Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
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Post by Robert Burton on Nov 11, 2003 13:14:38 GMT -6
As this next weekend has a forecast of plus 4 this coming weekend i was hoping to get one more crack at it. The past weeks sub zero has frozen the lakes but can you think of any place that has open water late. I have heard/read the Fairford river is open water all year long.
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Post by Dale Martens on Nov 14, 2003 19:20:16 GMT -6
I seem to remember reading a few years back that the Fairford River has a run of tullibee in February or March and catching them with a fly rod is quite possible. I've never actually tried it but the possibility of fly fishing that time of year is very tempting! Can anybody confirm this or am I just thinking wishfully?
Dale
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Post by caddisguy on Nov 15, 2003 17:38:34 GMT -6
;DOpen water? You better believe it. i was on the same search years ago and was given the Fairford river hint by a fellow from East Selkirk. Gerry Beck mentioned to me one winter day ab out 10 years ago that the Fairford River stayed open all year round. The first day we could find that winter that promised above freezing temperatures I decided I would give it a try. Of course not being one fish alone I convinced a few other people that this was indeed a viable option to cabin fever. We wnet out the last weekend in February and what a wonderful day and trip we had. This time of year it is not and early bird thing as temperatures will climb toward midday. We experienced temperatures about 7-8 degrees above freezing. We caught well over a hundred fish that first trip out with a mixed bag of species. Mostly Tulibee but we did catch some Ling Cod/Maria , Suckers and a few Pike. Needless to say I have been going up there ever since. This river is suseptable to low water conditions which we are in right now. Both Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg are at an all time record low with no change in site. I don't think the fishing is going to be very good up there but I know people that travel up there regulary and in late Winter or early spring I get a report on water levels and maybe we can make a trip there if you want.
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Post by cane on Nov 15, 2003 20:00:20 GMT -6
Hi not sure if its the same Fairford River but www.riverwatchonline.org/news/mb_conservation/09_04_03.htmlI used to fish the Wabaman Lake Power Plant outlet( Alberta) for monster pike in the dead of winter:)))) many years ago:))) winter fishing is fun if its available and a fine day. Stu Thomson tells a great story of being waist deep in the warm water outlet there(Wabaman) and watching a 3 to 4 lb whitefish being reduced to an oil slick and random scales causing him to question the wisdom of em er exposing his lower anatomy to the denizens of the outlet:)))
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Post by caddisguy on Nov 16, 2003 8:50:21 GMT -6
The Fairford River I'm referering to Crosses the #6 highway about a 2 hour drive north of Winnipeg MB. I don't think I would make a weekend drive to fish Alberta Wwaters in the dead of winter.
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
|
Post by Robert Burton on Nov 16, 2003 9:07:41 GMT -6
I guess I am getting a little ahead of myself but on the map there is a dam. Is this an out flow from portage bay? What kind of dam is it? Cane, that link was about the same Fairford river and it doesnt' look like good news (zero water at freeze up) but I agree with John I'm not driving to Alberta to fish (I might drive south ) Good story though! rb
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Post by caddisguy on Nov 16, 2003 11:19:40 GMT -6
The Dam is under the bridge and is a lake level control for Lake Manitoba. There is also a fish ladder buit into the structure to allow some fish to migrate up stream. You can probably walk across the river below the dam in rubber boots now and we won't see lev els rise unless their is a large amount of snow fall this winter. I will try to get some photos on the site from my trips up there.
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Post by Dale Martens on Nov 16, 2003 13:59:30 GMT -6
What kind of technique did you use for the tullibee on the Fairford River? Drifting nymphs? Streamers?
Dale
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Post by caddisguy on Nov 17, 2003 20:28:57 GMT -6
The Flies I use for Tulibee are small streamer and nymphs. There are a lot of Ricophalia Caddis nymphs in the weed growth on the bottom and most of the fish have a green past for stomach content. These are tied in sizes 12-16.I use a curved caddis hook and either green glass beads for a body or green larva lace and peacock herl for a head. I found that you have to keep changing patterns or sizes as you site fish over schools going by and after a few passes they start to ignore a pattern that they see to often. It's the Manitoba version of Bone fishing. I also use my white zonker there and have tied into a few Moria hmmm wonder what they could be feeding on. When the water is in early spring run off the current can be quite swift so a Hi-speed HI-D Line is needed to get down to the fish.
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
|
Post by Robert Burton on Nov 17, 2003 21:25:19 GMT -6
Well to ask a dumb, not from around here question. What is a tulibee? The only image i can find looks like a moon/gold eye (could be another case of silver bass really drum thingy) or is a tulibee another deal? rb
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Post by darrellmyskiw on Nov 18, 2003 10:31:24 GMT -6
Rob - check out Minnesota's DNR page - some info there. Other info found : Tulibee are also known as Cisco or Lake Herring. They are essentially overgrown baitfish - but quite tasty. Tulibee prefer cold water - go deep during summer - likely too deep in summer for fly rod - I may be wrong there Found that they feed on mayfly larvae late ice - early soft water. Local supermarkets carry smoke tulibee, mostly after running out of smoked goldeye. Hope this helps ;D
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Post by caddisguy on Nov 18, 2003 19:54:36 GMT -6
Well I didn't think this Tullibee thing was going to take of like it has. Facts ;D there are a mear 7 species of Tullibe. They are in the same family as Whitefish and are often mistaken for Goldeye/Mooneye. They used tobe sold as soked Goldeye to the unsuspecting public and are hard to tell apart when smoked . The dead give away is that the Goldeye/Mooneye have teeth and the Tullibee do not. They are found primarily on the west side of Lake Winnipeg and it's tributaries hence the population in the Fairford River. They are primarily plankton eaters but do eat small nyhmphs especialy emergers. They are fall spawners and spawna at the same time as Whitefish and some cross spawning probalbly causes some of the sepecies variations. I dead drift nymphs and caddis patterns when fishing for them but have caught them on streamers as well. Small sizes work best.
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Robert Burton
Fly Fishing Zombie
Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
Posts: 4,744
|
Post by Robert Burton on Nov 18, 2003 21:58:05 GMT -6
Well I didn't think this Tullibee thing was going to take of like it has. Hey man it's Manitoba! I thought the goal was to catch as many non-trout on a fly rod as possible They look like fun on a fly rod and any fish is fun on a fly rod in Feburary. What about closures? Is there one on this river or this fish?? rb
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