May 23-25, 2009

Water temperature was up to 59-60 degrees, and water level was noticeable down from prior years, although a local farmer said cold and wet weather had just ended a few days prior to our visit. He did note that the area had less snowpack than in prior years. The chironomid hatches were overwhelming. They filled the air like a mist. Air temperatures were in the 70’s with sunny and clear to partly cloudy skies.

Despite these hatches, I continued to use my damsel/scud imitation fly (see last year’s report) on a size 12 2X hook, catching a fish about every twenty minutes from my float tube. The fish were slightly smaller, 11-12 inches, and not as fat as in prior years, but still healthy. If you haven’t fished Sidley before, these fish will still appear great; but for those of us who have fished it before, the fish lack that football appearance.

I managed to catch two 17-inch fish, one of them was six inches measured top to bottom, one 15-inch fish, and the rest (several dozen) were in the foot-long category. Two of these fish were completely bloated, their stomachs stuffed with olive scuds (size #16-#18).

Because of high winds on the plateau, our large tent was blown down on May 25 after one of the four major poles snapped, ending our trip early.

Fished Sidley all weekend. My family has a cabin on the south side of the lake, so the stay was outstanding like always. Fishing couldn't have been better. Plenty of 14-17in fighters all day long. There is a two fish limit, but using barbless hooks and fly fishing makes it easy to catch and release. Sidley always produces great fishing. You can use everything from powerbait to numerous flies to catch quality fish. Along with all the fishing, there is a family of bald eagles always up there, and they have one baby sitting up in its nest. Until next time....

The lake is full of scuds and chironomids. There are both Hyalella (1/10th to 3/10ths of an inch) and Gammarus (1/4th to 1 inch in length) scuds, with the majority being olive to pale olive, although cream, gray, and orange were found in small numbers. The majority of scuds found in stomach samples were Hyalella. Even when fish were filled exclusively with chironomids, the trout would not refuse a good and well presented scud imitation.

Chironomid pupae ranged from 1/4th to 3/4th of an inch in length, with the majority between 1/4th and ½ of an inch. The color of majority was charcoal and/or gray. A close second was green and olive. Some orange and yellow chironomids were even seen rising and noted in some stomach samples.

Although chironomids and scuds were the foods of choice, one water boatman, one damsel nymph, and two red midge larvae were sampled. Orange daphnia were common. Entomological conclusion: one cannot drink the water without consuming some calories.

The water temperature was 55 degrees Friday late afternoon, with overcast skies. I used a Kaufmann scud imitation, olive, and caught a fish about every hour. I had more strikes, but had difficulty setting the hook with my sink tip line. I believe there was too much slack and/or drag between the hook and me, causing too long a delayed reaction. I also lost a record number of flies because my knots were not secure enough for the takes, but I solved that later with and improved cinch knot.

On Saturday it rained all day; yet I remained in my tube and fished most of the day. I experimented with a size #16 copper pheasant tail nymph in the evening and added another fly to my arsenal that would be successful on this lake. I’ve had good success fishing a small olive pheasant tail in lakes where fish were targeting chironomid pupae.

Catching the fish on size 16 hooks and 5X leader required taking five or so minutes to land the fish. The fish averaged 12 inches and were fat: the girth was about 10 inches! They fought hard and their pink flesh was exceptional. The smaller rainbows (10.5 to 11 inches) preferred to jump two to three times before resigning; the larger fish (up to 16 inches) would only jump as a “last resort” before coming to the net. Two fish did manage to throw the hook after leaping out of the water and shaking their head at me.

On Sunday morning (7:00AM) I began the day with my pheasant tail and had excellent success until about 9:30, getting a strike about every cast. After that it was relatively slow until the evening when I tried a scud/damsel imitation, size #14 olive, made of marabou. I got a strike every cast. Unfortunately, I didn’t try this fly until about 8:30 PM and dark set in. The day was mostly sunny.

On Monday it was sunny and fair all day with some clouds. I fished the north half of the lake and started out at about 6:30AM with my previously mentioned fly. I had a strike every other cast, caught about 30 fish, averaging one every 10 minutes. Most of the fish were 11 inches with a few topping out at 13 inches. I used an SA’s Stillwater Line (clear)/intermediate and about 10 feet of 5X fluorocarbon tippet. The smaller fish would come to the net in two minutes or less, but the 12 to 13 inch fish took about four to five minutes before they would stop running on me.

This was my most successful stillwater fishing trip to date. Moreover, I was able to see and touch what I had only either observed briefly or read in books about how trout favor scuds even when a more abundant (chironomids) food source is accessible.

For the record, I did try bait fishing this lake without success, although anglers around me were catching fish with the same and various power bait. It was my daughter Victoria’s, age 4, first fishing trip and I couldn’t get a fish to hit her bait. Although I brought her my fly rod with a hooked fish and she reeled it in, she noted that she didn’t catch it on her pole.

For those who may be interested in fishing this shallow lake, it may be noted that spring and fall would be the preferred times (before it gets too warm). For those camping overnight off the north shore or having the need, the nearest outhouse (yellow) is in Molson at the Old Molson Museum¾a word to the concerned.

Went specifically to fish Sidley as we did well in the past. Saw one fish caught all weekend. Dead, dead, dead. Some of the old-timers said it's just too hot right now and wait until the weather cools.

Stopped by on the way to a music festival in BC and was very impressed with the fishing and the beautiful country. Caught and released many 12-18 inch bows There is a 2 fish limit and I don't think anyone had a problem getting that. Good shoreline access, so really no need for a boat. Molson Lk right next door has a
5 fish limit and I spoke with a several that said they limited out in short time on 12-16 inch fish.