Piedmont Reservoir, Wyoming
Piedmont Reservoir, Nevada – Incoming storm front
Mother Nature gave me everything she had these past few days!
A falling barometer signaled an impending major storm over SW Wyoming. Snow and rain fell in the evenings as the temperature dropped to a brisk 29 degrees, F. Shivering, I bundled up against the cold as I ventured onto the water before sunrise.
Strong winds preceded the morning sun, and by 8 A.M., water slamming against the dam sent sprays of water cascading over the dam walls. Wind gusts up to 33 mph howled around me, wresting control of my pontoon boat away from me and redirecting it to its own whim.
I prefer fishing with a light chop, however, high waves turned my fishing day to a fight for survival as I hugged the shoreline and kicked my way back, cursing my fate and hoping for safe passage.
I was able to land two large male rainbows who seemed utterly unfazed by the raging turmoil on the surface. They hit my Predator Minnow like a freight train. This wild scenario played out for three days straight before the storm finally moved on.
Trout caught on Vickie’s Predator Minnow
On the fourth day, Mother Nature finally provided me a reprieve. Rings formed on quiet water as trout fed on pupa ascending to the surface. Switching to a smaller pattern, I was able to land trout on my UV Crystal Pupa during the early morning hours. Once sun hit the lake, the trout moved into deeper water.
This time of the year, water temperatures begin to warm and fishing can be tough. I find early and late in the day the best times to fish.
Piedmont Reservoir at Sunrise
When you start seeing signs of feeding fish (e.g. surface rings, dorsal rises, and/or sipping insects from the surface film) then switch to a smaller pupa pattern like a midge, nymph, or emerger. Be sure to maintain the fly in the top few feet of the water column.
Trout caught on Vickie’s UV Crystal Pupa
The other challenge I faced was poor water quality. Particulates suspended in the water were the result of a significant amount of water added in the past month to restore the reservoir to its normal level. When this happens, water clarity is off due to unsettled particulates, and the chemistry of the water has not yet stabilized. The water will eventually clear up over the summer. However, fishing may be somewhat challenging until that happens, normally by the fall. This happens primarily on reservoirs.
I’m off to Crittenden, Nevada for the rest of the week. Stay tuned for Part 2 of my Spring Fishing Report.
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