Entang du Hanau
(Lake Hanau)
06 March

To coin or change the appropriate phrase…. Some times you’re the windshield. Some times you’re the bug. I guess I was the bug this time. In fly fisher speak, that's a good thing.

For the first time since I've been in Europe, I actually broke out the float tube for this trip. The local Liemen Fly Fishing group set up this trip to a super little lake located just south of the border in France (South of Kaiserslautern Military Community and Landstuhl). The lake is located about 6 kilometers west of Phillipsbourgh, France and controlled by the Hotel Beau Rivage. Its only open for fly fishing from mid-October to late March so it will make a great winter fishing destination when all other waters are essentially closed. There are a combination of stocked, native, and wild fish in the lake to include: Coho Salmon, Rainbows, Browns, and rough fish (Pike, Bass, and others).

Back to the trip. Arrived in time to share coffee with the Liemen fly fishing crew (fourteen folks) at the hotel. They arrived the night prior. After black coffee and croissants, we geared up with neoprene waders, float tubes, and all the rest. Got in the water around 1000 hours, and started my search for the elusive fishes. Of course, I had to spend a lot of time readjusting myself to float tube tactics, techniques, and procedures. Seemed like I was the only one not catching fish during the morning. The guys who were fishing near the dam were pulling them in fairly regularly. Nice 14 inch plus Rainbows.

Me? No luck as we approached the lunch break. Finally decided that my nymphs weren't going to cut it, and tied on a green olive zonker with a silver mylar body, gold tinsel flash, red yarn tail, and red hackle throat. Okay, sounds like a bastardized fly. It is. Tied it in a close approximation to one my friend Tom McGloine sent me last summer. As I crossed the lake trolling this monstrosity to get lunch, I was pleasantly surprised to find a nice Rainbow on the end of my line.

After lunch the fun started. I kept the olive monster on the line, got in the float tube, and headed for the dam. I was the bug! As I worked the full length of the dam, I couldn't keep the Rainbows off that fly. They were literally fighting each other to get a chance to take a bite. I wasn't really counting, but for almost an hour and half I continuously caught 14-18 inch Rainbows. Lost track at about 14 landed, 8 unintentional long releases, and 6 unset hooks. The fly was reaching it's maximum life span before my eyes. The mylar was unraveling and the whole thing seemed to be falling apart, but it kept catching fish! Truly an amazing thing to watch.

I guess I could have kept going, but decided I had done my best and wanted to quit on a high note. Besides, I wanted to pull out and let some other folks have the sweet spot. Not to mention, I finally lost the zonker to a lively Rainbow as I made that "one last cast."

No I didn't have another fly in the box like this one. Just tied one to "test the waters" so to speak. Tried a few other flies after a potty and beer break, but never got close to the same effect. Had to pull out and head home for the day about 1700 since I had a "money" business trip starting at 0700 the next day.

What did I learn?

1.  I like float tubing in lakes!  You can get to the good spots with great angles and lots of casting room!

2. Tie them flies good, because that one test pattern you tie may be the bug of the day.  

3.  Check your tippet often to make sure you don't lose that good fly.  Okay this is a re-do, but still valid!

Olive Zonker and Bow

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