Posted on September 09 2025
Arrived back at the Lordville Estate about 12:30pm today. Put stuff away, ate lunch and mowed the lawn, parts of which are brown and haven't grown in six weeks while other parts, shaded by trees and houses, continued to grow. When I finished the mowing, I sat down and tied some very small olives including two 26's, the smallest flies I've ever tied.
Headed out to fish a little after three and with the water still relatively low, went back up to Deposit. There were tiny little olives but the fish seemed reluctant to rise in the bright sun. Had one big cloud block the sun and at least a dozen fish started to rise, as soon as the sun came out again everything quieted down. Departed at 5:00 with no clouds anywhere near the sun.
Drove down river knowing I could wade the lower river pools at 500cfs. Found one that wasn't occupied and had fish to throw at in a good olive hatch until dark. The run I fished has big boulders that slow the current in some places while speeding it up in others. Even at 500cfs it is deep, and long casts were needed to reach the rising fish. Putting the fly in front of a fish without drag was a challenge. Got a half dozen fish to come up and refuse the fly, hooked two and landed one.
On the way back to the car, I saw a pod of fish gulping midges, tied on one of my size 26 olives and hooked a nice fish. Waded back to shore and worked what turned out to be a 17 inch rainbow into the soft water where I was able to net it. It was the first fish I've ever caught on a size 26 fly and one I'm sure to remember.
Met my GHOF at the Crossroad Tavern for a burger while we recounted the days fishing adventures.
Congratulations! I don’t even have a size 26 in my boxes. I tip my hat to you yet again.
The saga continues!! I fished the lower WB and was in a BWO hatch. They were all over the water. They were in all sizes. No fish rose until the sun went down. After that there were minimal rises and the refusals came in good numbers. I thought I was being refused and the fish ate my fly and of course I lost it. I am now 0 for 3 catching fish on my last 3 excursions!!!! I am being punished by the trout gods.
Jack,
Daiichi 1110 is a big eye, wide gape dry hook.
I use it all the way down to size 26.
You should be able to tie your flies and get 6x through the eye.
Good luck!!
#26!!!
With several more revolutions about our sun than you, I am going to try and tie size 22 olives this winter. The large eye Daiichi hook hopefully comes in that size.
I have a large medical magnifier over my tying vise, with built in fluorescent circular bulb.
But tying the pattern is only half the battle: then I’m going to have to thread the tippet thru the eye while standing in the river.
All this with only one really good eye.
But it’s fishing that keeps me going.
Angler119-The associated editors would like to meet with you to discuss various topics. What does your availability look like? Ed
Angler119’-What a neat , new adventure. A nice 17” rainbow on a #26 dry. Congratulations. Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Ed
Congrats A119.
Big fish, small fly…..what could go wrong??