Tulpehocken in winter

[buymanfishheday]

So I don’t get to go out much because of busy family life so when I do, I tend to go to the Tully since it’s close. Ive probably gone out 4-5 times in the last month or two and haven’t caught a single fish. I’ve tried multiple locations with buggers, clousers, various nymphs and midges, Walt’s worm, rubber legs, the works. I’m not catching a darn thing. Obviously I do enjoy just getting out there and slinging the line, but it would be nice to catch SOMEthing from time to time. Is the Tully pretty beat right now or is it just primarily a skills issue?

 

[tjsingle]

Can't speak for how the Tully is fishing right now, but I have had many good days in the past fishing it during the winter. Generally speaking winter fishing involves fishing deeper holes, slots, and pockets where the current is slower. The fish tend to move away from their warmer weather holding areas.

I would recommend to keep at it, fish deep nymphs, lighter tippet/smaller flies. I like midge patterns in the winter. If nothing is working on the nymphing front, streamers can be effective at getting a fish to strike. Especially near structure.

The other thing to note is that we have had some flip flop weather, with warm and cold fronts that can impact fishing. Don't get discouraged.

 

[Andrwhite610]

In my last 3-4 years of fly fishing and living 5 minutes from the Tully I never do well in the winter. I prefer to hit the Tully after the stockings for a quick tug of a keystone selector brown if I’m being honest. If I’m gonna struggle I prefer it be for wild fish.

 

[Mike]

I don’t know exactly when you tried to fish it, but depending upon the dates of your efforts, you may have run inadvertently into extra cold temps. I don’t know if the ACOE still switches from a bottom release prior to Jan 1 to one from their upper gates after Jan 1. If so, then there is probably an associated quick shift from 39 deg water to colder water near 32 F from near the surface. Bottom water in a stratified, frozen lake is 39 deg F; however, Blue Marsh never completely froze this winter (froze up-lake but not down-lake to my knowledge), so that adds a complexity to my water temp statement. My limited winter experiences there were largely below the DH Area. I usually started with lures, didn’t have any hits, and then switched to minnows or salted minnows on a needle strung minnow rig and did well. Unlike many fly angling purists here, I believe in usually fishing with what the fish want and not necessarily fishing with what I want.

 

[buymanfishheday]

Can't speak for how the Tully is fishing right now, but I have had many good days in the past fishing it during the winter. Generally speaking winter fishing involves fishing deeper holes, slots, and pockets where the current is slower. The fish tend to move away from their warmer weather holding areas.

I would recommend to keep at it, fish deep nymphs, lighter tippet/smaller flies. I like midge patterns in the winter. If nothing is working on the nymphing front, streamers can be effective at getting a fish to strike. Especially near structure.

The other thing to note is that we have had some flip flop weather, with warm and cold fronts that can impact fishing. Don't get discouraged.

I guess thats my main problem, finding better spots where the fish are more likely to be.

 

[wildtrout2]

The other thing to note is that we have had some flip flop weather, with warm and cold fronts that can impact fishing.

This ^
And, it can do the same thing in the warmer months as well.

 

[Andrwhite610]

I guess thats my main problem, finding better spots where the fish are more likely to be.

The deeper runs that are at stocking points are where I go first. And then usually drift a squirmy worm deep through it haha.

 

[dc410]

It’s been quite a few years since I fished the Tully. I used to have a lot of fun on certain stretches in the dead of winter. I should give it a shot some afternoon on an upcoming mild winter day.

 

[JimNovo]

It’s been quite a few years since I fished the Tully. I used to have a lot of fun on certain stretches in the dead of winter. I should give it a shot some afternoon on an upcoming mild winter day.

Let me know when you go. I'll make the drive to meet and fish with you.

 

[dc410]

Let me know when you go. I'll make the drive to meet and fish with you.

Sounds good, Jim. I’ll give you a shout if it works out.

 

[Kms]

I guess thats my main problem, finding better spots where the fish are more likely to be.

That’s always my main problem.

 

[wgmiller]

Similar results. The past few times I've fished it hasn't fished well for me. I mostly fished from the "Road to Nowhere" up to the confluence with Cacoosing.

 

[Streammagic237]

I wonder if my blue heron friends are still there , fished it once last year in late Summer and I had 2 herons stay with me one above one below the entire time. I would like to know where all the tiny clam shells come from , do trout eat those ?

 

[wgmiller]

I wonder if my blue heron friends are still there , fished it once last year in late Summer and I had 2 herons stay with me one above one below the entire time. I would like to know where all the tiny clam shells come from , do trout eat those ?

Oh, absolutely they're still there. I interacted with two of them as I worked the stretch mentioned above. They perch themselves up in the trees and on the rocks and have a feast. Merciless birds!

This was back at the end of November...

 

[Streammagic237]

Great pictures! I know they scare and eat fish but I still think they are beautiful and love seeing them .

 

[Andrwhite610]

I wonder if my blue heron friends are still there , fished it once last year in late Summer and I had 2 herons stay with me one above one below the entire time. I would like to know where all the tiny clam shells come from , do trout eat those ?

lol they run the Tully. My last encounter there the bird was definitely moving in on me to take my fish I landed. Like obnoxiously close. Like “are you gonna give me that fish or what” close.

 

[Mike]

lol they run the Tully. My last encounter there the bird was definitely moving in on me to take my fish I landed. Like obnoxiously close. Like “are you gonna give me that fish or what” close.

As you describe, certain individual birds are easily habituated to fishermen. I’ve experienced that while ice fishing and while stream fishing. If you’re sitting on a 5 gal bucket on the ice, you get to go eye to eye with them if they’re bold and looking for a fish hand-out. The close view of the beak that you get is quite convincing regarding its value as a weapon.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

That bird's name in Gil Scott (Heron), at least to me. Those things live 15-20+ years and certainly learn not to give one eff about company 😉

 

[wildtrout2]

Their ability to stay motionless is amazing. It's why they always catch their limit. 😉

 

[lestrout]

I learn a lot watching where herons hunt. Their presence is a strong indicator of freshly stocked trouts from the Commish. In fact I saw one of these 2 on the Tully nab a spiny ray - Sunnie or maybe a rock bass. He flipped it a couple of times then did the C&R. Preferred trying for the trout that was rising in front of him.