Frenchman Lake Oct. 25-27

With the unseasonable warm temperatures that we been having, and with all the fall colors out in full force, i convince my wife that we need to get in one more fishing trip to Frenchman. The catching wasn't easy with the lake level being dropped for the on coming winter, so the trout are adjusting to the dropping water levels and will keep moving around looking for food at the different flats and coves through out the North and South end of the lake. The AM is the best time to spot the trout in the shallow water bays, flats, coves, and as the sun gets higher the trout will move out to the deeper water off these shallow water bays, flats, and coves. Some days i didn't catch any fish, and some days i caught 5-7, so you need to take some time and find some rising fish first before you put your tube into the water, a guide like Jon Baiocchi that knows the water and has a fast boat to put you onto the rising trout in the AM and where to look for them when the sun gets high can make a quick last fall trip.
Its no secret that i like to rip big streamer, but what i found out is my retrieved was to fast and my fly was to big, i slowed my retrieved down and used a size 10 still water nymph in burnt orange, and with little to no wind, and very clear water i add 8 ft. of fluorocrbone tippet to my 9 ft. leader for the very skinny water that i was fishing in ( less than 2 ft. ). I found that if i sat real still in my float tube in that skinny water, it was amazed at how many trout were swimming within 6 ft. of my tube, these big trout are very spooky so you need to stop the blind casting and only cast to a rising fish, this is a hard thing for people to do is to limit your catching, after you hook and land a fish let the area rest for 5 min's, the fish will move back into casting range and start raising again.

These Eagle Lake trout are so fat now.
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...psoguowgna.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps6rnhkcpj.jpg

Thanks Gene and good seeing you in the canyon, A real accurate fishing report. Water temps did come up in a big way from the Autumn heat wave in the last week, and I noticed the behavior of the trout changed (especially mid day), and where they were feeding. With the weather turning colder and wet in the days ahead, look for the second wind of the fall grab to take hold. You'll have to make another trip before it's all over ;) Let me know... - J.