The ice is out at Mother Lake on the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, so my buddy Eric and I decided to go see what how those big Bows faired over the winter. The answer is yowza. We got a dozen to the net; all on Kolanda's Bellyache Minnow. The smallest was 19 inches and the largest was 22 inches all with bulging bellies. Click here for video.

Slow steady retrieves with a pause now and then were the ticket. Nearly all the strikes came from the northwest corner. Some small midges were present but no significant feeding on the bugs. We found a large crawfish (or small lobster ;-)) tail and almost got a double hook-up with an Eagle. Not sure whether the Eagle was going for a fish or a small duck. If you want to practice your double-haul cast and ability to retrieve large angry fish, this is the place. Of course, just taking it easy in the boat with a beer and a Bellyache works too.

Checkout the size of this mudbug. No wonder these trout are so fat.

This is part of Jay's design process for new fly patterns.