Patterns for the bridge lake area
I was thinking of going to crystal lake in the cariboo. Any info would be helpful.

I'm going to be heading up to the Bridge lake area for some ice off fishing. I tie my own flies and was wondering what patterns I should load up on. I was up there in late sept. and the evening caddis was dynamite but I'm not so sure about ice off conditions. I usually bring my vice and materials so I can tie to match the feed. The lakes I will be hitting are the med. to small size but offer great action for the fly. Look forward to any info.

My favorite Cariboo fly is a gold body, sparse winged Muddler in sizes 10-8. However, Bridge has a major population of shrimp. Size 12-8, red to pale pink shrimp pattern. Mind you, you tie and the shrimp(at times) are so plentiful, that you will be able to snag a few to match perfectly.

Thanks Loboo for the advice, the muddler sounds interesting.As for the shrimp , well I've seen the abundance of these in the lakes I've been to(willow,grizzly&faulkner)and have tried to tie patterns to match them but they simply were not interested. My beleive is that these are so plentiful that it's a food source that they really can get any time. I have had luck with dragonfly nymphs in the early months also.

I usually fish Sheridan in May. Its just down the road from Bridge. Been to Bridge a few times as well. Try dragon fly nymphs. They`ve been the best for me at both lakes. The deer hair gomphus, #6-10`s in a natural or golden color have been my favs. A dragon tied out of peacock with pheasant tail for a wing case worked great last year. Caddis nymphs in various styles would be a good choice as well. Take a good selection of may fly nymphs and dries as well as chironomids. Every year we`re up there
the fish seem to have a favorite color of chironomid that they prefer, so tie up a good selection of #10 -16 brown,black and greens with a few with a bead head. Last year I did fairly well with a white plastic bead head chironomid with a brown body and red wire ribbing. Did better when I tied them with no wing case, just a peacock thorax .Try a peacock sword feather thorax with some too.
At the southwest end of the big main island on Bridge there is a huge shoal with a major drop off. Make sure you make a point off hitting that spot. While your there stop by the tackle shop in Lone Butte . The owner there will tell you all you need and they have a not to bad selection of flies. Melines Resturant across the street is a great place to fill your stomach. In Little Fort go to Little Fort Fly and Tackle. Great fly only store and lots of info. Check out the icecream place across the street. If you were at expo you should recognize it. Lots of info too from Sheridan lake store and Esso and down the road[west] is the Coyote Grill. Good food but lousy service. Only ever seems to be one person working the floor. I always get cravings when I`m on a fishing trip so I like to know the best places to eat as well as fish.
Great information guys many thanks.I too fish the local lakes around Bridge although I find Bridge too large to fish comfortably.My experience has been using sedge,damsel imitations,leach black,red or green preferably with mylar woven in the body and as far as shrimp I use one that looks like a stone fly nymph only the body is green instead of white.Hope this helps.

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