Fishing on the Dark Side

[Bjay]

Hi guys
Fishing on the dark side is chronomid fishing straight down from the boat. Usually 16 feet and deeper.
Here is how I do it. been dong it over 30 years.
First you need to have something to attach to the fly to get it down.
Now a lot of guys use their forcepts BUT your forcepts are going to sink into the mud anywhere from a few inches to a foot or more before the bottom is solid enough tp stop them from sinking, they are to thin and too heavy. (From my experience.)
So I have found that a 1/4 by 3/4 inch stainless bolt with three nuts is just right. Put an "O" ring in the middle of the nuts and hook your fly in the "O" ring. This won't sink into the mud as fast or as deep. I gingerly find the bottom then put the rod tip to the water wind up the slock, and then reach up to the first eye , grab the line ,pull it back to the reel and wind up that slack. Remove the nut and drop the line back down. Sit with the rod tip at water level.You're fishing.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL YOU DO. (You may now just sit and wait. The fish sometime will only take the fly if it is dead still, or.)
You now work the fly. I give the fly a few moments at dead still, the slowly lift the fly off the bottom, about a foot at at a time, then pause a few moments, then lift again, to about a 3 foot lift total. The drop it back down and start again. This works really well if there is a hatch and you are using chrommies. I use from # 18's to 10's straight 2x and 3x long and scud hooks. All 2 x strong.
Cheers
BJay

[flydude]

These work well also for finding bottom:

https://www.bulletweights.com/Produc.../Depth-Finders

[bhobson]

BJay. Do you put a small weight above the fly.

[tallieho]

Then to go a step farther.After you have your depth.Slide on a bobber stop,that way everytime.You bring your line in,the depth will be consistent.

[goldscud]

With a type 6 full sink line you shouldn't need to add any weight.
Sometimes a slow vertical retrieve a long way up gets some violent hits.
Fish may be hovering at some distance off the bottom

[Tungsten,]

All good tips.
I usually go 4’ up from bottom. So two pulls of line from first eye to reel. Approx 4’. I think fish can see up better than down?? Keep leaders short. Less than rod length and thin. So don’t use store bought ones with such a thick butt end. I’ve used a chunk of 2-3X nail knotted on then 3-4’ of 5x successfully.
I generally fish deep so I have white out marks on my line. It scrapes off easily.

[Tungsten,]

Originally Posted by bhobson

BJay. Do you put a small weight above the fly.

One year fishing a popular BC lake friends didn’t have sinking line on their fly rods. But they did have ice fishing gear. Small rods and reels. I rigged them up with a weight and 4’ up a crony. They could drop the line and feel the bottom. They had a great time catching 16” fish. One other fellow rigged it the other way with weight above the fly.about 4’ Crimp on ones. So he’d lift 8’ up after feeling bottom. He didn’t do nearly as well as the others with weight on bottom. I suspect the weight hiding in the bottom goo was the ticket.

[Bjay]

Originally Posted by bhobson

BJay. Do you put a small weight above the fly.

Hi
I tie a figure 8 knot about 2 feet above the fly and then add a BB or AAA splt shot for weight above the knot to stop the weight from slipping down to the fly.
I use Dinsmores EGG shot size BB and AAA as it is made of tin and can used duzens of times before it won't hold any more. Bloody expensive but the best I have found. I never throw them away for any reason, and they are not made of lead. Tin is approximatlet 80% of the weight of lead.
Cheers
Bjay

[Don Andersen]

All the above is bobber gazing.
Now for those that don’t, 120% of water depth of 8 lb. Vanish, a tippet of Seagar flouro., several small chironomids tied without beads, a. Long belly WF line and wait for the tug. Got a couple of dozen the other day.

Don

[Lornce]

Originally Posted by Don Andersen

All the above is bobber gazing.
Now for those that don’t, 120% of water depth of 8 lb. Vanish, a tippet of Seagar flouro., several small chironomids tied without beads, a. Long belly WF line and wait for the tug. Got a couple of dozen the other day.

Don

Yep, a lot of people don't know that a floating line can be a great indicator. Works great with nymphs and damsels too.

[Don Andersen]

Originally Posted by Lornce

Yep, a lot of people don't know that a floating line can be a great indicator. Works great with nymphs and damsels too.

Lornce,

Typically, the fish tug the fly. I rarely watch the line.

Don