Equipment and Flies
- Rods: Three, four, &
five-weight fly rods, 8 to 9 feet long are ideal for fishing Clear
Creek Ranch. Some anglers prefer short rods for this type stream,
but we think the longer rods are better as they make roll casts
and line control after the cast much easier.
- Reels: Most reels
are just fine for Clear Creek fishing. You will not have any fish
here take you into your backing because the pools just don’t
allow that. However, these big fish can give quite a strong first
surge and if your reel hangs up just a bit the fish will win.
Just make sure any reel you use releases line smoothly no matter
how full or empty the spool is.
- Fly Lines: Almost
everyone uses a forward taper, floating line for fishing Clear
Creek.
You won’t be making long casts on most of the stretches
of stream so whatever line you like best for short casts (20’
to 30’) and roll casts should be just fine. Try using a fly line one size larger than your rod calls for, which make make roll casts or shorter casts easier.
- Leaders: Clear Creek
can present a bit of a problem when it comes to picking that perfect
leader. Ten foot leaders tapered to 4X will be a great start when
fishing those big pools in this stream. Adding a section of 5x
or 6x tippet and you are ready to go. The problem comes when you
move to the smaller pools and riffles with more stream side vegetation.
Now that leader is just too long and you would be better served
using s 71/2 foot leader and a short piece of tippet. Early season
you could just cut off the tippet on that 10 foot leader and tie
on a high floating dry and go for it. In low water conditions
this just doesn’t work as well. Some anglers set up for
the bigger pools and just fish those and when they come to end
of the beat they change to the shorter leader set up and fish
back with that. Maybe one of you will come up with the perfect
solution and let us know about it. Last point- we mentioned this
above, but it bears repeating. Use fluorocarbon leaders and tippets
on this stream- you will lose far fewer fish and flies.
Miscellaneous Items:
*Hat *Sunscreen *Polarized Sun Glasses *Clippers
*Hemostats
*Camera *Soap for Poison Oak
Flies for Clear Creek
Streamers
Beaded Micro Buggers, (blk/olive/brn), # 12
Zacks Zugger Bugger, (all colors), #8
Crystal Buggers, (olive, brn, blk), #8-10
Nymphs
GBPT Nymphs, #14-18
GB Bird’s Nest, #12-18
GB Micro Mayfly, (blk), #16-18
Dark Lord, #14-18
Golden Stone, #10-12
Red Copper John, #12-16
Mercer’s Zebra Midge, #18
Mercury Black Beauty, #20
Dries
Parachute Adam, #14-18
Elk Hair Caddis, #14-16
Golden Stimulator, #12-14
Yellow Humphy, #12-16
Parachute Ant, #16
TFS Foam Beetle, #14
Idylwilde Hopper, #8-12
This is by no means an all exclusive
list of flies. There are many other patterns that will
work as well in many cases. However, this is a list of flies that
represent patterns that any fisherman should have in their vest.
Going to our private ranches or to public water with only three or
four patterns will mean you stand a great chance of not having
the right fly at the right time.
A few points to remember:
Although Clear Creek Ranch is private, we still
operate under Fish & Game guidelines & regulations. Fishing
licenses are required and must be displayed.
But we've added a few of our own rules and
guests must remember that we require all of the ranch fishing to be
fly fishing with barbless hooks, and that all fish
caught must be released.
Procedures for handling trout
1. Try to bring each fish to net or hand
as quickly as possible. The larger ones will do their best
to interfere with you doing this, but remember, the longer you play
one the greater the chance they will die later. If you do find yourself
in a long battle with one of the bigger ones, never take it out
of the water. Use an airless release only.
2. Use barbless hooks and avoid using the very
large streamer hooks. Fish with size 8 flies or smaller.
3. Please, no hard nylon nets! The new rubber
mesh nets are ideal.
4. Avoid dragging any fish up on the bank.
Use the airless release at all times. You can either reach down
with a hemostat or hook disengager and remove the fly while the
fish is still under water.
5. When taking pictures of your fish please
get everything ready before lifting the fish up for the shot. Support
the fish with both hands- don’t squeeze- and keep it over
water the whole time. Lastly---your trophy should not be out of
the water for over 5 seconds. |
