For the past 10 years or so I have concentrated most of my fishing efforts on a number of what could best be described as smaller Interior lakes.
Most are within a few hours drive. I enjoy fishing each of these little lakes, in part because I do not need anything larger than my little 12-foot aluminum Mirrocraft, and because I have discovered that each lake represents a whole plethora of different types of fishing opportunities at different times of the year.
Some are what I call my ‘spring lakes,’ not because they have great chironomid hatches, but rather because they have a number of other insect hatches, including both caddis and mayfly, that extend from the end of May – when I usually begin to head out fishing – all the way to the later part of June. Several others are higher in elevation and allow me to fish through the dog days of summer. My favourite, however, is one that I like to fish in late summer and early fall. It is a shallow, little lake with fallen trees along most of its shoreline. There are two distinctly different weed beds, one on either side of an island at the far end. These weed beds are inhabited by a multitude of sub-aquatic insects. Rising out of its dark, stained waters are a number of deadfalls that make it dangerous to fish when the sun has gone down, but also make it interesting to cast when the fish are actively feeding in the failing light.
I have spent a fair amount of time casting a line to fish in each of these lakes and, in the process, have learned specific things about each lake. Perhaps I have learned the most about my favourite lake and that is why it is my favourite.
Learning how to read the waters of any lake requires more than having an understanding of lake structure and the ability to identify fish-holding waters. Such a skill is achieved by making countless observations over time and then, and only then, being able to put all those little bits of information together in order to make a calculated guess.
Fish are relatively opportunistic feeders. They can also be quite selective. By their very nature, they are relatively wary creatures and, while fish are constantly seeking food, they are also continually seeking protection from anything that might be inclined to feed on them. Fallen trees, weed beds, sunken islands and the marl at the bottom of the lake all provide protective cover for both sub- aquatic insects and forage fish. Which means that these areas are also prime hunting grounds for larger fish looking for something to eat.
Fish will also often cruise the shallows along the shore-line after sunset when they can swim about freely under the cover of fading light. Creek mouths, where the surface of the water is broken by moving water entering the lake, are also a favourite spot for fish to hold while waiting for food to come their way.
Knowing how to read the waters is important – it can help put you in the right place at the right time of the day and season to present your fly.
After that, I guess it’s pretty much a matter of presenting your imitation fly pattern in such a manner as to attract fish rather than scare them away. Presentation is important, as is choosing the right fly.
I may not be the most scientific angler. I certainly do not claim to know the scientific names of most of the insects represented in my fly box. What I do know is that if the fish are feeding on some sort of small, pale green-coloured insect with mottled wings, it doesn’t really matter what its scientific name is as long I have something that closely resembles it in my fly box. Who says I’m a slow learner?
