Tight Lining Using Zebra Midge With Trout Food Low??

I must admit that I haven’t had much time to fish the last couple of months with other projects going on. Smith Lake is on its annual drawdown and it want be back to normal until Spring. When the drawdown occurs the fish become dormant and suspend and become less active. The last time I fish the lake was in August and had limited success. The tailrace has become my main target the last couple of months with some success. At the last Trout Unlimited Club meeting there was a discussion about the severe shortage of food in the tailrace. One can turn over rock after rock and see no evidence of the leeches, scuds, mayfly larvae, or even the tiny shrimps that was there a year ago. Our club is going to do some research with the game and fish to see what has happen in the way of the food chain. The last trip I made was a couple of weeks ago and I manage to land a couple of trout that was in good condition considering the limited of food they had to eat.

There was no action at all on top for this day and the only way I could get a take was to use the midge tight lining. I had read an article a while back on this method of fishing and decided to give it a try. This bow was taken using a size 20 Zebra Midge using a tiny weight above the midge. The current was  slow so I was simply high sticking through a small seam that was about 4 to 4 1/2 ft. deep using a 9 ft. 4 wt. The takes were extremely light, so I had to be on my game to get the hit. The only complaint I have with this style of nymphing is the hang ups at times. I found out that if you don't react even at the slightest tug, then you diminish your changes of landing the fish. I tried this same area with the indicator but couldn't get any takes, so that was really what brought on the tight lining method. I am always up for any new method in trout fishing and today I got to try one that proved to be successful.

Notice the midge right in the top of the mouth where it should be. With leaves all over the surface, it made for a mess trying to do anything with the dry. Either a leaf would hang the fly up or the leaves would interfere with the line. One theroy most of the club members agree on as for the lack of food is less generation which creates more moss on all the rocks. I could make this same trip last November and land at least a half dozen trout. Of course the food was there then as opposed to now. Considering the limited amount of time I had today and the shortage of food for the trout I think I did pretty well. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why the food supply has dropped off?