a trout under the bridge, or before the second bend, fishing is going to be good. I had no such luck, but not for lack of effort.
This was my second outing with my new Orvis Recon 10' 4wt. rod. I was skeptical that the rod would be a worthy replacement for my Greys Streamlight, but my doubts were quickly dashed! Orvis out did themselves on this rod. It is noticeably  light, sensitive and versatile. But more on that in an upcoming post, this is a fishing report after all.

Immediately after the second bend, a bump and a colorful 10" brown. The river has really changed through this section since last summer. Log jams have moved, new trees down, lots of new runs and riffles. And I fished them all!

I took a few more "smaller" browns has I headed upstream. The water continued to clear and the fish were holding exactly where I thought they should be. I came to a new, massive log jam and studied it for some time before deciding how to approach this monster of a run. I fished the backside first, taking a brown and missing another, lost two rigs on the mid section before moving to the top section, which was the least impressive looking and directly in the sunlight. I bounced my fly of the log creating this massive hole and raised my rod tip to keep tension as my flies quickly sunk and I began my drift... BAM!! This fish had some shoulders!! And lots of snags to run to! After a couple of dicey moments, I brought the beast to net! A beautiful 17 inch fat brown trout.

After gently reviving the fish, I carefully released the trout back to it's home, checked my rig, and once again drifted my flies through the run. This time, on the rise at the end of my drift, a 13" hold over bow nailed my ATO Bishop. Two cast. Two double digit trout. Am I in Indiana??

The next 500 meters of fishing proved to be maybe my best to date. Just 75 meters upstream I stuck another monster brown, this one coming in just over 19"! What a day!

And it wasn't over, by the end of the day I had caught 6 trout at 15" or bigger. Not to mention a sunfish, and two smallmouths. I believe that would be a grand slam!

As I made the long trek back to my chariot, I couldn't help but smile while I sipped my beer. An amazing day of fishing. I did't even care that my waders failed two hours in and I kept having to bail them out all day. This fishing season really is shaping up to be one of the best I've ever had.

The Lowdown:

Water has been is the low 60's, which is awesome for this time of year. However, today the river is high, stained and basically unfishable. Should be better by the weekend.

Flies: Nymphs and streamers. Green bugs!! 

Guide Tie: The ATO Dutchie

Several years ago, I took Jeff Stanifer on fishing on what had just become the Catch and Release section of the Little Elkhart River. Jeff is an accomplished fly tier and competition fly fisherman, and Jeff shined that day taking several trout out of runs and holes that I would, at the time, never think of fishing. Jeff introduced me to two things on that short outing that have forever changed my fly fishing experience. The first was using European nymphing techniques, the second was the use of “hot spots” on fly patterns. Hot spots are simply using a band of bright color, such as hot pink, red, chartreuse, or orange, on your fly to entice a trout to strike. 

Over the next winter, I researched European techniques and flies like it was my job. I tied several different Czech style nymphs based on the masters like Jan Simon, Vladi Trzebunia, and American Lance Egan. Egan’s famous “Frenchie” became the inspiration for the original Dutchie. From the first time I used the Dutchie, I knew I had something special! I have probably caught more fish on this pattern than any other over the past five years. I tie it from a size 10 to a size 18, and fish it several different ways. A great presentation is to tie the Dutchie 18” below the hook of a sparkle wooly bugger. Lead the flies through a deep pool and then let them swing up at the end of your drift. Deadly! I also use the Dutchie has a dropper to my favorite hopper patterns has the summer goes on.

I have been asked “What is the Dutchie supposed to be? A scud or a caddis nymph?” 

My answer is always “Yes. Exactly that.” All I really know about the Dutchie is that fish like to eat them!

Hook: Caddis pupa or Cezch hook. Barbless. Size 10 -18

Thread: UTC Green Olive 140 denier

Bead: Tungsten Black, 1/8” to 5/32”

Rib: UTC Ultra Wire Copper size Small

Dubbing: Orvis Olive Hare’ E Ice Dub

Wingcase: Olive Body Glass (Available at perfomanceflies.com)

Hotspot: 140 denier Hot Pink UTC Thread (with Pink antron dubbing optional)

Step 1: Slide bead on hook and place in vise. Start thread behind bead and wrap half down the bend.

Step 2: Tie in a 2” section of fine copper wire, followed by a 1-1/2” section of olive Body Glass. Tie both the entire length of the shaft, up to the bead to build up the body.

Step 3: Apply Orvis Hare’ E Ice dubbing to the thread for approximately 4 to 5 inches (you can also use a dubbling loop in so inclined). Use your fingers to “mat’ the dubbing to the thread by briskly twisting. Wrap dubbing up to the bead. The dubbing should be bushy.

Step 4: Pull the body glass tight across the back of the fly to the bead and use sever loops and a hitch to secure.

Step 5: Wrap the copper wire the opposite direction as you did the dubbing, making sure the glass stays on top of the fly. At the Bead, make two or there extra loops around and then whip finish to secure with thread.

Step 6: Cut olive thread and attach pink thread directly behind bead.

Step 7: Wrap pink thread several time until you have a nice 1 mm collar. Add pink antron dubbing if you wish for bulk. Whip finish and fish.