Early spring fly fishing on a small stream can be a bit frustrating. You have so many variables to contend with, such as high water, off color, cold water, moderating water, hungry fish, and selective fish, trying to figure what's the best plan of attack to go with is where the frustration comes to play.
Should I fish a wet fly, streamer, or my preference a dry fly. There are those that would fish nymphs on the bottom, and most are successful in that approach. Well here's how I approached the problem of where the fish wanted to feed.
Saturday was bright and clear. The stream was perfect. I started fishing wets, and moved the flies all over the water, soft spots, riffles and those seams, with no response. I tied on a few different streamers with the same result. Moving to the dry fly and hoping this was the fly of choice, which it was not. There were quite a few stone flies about, but nothing seemed to keying in on them, or the other micro bugs about.
The only fly not offered this day was a nymph. While this is my not my favorite way of fishing it was a last chance of finding a willing fish. Because I don't often fish nymphs my selection is VERY limited. A beadhead pheasasnt tail, prince, and a few of the beadheads Mark tied for me. I tied on a beadhead Picket Finn that Mark tied for me and started working the water. On the third drift as the fly hung in a sweet spot in a seam I took a solid hit. Several more casts and another hit. It was obvious what they wanted to eat. As I moved to another spot and started drifting the nymph. On the retrieve I had my first hookup. As the fish came close to my hand a quick dart to the right and he was off, with the fly in his lip. A poor knot was the reason.
I had about an hour left to fish so I moved way downstream to some long slow and deep pools where in the past I have taken some nice browns. I had a choice of two nymphs, PT or Prince, I selected the Prince. I don't know if it was the best choice, but it worked. Soon a nice brookie was at hand. It was sparkling has I lifted it to take a photo.
Further downstream I was gifted by another brook trout, also on the Prince. As I stepped out of the stream and started walking back to my car I realized I had taken two brook trout from sections of the stream where only browns have been caught. What could this mean?
CLICK IMAGES TO INLARGE
