Nambe Falls Lake

WOW.  I'm very glad I made it out to opening day at Nambe Falls Lake.  I've been living in the area for nearly 6 years, and the cost and lack of information always held me back from trying out this lake.  I figured in order to get my money's worth, going on opening day was the way to go.  I was right.

The ranger told me they stocked it with 3000 trout right at the end of the season last year and let them winter over.  It was good to start the day off hearing news like that.  The lake opens at 7 am, and I got there right around 7:45.  I was excited to see fish rising...but by the time I got my float tube and rod ready, the sun was hitting the water and rises had settled down.  I beat myself up a bit for not getting there earlier.  But, at least I knew the fish were in there, and I had brought a nice supply of wooly buggers and pistol Pete's.  

I caught my first fish on an olive pistol Pete about 4-5 feet down below my strike indicator (read: tiny bobber).  They also went for a brown pistol Pete and a black and red wooly bugger.  I found the fish seemed to congregate around the weeds.  There didn't seem to be a stripping pattern they liked more than any others--they struck on faster strips, when I left the fly still, and when I paddled around and just trolled it.  I didn't really get any strikes toward the middle of the lake, although I may not have had enough depth for the middle of the lake.  I don't even own a sinking line.

In the end, I caught seven fish, all above fifteen inches.  I also missed many strikes (an area of improvement for me is to get batter at strip sets with streamers... ) I really am a small stream gal in my fly fishing skill set. 

So, if you feel like spending some money (full disclosure: fishing cost $15 and the permit for the float tube cost $18), give Name Falls Lake a try.  They had a fishing derby the weekend after I fished, so I won't make any guarantees on how many fish are still in there.  But, I did catch a cuttbow and a couple browns so I have hope that there is an okay self-sustained population of fish in there that will succumb to flies.  

Video to come soon on Youtube.  Find a few pictures on my Instagram @flyfishinggrrl.