Well it sure is nice that the Summer fishing season is in swing and "FISHING" is once again the main topic on the board. Just thought I'd through this topic out there even though it should probably go on the Fly Fishing Board.

I make an annual trip up to Hi-Hium Lake up in B.C. for Kamloops Rainbow with Dangerous Dave and a group of guys (this year that group will include Rick68 for the first time) and was wondering if anybody else from this board fishes this awesome lake?? If there is, I was wondering what types of patterns you use and where on the lake you use certain patterns. I am always looking to try out new things so I just thought I'd throw this topic out there to see if I might get some ideas.

DR - I bet you'd love it up there. It is a fun eight days!! (I am sure DD has filled you in).


Okay, back to Salmon......

I've fished it. Guess my "closet" fly ways are coming out of the closet again.

I did my best on chronies under indicators down west of Moose point. Also used traveling sedges to drag some fish.

Time I fished there it turned out Ian Forbes was fishing too and happened to be in the boat next to us. He's a good BC fish writer and is on some of the BC boards.

I'd like to get back there again.

Did you camp in the FS spot or stay in one of the 3 resorts?

I've also fished a few miles further in BC.

I fished up there a while back and we did real well dredging Nyerges Nymphs and Gil's Monsters on a ten foot type III. Did O.K with the standared chrironamids.

The Gil's Monster tied with a chartruese body crushed em' also.

Good Luck!

Zen,
We stay at the Eagle Bay I Cabin every year (one of the Circle W Ranch Cabins) during the first week of September. It is right straight across the lake from Moose Point. We toss mostly a nymph pattern called the "Nelmark Nymph" in Red or Black and a Blood Worm during the day and Elk Hair Caddis when the lake starts to boil. Have our best luck that time of year up inside Rock Island or down off the pads by Ladoski's.

Reiter,
i am familiar with Nyerges Nymph, but what is a "Gil's Monster"? Is it a Gil Nyerges pattern? If so do you know where I could get a picture of it?? Tried a google search but came up with nothing.
Where did you stay when you were there?? I look forward to that trip everyyear now ... it is a great time!

Gil's Monster is a Carey variation. It's an oversized one on a #6, 4xl hook.

Me, I'd sooner use one called the Junkyard Dog (JYD), which again, is a Carey variation. I created this one and happened to re-invent the Gil's Monster/Carey variation.

Had good luck with the JYD up at Kappan Lake which is out west on highway 20. First year every fish took us into our backing.

I did mine on a #4, 4xl hook. Pheasant rump for the hackle and tail with avocado angora wool for the body.

The Gil's Monster is the same with a black or green chenille body.

Flies I tied for Hihium were green stimulators and green EHC's with trailing shucks. Did them on #8, 3xl hooks.

I've never fished that particular lake, but I make a trip up to that general area for Kamloops trout every year. I suggest you get the book "Kamloops: An Angler's Study of the Kamloops Trout" by Steve Raymond. He talks about this lake and hatches you can expect.

My two favorite patterns at the hike in lakes I hit are the Little Fort Leech and the Crystal Idaho Nymph. For dries, I really like Tom Thumbs. Chironomids can also provide consistant action if you're willing to look at an indicator for hours.

Have fun!! I'll be up there in September.

ZEN,
Thanks for the info. Sounds as though we are on the same page so to speak. Our "Nelmark Nymph" is Carey variation tied on either #6 or #8 4x long. Tied with either Red, Black or Olive chenile silver rib and pheasant rump. I have only been tying for about two years now, but I am learning that there are a lot of different names for patterns that look very similar in design and presentation.

CWU,
Thanks for Leech and Nymph pattern. Found some good pictures so I'll have to tie some up and give 'em a try this year. We will be up there in September as well, 1st week.

Kaari,

One does not STARE at an indicator for hours... <nose in air>.

If that indicator's not diving down every two or three minutes, somethings very wrong. The fly is either at the wrong depth, the wrong size.... or the wrong part of the lake.

I've been on lakes where that indicator is diving about the time the fly hits the end of the leader. BC allows a person to "two rod" and at Peterhope one time I had so many strikes on chronies and indicators I had to put one rod away.

One little trick to add to ReiterRat's suggestion for HiHuim...

I have a good freind/co-worker that has fished HeHium alot and swears by the technique that ReiterRat mentioned except he takes his Gil's Monsters and plucks all the hackle so its very short...he contends plucking the hackle makes all the differance in the World.

Thanks to all for the inputs. I have a few new ideas to play with this year and I really appreciate the information. CWU - I checked a couple bookstores for that Kamloops book but couldn't find one, but I found it on the net and it looks like it will be some good reading/information. It should arrive at my door step within 7 days....thanks!

Every time I here that name I wonder if it is the raymond I know.What his bio say in the book?Is he from bremerton?

His bio in the book says he works at the Seattle Times and lives in Seattle. That was back before he retired a couple of years ago. I hear he lives over on the other side of the Sound now.

Book was originally published in the late 60's. At one time I had a 1st edition of his in my hands. Got it from the library as strange as that might be. When I bought one for myself I had to settle on a 2nd edition paperback and later bought the revised one that's now out in the large book format. The latest book (large format) is the better one because of the newer pictures.

An excellent read for anyone who wants to fish BC... but I don't think the thread recipe for his one golden shrimp fly is as precise as he thinks it needs to be. Said it had to be one particular color of one manufacturer's tying thread and no other one would work as good. A good fly in it's time but I think other scud patterns work as well, or better. Particularly some of the larval lace patterns.

Also if one checks in the book section of Salmon Trout Steelheader (Amato Publications) you'll see Raymond's book for sale.

Umrules. We should meet up sometime and I'll show you other BC trout books that give good info. Karl Bruhn's books give good kiss and tell info.

Differant people then.I went to school and boy scouts with the one I am thinking of son.He had a trout pond in his back yard that had huge rainbows in it.I used to always see him out fly fishing in the salt for searuns.Thanks

It may be the same one as he also has a book out on Estuary fishing and cutts feature big in that.