Fishing small dry flies on trout reservoirs

Fishing small dry flies can be an interesting technique on reservoirs in Spring time, even before larger insects like the mayflies appear at the surface of these waters.

m_IMG_2319 The first of May proved to be a day of labor for us too. With Cora Nicolasen I did spend some hours on the flyfishing lake of De Kool in Heelweg. The morning was fresh with a cool northern wind, in the afternoon the sun emerged from behind the clouds and the temperature became more comfortable.
The first of May proved to be a day of labor for us too. With Cora Nicolasen I did spend some hours on the flyfishing lake of De Kool in Heelweg. The morning was fresh with a cool northern wind, in the afternoon the sun emerged from behind the clouds and the temperature became more comfortable.

 

m_IMG_2337 The water of the lake is very clear at the moment and as larger artificial flies were ignored by the cruising fish that we saw, we changed to size 16 and 18 dry flies. These we fished on long leaders (3,50 to 4 meters) with a 6X (14/00) tippet. A Polywing Spinner produced my first fish of the day, a 55 cm rainbow trout that made some long powerfull runs.
The water of the lake is very clear at the moment and as larger artificial flies were ignored by the cruising fish that we saw, we changed to size 16 and 18 dry flies. These we fished on long leaders (3,50 to 4 meters) with a 6X (14/00) tippet. A Polywing Spinner produced my first fish of the day, a 55 cm rainbow trout that made some long powerfull runs.

 

m_IMG_5299 Somewhat later Cora hooked a big fish on a CDC Blue Dun pattern in a size 16. Long runs and a light tippet are not a desirable combination, but fish and angler did not split company.
Somewhat later Cora hooked a big fish on a CDC Blue Dun pattern in a size 16. Long runs and a light tippet are not a desirable combination, but fish and angler did not split company.

 

m_IMG_5304 It took several minutes but in the end Cora could bring in the fish close enough for me to net it.
It took several minutes but in the end Cora could bring in the fish close enough for me to net it.

 

m_IMG_5312 A fish of about the same size as mine (we did not measure this one) with which Cora was more than happy.
A fish of about the same size as mine (we did not measure this one) with which Cora was more than happy.

 

m_IMG_5329 Cora returns the rainbow trout to the depths of the water.
Cora returns the rainbow trout to the depths of the water.

 

m_IMG_5332 On the main lake rises were visible both along the shore and in deeper water when the clouds disappeared. Here too the fish only seemed to take very small insects.
On the main lake rises were visible both along the shore and in deeper water when the clouds disappeared. Here too the fish only seemed to take very small insects.

 

m_IMG_5348 The flyfishing lake of the Kool (the trout fishery has some put-and-take ponds as well) holds an excellent stock of trout at the moment. The cool Spring temperatures keeps the water conditions for these fish just as they like to see it.
The flyfishing lake of the Kool (the trout fishery has some put-and-take ponds as well) holds an excellent stock of trout at the moment. The cool Spring temperatures keeps the water conditions for these fish just as they like to see it.

 

m_IMG_5431 When the sun appeared, it was more easy to spot the cruising trout. This one came from some very shallow water.
When the sun appeared, it was more easy to spot the cruising trout. This one came from some very shallow water.

 

Website: www.de-kool.nl.

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