12 to 15" Rainbows are common at Lewiston Reservoir

Lewiston Lake - Lewiston, CA (Trinity County)


by The Fly Shop
10-21-2012
Website

Current Lake Conditions: Here's a great report sent to us by our friend Richard Thompson.

"I fished two days at the area off Lakeview Terrace Resort. I worked all the channels and flats and caught a lot of 12-15" rainbows. Mornings and late afternoons I used a #12 Rickert's Stillwater pattern in orange or orange and olive on a short sink tip line. Mid-day there were good midge hatches especially on Wednesday. During the hatch I hung a #22 red Zebra midge 16" below and larger dry midge pattern. The trout took the Zebra midge quite well. I really enjoyed the structure in this section of the lake."

Not sure what type of "short sink tip Richard used, but RIO's Big Boy 24" Sink Tip should work great. We don't carry Rickert's Still Water patterns, but we do carry the legendary Jay Fair's patterns and I would put the Translucent Wiggle Tail up against any still water pattern.
The Fly Shop's ? Tips: A productive technique is suspending #22 red zebra midges or Gidgets under a treated piece of poly yarn. A single BB shot will get the flies down deep. About 7-8 feet. When using indicators, the takes can be difficult to see and detect. Successful indicator anglers keep the flies in the water, sometimes letting the drift extend all the way to the backing, then low and slow retrieve. Sink tip fly lines allow anglers to retrieve leeches, buggers and small nymphs fast or slow. This lake is best fished from a motorized boat, pram or pontoon boat. Float tubes are fine if you are okay with walking back up to the parking lot after the slow current of Lewiston pushes you south of the boat ramp.

Suggested Fly Patterns:

Dry Flies:

• Parachute Adams #14-16
• D&D Cripple Callibaetis #16
• Black Flying Ants
• Carpenter Ants
• Hackle Stackers - BWO #18
• Parachute Adams - #14-18
• Fox's Scum Dun #14
• Mayfly Cripples

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• CB Frostbites - #18
• Sparkle Scuds #14-16
• Ultra Scuds #16
• Sparkle Scuds
• Serendipity - #20
• Chromies - #18-20
• Mercer's Micro May - Black #18
• BH Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18
• Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-16
• Sparkle Scuds - #14-16
• Zebra Midges - #18-20
• Mercer's Gidgets

Streamers/Leeches:
• Zack's Swimming Leech - #8
• Zack's Damseleech - Orange/Olive

Fly Fishing Gear:
• Outcast ? Fish Cat 9-IR
• Simms ? Freestone Stocking-foot Waders
• Patagonia's ? Riverwalker Rubber Sole Boot
• Dinsmore Removable Egg Shape Shot
• Fishpond ? Swift Current Thermometer