Pro Shop | Brian Chan | Kamloops British Columbia
Pro Shop | Brian Chan | Kamloops British Columbia
Brian Chan spent 30-plus years as a fisheries biologist in British Columbia where he specialized in studying small lake systems. This knowledge was combined with his interest in fly fishing and Chan is recognized as one of the top stillwater fly anglers worldwide. His knowledge and insight have been shared in books, magazines, videos, and online. Chan has also been instrumental in the development of Scientific Angler fly lines and leaders for stillwater applications. The Stillwater Emerger Tip line and the Stillwater Indicator leader are two products where he had primary development input.
The need for specialized lake lines for trout has grown as rivers and streams become more crowded. Anglers are looking to fish uncrowded locations with the possibility of big fish. Stillwaters give this chance, but beginning lake anglers have to take time to learn the dynamics of this type of trout fishing. While habitat is easily recognized in a stream, lakes often have little or no visible structure to help locate fish. While some places offer shoreline opportunities, it is usually of a limited time frame. Fishing from some kind of watercraft is needed to have consistent success.
Unless the lake is super clear with visible structure, a depth finder helps to locate structure and determine the various zones where fish will live and feed. Just as in moving water, knowledge of the food base in the lake is critical. By far, most feeding is subsurface and usually close to the bottom. Scuds, leeches, chironomids, mayflies, damsel and dragonflies may all be present along with various baitfish. Know what insect or organism is present and when it is active is critical to catching fish.
Having the right line for the situation is also crucial. Chan says, “The Sonar Stillwater series of sinking lines enable the angler to present flies to potentially feeding fish found in the shallowest shoal areas to the deepest parts of the lake. In the early spring and late fall seasons trout often concentrate their feeding in water less than 6 feet in depth and in some situations in as shallow as a couple of feet. The Sonar Stillwater Hover, Stillwater Emerger Tip and the Clear Camo lines are ideal for presenting flies in such skinny water. The slightly deeper parts of the shoal are covered off with the Seamless Density sinking lines beginning with the 1/3 for that 6-10 ft depth zone and followed by the 3/5 as the water deepens out to the 15 ft level. Beyond that depth which often starts at the edge of the drop-off is where the 5/7 line works its magic to bring fish to the fly.”
