Northwest Fishing Reports

have any of you tried this night fly fishing set up using a pusher flie? i did some at an rv park pond north of seattle several years ago and was able to catch three rainbows that were suppose to be uncatchable that were 28"-29". all caught after 1:00 am late summer. i believe i have a picture some where and will post it if found! <')//<

panfisher wrote:have any of you tried this night fly fishing set up using a pusher flie? i did some at an rv park pond north of seattle several years ago and was able to catch three rainbows that were suppose to be uncatchable that were 28"-29". all caught after 1:00 am late summer. i believe i have a picture some where and will post it if found! <')//<

Not quite sure what you are calling a pusher fly. Can you explain? I have used large top water flies, normally used for bass, for big bows and browns for years. A small to medium mouse is a good way to bring up the big ones late at night when the water is warm.

they are "george harvey pusher flies" they are designed to push more whater in front of them creating motion that the fish can sense. i saw an article in i believe" outdoor life" several years ago but can't seem to find it now in all of the mags i have. they are tied dry, wet, streamer, etc. check it out on the web, i've recently been thinking about them and lost the ones that i had to the fish in the pond i mentioned. sort of forgot about it with all the work i was doing.

another name is "george harvey night flies"

here is a forum that descibes the flies that were really close to what i had tied and used. http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showtopic=20705 <')//<

I fished with George Cook (of Sage rods) over at Leniece at night back in 1981 or 1982 and he "schooled" me using a big bulky fly. Every 5 minutes or so I heard another splash..splash..splash coming from his side of the lake.

I never thought of using this method on the west side as I didn't think the (west side) trout got that big. Thanks for changing my thinking.

I used a variation of this method the following year up in BC for great success. I greased a medium sized muddler minnow, cast it out and stripped it in. Had a strike or fish on just about every cast.

Don't forget muddlers as a fly you can buy, if you don't tie.

I know of one RV park pond north of Seattle where this might work. May have to get an invitation there.

added on edit: Being that I bought a Lund in 2002 and went over to the "dark side" I would think that provided one isn't fishing a special regs lake that a small bass floating lure would work on bigger trout. George Cook gave me a couple of his big flies and I think a zara puppy would be similar in size....something with props might even add more splash. Dang... suggesting a bass lure, I really have gone to the dark side.

zen leecher aka Bill W wrote:I fished with George Cook (of Sage rods) over at Leniece at night back in 1981 or 1982 and he "schooled" me using a big bulky fly. Every 5 minutes or so I heard another splash..splash..splash coming from his side of the lake.

I never thought of using this method on the west side as I didn't think the (west side) trout got that big. Thanks for changing my thinking.

I used a variation of this method the following year up in BC for great success. I greased a medium sized muddler minnow, cast it out and stripped it in. Had a strike or fish on just about every cast.

Don't forget muddlers as a fly you can buy, if you don't tie.

I know of one RV park pond north of Seattle where this might work. May have to get an invitation there.

added on edit: Being that I bought a Lund in 2002 and went over to the "dark side" I would think that provided one isn't fishing a special regs lake that a small bass floating lure would work on bigger trout. George Cook gave me a couple of his big flies and I think a zara puppy would be similar in size....something with props might even add more splash. Dang... suggesting a bass lure, I really have gone to the dark side.

It's ok, you can be brought back. I'm just not so sure that I want to be completely brought back. And about the bass fly or lure, which came first, the chicken or the egg.

In Montana and parts of Alaska, they claim that the mouse fly I use was developed just for big Trout.

In the South they claim the mouse fly was developed just for Bass.

I CLAIM THEY WERE DEVELOPED JUST TO GIVE ME FUN.

George gave me a couple of his flies after that trip and they match up similar to the picture in the thread referenced in one of the above emails.

really didn't think i was going to get anything to take those flies but i kept hearing them on the surface in the middle of the night and figured what the heck, surprized to get the first one, had a gathering of some late night strollers watch, and gave my little brother who was sound asleep in the rv a big kiss with it. LOL i used quail feathers for the pusher wings on those flies, i'll have to tie some more up since i haven't tied any more since that time! <')//<