Fish at local lakes keying on chironomids despite cold weather

FLY FISHING — The late March report from a Spokane Fly Fishers’ outing to Coffee Pot Lake was enough to make you order hot coffee and put on a down jacket.

“If I hadn’t been the host of the outing I wouldn’t have gone,” said Judy Kaufman, one of the club’s most energetic members. “I’m glad I was the hostess.

“Yes, the snow stopped, the skies cleared, the sun shone and the wind blew (a little). It was the typical beginning of a Coffee Pot Outing. Seven members showed up. We all caught fish. The fish - rainbows - were good size, anywhere from 17 to 20 inches. Largemouth bass were also caught.

“The water was cold, in some places only 38 degrees. The fish definitely preferred the warmer water. Black, brown, green Woolly Buggers in various sizes took fish. There was no interest in chironomids. I’m sure this will change as the water warms.”

Her  prediction was correct.  Reports from anglers at various waters indicate that chironomid patterns fished under an indicator are hooking good numbers of big trout at the region’s selective fisheries, including Medical Lake.

Tuesday, in a pre-season survey at yet-to-open West Medical Lake, state fisheries biologist Chris Donley examined the stomach contents of a 20 inch rainbow he pulled out of the lake. It was full of green chironomids.