Fly Fishing

Marcel_Karssies · Location: Enschede - The Netherlands

Yesterday our fearless leader Tom wanted to visit the Loop tackle shop in Alblasserdam in the west of the Netherlands and anyone who wanted to come along was welcome.
Since Alblasserdam was near to Rotterdam a trip to lake Oostvoorne was planned after shopping. The chance to walk into the candy store and fish for trout was too tempting for Niels and me to pass so we joined Tom on his trip to the west.

At 8.00 o’clock in the morning we went on our way and a couple of hours later we where driving into an industrial park where the Loop tackle store was located. After a little search we found the building and walked into the store. The lower floor had a collection of belly boats and pontoon boats while the upper floor boasted all the Loop reels and rods plus
the usual fly store stuff. The neat thing about the shop was the large size of the rooms and the
fact that ALL rods from Loop where available in the shop. You could tryout every rod in the program from little brook rods to the 2-handed Spey casting rods.

We drewled over all the fine items in the shop and stocked up with tying gear. After some coffee we inquired about the latest news on the lake Oostvoorne fishing.
With a couple of good tips for the days fishing we continued our trip west towards the lake. This time we would fish an area new to us. We would fish the southwest corner of the lake. The rain that had accompanied us from home was gone, fog and low clouds where drifting in from the sea. With 48 F air temperature it was less chilly than our previous visit. At the parking lot we discovered that we where not alone on this day.
About half a dozen other fisherman where unloading and from the numbers of cars I figured
that more people would be already on the lake.

Niels in the belly boat ready to go

Niels headed out in the belly boat while Tom and I waded along the shore to a suitable spot
to fish. The lake was large so fish could be hanging out anywhere. The little dams that where put in to prevent wave damage to the shore where prime spots to fish. The openings in those
dams to the main body of the lake where most desirable. We just lined up with the other fisherman and hoped for the best. I was fishing a booby nymph and Tom was fishing a floating salmon egg imitation. The rainbows in the lake did spawn but since it was brackish water the eggs would never develop. Trout seemed to feed on eggs though so the egg pattern came into place. These where fished with a sinking line and floated just above the weed and stones. People who fished salmon eggs would just let the fly float with the current or fish it statically. Tom had success with this method and caught the first trout of the day.

Tom with the first trout of the day.

Things looked good when we arrived at the lake but after an hour or so I had not seen any
fish or felt a take. I replaced the booby nymph with a floating salmon egg and joined Tom.
A piling functioned as rod rest, not exactly my idea of Flyfishing but we where desperate.
After an hour or so watching the skyline we had enough. The salmon eggs where replaced by
other flies and we started active Flyfishing again.

Rod rest.

It was close to 17.00 hours and light was fading quickly. A lot of fly fishermen where using the salmon egg fly technique. I saw at least four of them sitting in front of me with their
butts parked on the little dam, some of them caught fish. It looked like I would get skunked at the lake again. We slowly waded in the general direction of the car park so we
would arrive there when there still was some light. Wading unknown areas in the dark could be tricky and none of us wanted to go for a swim on this chilly day. While wading we where
probing the general area in front of the dams in the hope to catch a last fish.
My prayers where answered when a slight tug at the end of the line indicated fish on.
I struck and before I knew it a small rainbow trout took to the air. After a short struggle I could land the fish.

Little rainbow trout.

This fish was a stocked fish from this year. I was hoping to catch one of the big
boys but was happy enough to catch this small rainbow trout. The day was saved.
Tom had caught a fish; I did so now we just needed to ask Niels how he had fared.
Niels had already left for the car park earlier and started to fly fish from shore there.
When we inquired he told us that he had hooked three fish around sunset which all
threw the hook. At least he had felt fish on this day.
Our last fishing day in 2004 ended with success. It was a good year, let’s hope 2005
equals it or will be even better.

Best to all of you in 2005.

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

marcel that is a nice rainbow that your budddy tom got. has nice colors and nice girth. must be plenty of food in the lake for them. i also noticed that there were alot of guys fly fishing there is it a popular spot??

Marcel_Karssies · Location: Enschede - The Netherlands

Yep, Tom did it again. I thought that he caught it on a salmon egg but fact was the fish took a fly called "the saltlake shrimp". A floating shrimp pattern.

It is a popular spot because the Netherlands has got no serious troutfishing at all. So for many people from the Netherlands and nearby Belgium it is the closest troutfishing venue. Fish grow big in the lake although they seem to elude me for the moment Smile

Since it is a catch-and-release only lake the big fish have become smart. They are leadershy and tend to feed early morning and from dusk onwards.

HansF · Location: Enschede / The Netherlands

Hallo,

Salt Lake Shrimp!!!??? The secret of success!

Greetings Hans F.

QuebecSporting · Location: Gaspe (Quebec) Canada

I've been reading your postings...... keep them coming!!
Interesting and nice photos.......

Like we say here in Québec

BONNE ANNÉE!! (Happy New Year!!)

Ann