Today was my second trip out to Fish Lake this year. It was literally a hit and miss day. I put on my red back green damsel nymph that was successful last trip and it proved to be a good fly for the day. I was able to hook and land one 12" Brook and that was it. Throughout the afternoon I had many strikes and numerous fish on for a few moments and then they would get off. Very frustrating to say the least. I checked my hook and it was very sharp. I'm thinking that many were young fish with soft mouths.
I started fishing about noon. The day was perfect for fishing with a light variable breeze and 72º under partly cloudy skies. The water surface temperature was 66º. The majority of the fish were marked at 20-25 feet. I took a water temperature at 25' and it was 40º, a good comfort range that Brook Trout like.
About 5:30 I had enough frustration and decided to call it a day. It may be a good lake to try again in September.
While at the boat launch, an EWU student was collecting insects out of the water by the Cattails for her studies in her biology class. I asked her what she had collected and she showed me a damsel nymph that was about 1 1/4" long. Makes sense that the fish were hitting on damsel nymphs. In a few weeks the adults will be flying about and it may be a good time to try an adult damsel pattern in the area lakes.