We got Ice Out on all the smaller lakes in the Columbia basin South of Grand Coulee. An exciting time for E.Wash flyfishers w/cabin fever. The last weeks unusually warm weather has taken out the last of the ice except on some larger lakes.

Dry falls iced out completely yesterday. Those South of Potholes have all cleared in the last week or so.

Lenore is still iced in the mid section, but open on both N&S ends. I spent a fruitless morning on the N. end w/36 degree water and about 36MPH winds. Scoped lotsa fish.....all lockjawed with no hatch coming up at all.
Not to worry though, one warm calm day now will bring the chronies up and the bite will be there when the food is hatching. Could be any day now.

Banks and the larger lakes like Moses and Maron are still coming off in various degrees and will be only partially open this weekend but should clear by the 13-14 weekend

Thanks for the notice, I've got my chronies and bloodworms all tied up.

Bloodworms on the bottom... right after ice out and for up to 10 days.. that's a proven method.

Tis true, the wisdom of the Zen is on the mark again!! Often with no sign of a hatch on the water, the fishes are slurping up them little red wigglers after ice out.
They come in various sizes from 1/4 inch to over an inch depending on richness of the lake, and the size IS important. Tie accordingly! The silhouette should be narrow as possible and a beadhead or some sparkle to catch the eye in the murky depths helps. I like edge bright underwrapped with holographic mylar tinsel.......Killer...... I call it Ronnies Cosmic Worm! Eclipses the Bionic worm at least 3 to 1

WaHoo... Time to get wet and a bit chilled... and hold on to the rod tight....

Thanks FishnfellaS... for the notice about the water...

Hey FishnfellaS... would you be willing to share a picture here on the board of your Ronnies Cosmic Worm? I would be willing to sing songs of glory and praise to you if you would!

Tight Lines to all!!!!!
See ya on the water...

Mr FishinfellaS tends to prettier flies than I do. I found that out when he gave me one of his damsel imitations.

Here's mine (simple version). Pick the appropriate sized hook (#10 or #12 3xl), put a chear rochelle bead up on the head (that's the silver lined ones). wrap the body with red wire. Tie off.

I did these as my intent was to have a fly that would sink fast and be a good bottom fly on a two fly rig.

Ron's cosmic fly is probably prettier.

I don't have picture capabilities, so can't post a picture of the Cosmic Worm here. But I'll share my recipe.
Get Lazer Wrap in Blood Red,Flame Red,Orange,and Hot Pink. Used to be known as EDGE BRIGHT and steelheaders used it a lot.
Anglers Workshop in Woodland has it under the name Lazer Wrap.

Cut your lazer wrap sheet into narrow about 1/8 inch wide strips.
Lay a strip lengthwise along the hook shank and lash down to well past the bend with CLEAR MONOFILIMENT THREAD.
Start the Holographic silver mylar tinsel at the rear and bring the thread forward and wrap the tinsel over the lazer wrap you lashed down.
Tie off the tinsel at the hook eye and/or bead.
I tie some beadless and some with various bead heads,brass esp good.
After tying off the tinsel wrap the lazer wrap forward butting each wrap over the top of the previous creating a subtile rib effect.
Tie off at the bead and super glue the tie off point.

This is a glowing. very live bloodworm that gets noticed even in the murkiest of depths. I been tying some on those blood red hooks, but that's not really necessary....looks cool though.

Catch a bunch.... let em all go.

figured it would be another fine pattern. Not bad for a person who doesn't like shiny chronies...

Thanks Zen and Fishn...

You are the greatest....
You are the greatest....

You are so nice....
You are so nice....

That is about as good as I can do with electronic songs of praise and glory...

Tight lines...

PS... I always Hook, Play and Release... those big bad boys from the basin and most other places as well....

Hey, No more secret fly patterns for you!!!
You forgot a couple "Youse da man"s.

And zen he likes ta hear
Ommmmmm, Ommmmm, The wisdom of the zen is GREAT!!!

FishinfellaS... that chant was when I was giving you my special leeches that one year.

Looks like you've developed your own special leech now.

Hey Fishn....

Is this pretty close to the Cosmis Worm....



And I guess I will add to the song of praise...

Fishn YOU THE MAN, WHO'S THE MAN?, YOU THE MAN, FISHN HIS THE MAN...!!!

and I guess....

Zen ... Ommmmm, OOOooooMMMMmmm, INNER PEACE.... Calm, Calm... Oooommmm.

Thanks Again....
Let me know if this fly is close....

Bowtwanger,

your bloodworm looks nice, and simple. Just like I like them.

It's a good one.

Well Zen... I will have to let you know in a week or two... I am going to head east and wet the line...

I am hoping that if it is close to what Fishn described that it will be my secret weapon against my buddy...

I have tied up several of these, weighted and unweighted...

By Jove Bowhunter I believe you've got it.
Nice Job!
Now tie it in various sizes from 14 1x on up to 8 2x. You get the idea....from 1/4" to around 1 1/4". And tie some in the other colors. Especially that blood red color popular on many lakes. But even the hot pink and orange can be good at times.

Oh and tie some with various beadheads, black seed bead 3/32 brass bead, pearl bead etc.

We gonna make you a bloodwormer for sure.

BTW Bowhunter, In two weeks time on mosta the smaller E. Wash lakes, Bloodworms will be off the menu or going off the menu and chronie Pupa will normally be the big ticket.
Didn't want you to get disappointed, but there IS a progression away from the worm and TO the Pupa when it's hatching.
Worms will be worth a shot, but more likely they will be on Pupa by then most places.

Next great bloodworm opportunity.......Midsummer at 22 -26 feet on the thermocline. Fish get isolated there by warm water and not much else to eat out there but the COSMIC WORM.