Thursday, December 22, 2011

Great fall days on the ‘Hooch’ DH

For those who are willing to brave a little cold and overcast skies, the delayed harvest area of the Chattahoochee River has been the place to be this fall. With the river conditions being horrible over the last 2 years, with the flood and the last year’s water release of Lake Lanier.

The water and weather have been perfect for the blue wings olives. On days of low water levels and around 35 degrees rising to the mid 50s, the hatches have been epic. One day the blue wings appeared like a great sailboat regatta with sails in the full wind.  However, you really had to work the rising fish because the bug selection was a eat all you want buffet and your fly had to be different or at the right place at the rhythmic rise and fall.
The type and size of your BWO had to be small, yes small. The fly of choice was a 22-26 emerger pattern behind a 20-22 comparadun BWO. A person needs the “huge” front attractor fly just to see the flies in the water.

So the next time you think it’s too cold and not a sunny beautiful day, bundle up with all of your winter gear and hand warmers and have one of the most fun fishing days on the Hooch.

-Jeff

Check out this video of Jeff Purdy & Bob S. hitting the Hooch Delayed Harvest: