Winter Fly Fishing Secrets For Catching Utah Trophy Trout Part 2

Secrets For Catching Trophy Trout Part 2



As fly fishing guides in Utah we like to show our fly fishing clients a really good time catching huge tiger and rainbow trout. We accomplish a quality fly fishing trip by taking our clients to the best trophy trout producing waters in Utah. In fact these waters are close to Park City, Heber City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, Orem, Bountiful, Layton Utah on a private family owned ranch in Tooele County, Utah. I will share this location at the end of this blog. Tooele county spring creek properties located at Dove Creek West @ Hogans Ranch always offers great success for all levels of fly fishing skills by providing the ultimate quarry of huge trout offering both massive Tiger Trout and extreme Rainbow Trout for your fly fishing pleasure.

Photo 3 Lb. "+" Rainbow Trout Caught Fly Fishing Close to Salt Lake City Utah

Our last article on fly fishing secrets a couple of months ago spoke about selecting the correct location and the correct fly for your outing in search of the elusive giant rainbow trout or tiger trout of a 1,000 casts.

Now I will address proper fly selection and the best presentation of the fly. To catch the elusive trophy trout you need to be open minded and remember these big boys get big by being selective of what they eat and where they hide.

Sometimes The Right Fly Is The Right Pattern, But The Wrong Size Or Color Combination.Big Flies don't necessarily mean you will catch trophy size fish. The majority of the insects your target fish eat are really quite small in size. I have caught many trout in the 4,5 & 6 pound class on flies in the #20-#26 hook range. When using flies this small you have got to have some good steel that won't break or bend too easily, so buy the best hooks available for this task. You must also have your drag ready for the heavy load, not too tight and not too loose, because if you try to "horse" a big fish the hook, leader, tippet or knot is going to "give" and your fish of a lifetime will be gone forever.
Make That Knot Tight!!!
Speaking of knots, a quick note: I use a Duncan not that goes through the eye of the hook "twice" creating a super strong connection point between the line, hook and the most important factor in knots that slip, the tag end. The double loop created by the Duncan assures the angler of virtually "0" slippage of the tag end, which is disaster when you hook a big trophy. If you don't currently use the Duncan, look it up on the Internet and start using it. You will be glad you did. In closing, the knot is really fast and easy to tie with plenty of knot strength.
Photo Trophy Rainbow Trout Caught Fly Fishing In Tooele County, 4 Lb. "+"

Match Fly Colors With The Correct Presentation Back to proper fly selection. A few weeks ago at the start of the winter trout spawning run I started throwing a standard leech pattern in a small #20 nymph hook but changed my colors to a black marabou tail with a pinch of bright orange marabou for the body with black thread for the thorax and head. Nothing really spectacular, in fact a pretty bland and simple pattern to tie. I selected the colors of black and orange to contrast each other and to add some flair with the orange similar to a brook trout coloring. But the pattern needed a good presentation. I opted for a non standard leech retrieve.
Whip it, Whip it Good...

The presentation I used was similar to casting and retrieving a streamer or small minnow. The nice color combination with the orange and black creates some of the same color as a spawning Brook and Tiger Trout. The presentation worked! I was ripping lips in the first 2 or 3 casts and landed some nice 4 and 5 pound tiger trout. As I moved up and down the stream things seemed to cool off and I quickly switched to another color combination. Same pattern, a leech, but this time with a olive green marabou tail and orange marabou for the body and of course olive green thread for the thorax and head. Simple, same streamer presentation and wham! I nailed two really nice 3 pound rainbows in less than 15 minutes! Not bad considering the majority of the time was spent playing the fish and trying to get them to the net. These big boys run like a freight train when they feel the bite from my steel.

Share The Wealth With Others
Photo Big 4 Lb Winter Rainbow Caught fly fishing Near Salt Lake City

Now my buddy wanted in on the action and of course (he was tired of just netting my big brute trout) I shared my collection of various colors as well as the presentation. He quickly tied on the olive green and orange pattern and started nailing the trophies. About 6 fish later we were kicking back and laughing about how many times we have failed to experiment with various colors on an old standard pattern and vowed to keep experimenting with both color and presentation.

Advantage Of Tying Your Own Flies Or Not...
If you tie your own flies you can have all the crazy color variations you want, if you don't tie your own. Find a fishing buddy who does tie and you will always have a great selection. That's why my buddy always goes fishing with me. I tie and he shares in the wealth.

Tooele County Location For Giant Rainbow Trout & Tiger Trout...

As I promised at the start of this blog I will share the greatest trout fishing location near Salt Lake City, which is located near Tooele.

Visit our website for additional winter photos and fly fishing information!


http://trophytroutschool.com


Talk with you soon.

All_Tied_Up

(my fly box is always full and ready to go)

Utah Fly Fishing Tournament Photographs, November Results & December Tournament Registration

Year Round Fly Fishing tournaments in Utah, Dove Creek West At Hogan Ranch

A Premier Spring Creek Trout Fly Fishing Location November 2009 Tournament Results

Photo 6 Lb. Tiger Trout Caught At Tournament

Saturday November 21, 2009 was a perfect day for late fall trophy trout fly fishing in Northern Utah. We had all of the elements necessary for the perfect fly fishing contest: over cast skies, a slight wind, cold, but not too cold. We had assembled some great teams hailing from different cities throughout Utah (including Bountiful, Tooele, Tooele county, Davis County, Utah County, Summit County to mention a few) for this competition fall fly fishing tournament. All the teams were anticipating hooking up with some incredible trophy tiger trout and rainbow trout. The tiger trout and rainbow trout were ready for a fight and already putting on the winter feed bag to beef up for the coming season! Our teams would not be disappointed! This is the best fly fishing than can be found in Utah.

Photo Rainbow Trout In Spawn Colors Caught At Tournament

The Absolute Best Location In Utah For Rainbow & Tiger Trout Fly Fishing.

The location couldn’t have been better; a spring creek located on a 10,000 acre family ranch in Tooele County, Utah that bubbles up from a free flowing artesian well located about 200 yards from a large kidney shaped pond. The pond looks more like a river basin than a pond; complete with an outlet to keep the water clear and moving. This meandering water is full of t natural habitat for the abundant insect population which provides year round dining for the trout. The waters never freeze over in winter so there is never a winter kill to the fish so they grow big and fat all year long. This is anglers’ fly fishing paradise where we fly fish all year round for big trophy tiger and rainbow trout. To give you an indication of what kind of food was available for the trout; Fenwick dredged up a large handful of green “salad” from the deeper reaches of the pond. He shook out the plant on our table. We were all astounded at the hundreds of freshwater shrimp (scuds), sow bugs, damsel nymphs and other critters wriggling on the table top. No wonder the trout continue to grow bigger and bigger!

Photo Team Dave & Carmen With Trophy Rainbow Trout Caught During November Fly Fishing Tournament Dove Creek West @ Hogan Ranch In Tooele County, Utah.

The Trout Are Big Aggressive & Hungry

The rainbows and tigers are in full spawning colors this time of year and aggressive while they prepare to spawn. They are eating everything in sight; preparing for the onset of winter. All of the fish came in over 3 pounds with an overall average girth of 11 inches – that is what we have learned to expect here at Dove Creek West @ Hogan ranch and today was no exception. Teams Were Ready For the Challenge

The morning began with teams selecting their starting positions on the water. Each team would fish for 30 minutes; safely netting their catch, measuring the overall length and girth and then releasing the trophy before resuming fishing. Officials circulated around the water assisting the teams in netting, measuring, weighing, photographing and releasing these beauties. The fish were aggressive and required patience and skill to get them into the net - usually taking 10-15 minutes of fight before they were ready to be netted. “They are hitting like Tarpon” exclaimed one competitor as he hooked up with a large female tiger trout that was heading south to Mexico to try and get away. There were a few humorous moments as we watched one angler after another “chase” a running fish along the bank! Between strength and very sharp teeth, the fish were quite capable of breaking off. It seemed like there would be a short lull and then one, two or more fishermen would yell “Fish On!”

Winners Were Announced

Once the quarry became visible, the anglers were shocked by the beauty, size and strength of the fish. Their exclamations of; “Look at the size of that fish” and “What a beauty!” Contrasted with a mild cuss word if the fish was lost. Then the angler would quickly rig up again and get right back to the business at hand: hooking, landing, measuring and reviving theses exceptional examples of the trout family. “This is the best fly fishing in Park City, Heber, Ogden, Logan, Tooele, Ogden or Salt Lake City exclaimed one competitor”!

Photo Winning Team Kevin From Highland Utah With Therin From Tooele County Net A Nice Rainbow Trout During Fly Fishing Tournament Near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Regular breaks for hot cider and rest kept us all excited as we anticipated getting to the next station. Then we enjoyed a sensational lunch of smoked hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on Hals BBQ. Thanks to Hal for his exceptional cooking and hospitality.

Finally, we stopped, the catch statistics were tallied and the winners were declared. Team, Therin from Tooele County and his team mate Kevin, from Highland Utah, took the first place prize and were awarded fabulous William Joseph Fly Fishing Packs and everyone else got something to take home.

Fish Of A 1,000 Casts Were Recorded

But the real prize was the fishing. One of our experienced anglers said: “What you have here is completely different than the other private waters I have fished. These fish have abundant natural food and do not depend on fish pellet feed for food, so these fish take skill and cunning to catch and when you do hook one, they can give you the fight of your life.” Several anglers logged catching the biggest rainbow trout or tiger trout of their life so, while the fishing was exceptional, it took skill to hook and land them. Every team caught fish and while we congratulate the winners, each fisherman took home memories which will last a lifetime.

Dove Creek West At Hogan Ranch Is Proud To Announce The December 2009 Invitational Fly Fishing Tournament Open To The General Public. Registration For The December tournament is for teams or individuals who will be placed on a two person team the morning of the event.

Our December 2009 Utah Fly Fishing Team Tournament Will Be Open To The General Public.

Application information, contest photographs and tournament details for enrollment is available on our website: http://trophytroutschool.com

Fly Fishing Accessories

The Fly Fishermens Most Unique Accessory
(If You Like To Travel Light)

No matter where you love to fish for trout, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Layton, Bountiful, Salt Lake, Orem or Provo you always have to carry your fly fishing equipment nowwhere ever you go. Now there is a great way to simplify the packing and storage process. After all the trophy tiger trout and rainbow trout don't care how well dressed you are, and they are the ones you want to impress, with your presentation not how you dress or carry your gear.

Secret To Where The Big Trout Are In Utah

Be sure to check out our fly fishing website for trophy trout private fishing and fly fishing guide services close to Salt Lake, Heber, Orem, Park City, Layton, Bountiful, Provo and Bountiful.


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The Fishing Bucket or Priority Storage 101

Photo Fishing Bucket

Nearly empty, my really nice tackle box now sits in my garage.

I have lost track of my fly-fishing vest and have not missed it for years.

As I have gotten older (though not necessarily wiser) I have eschewed such accoutrements and storage devices for something much more simple and convenient: A bucket.

It isn’t a special bucket - it is one of those white 5 gallon types which contain paint, drywall mud and host of other concoctions. I have found that it is far less expensive and far more versatile than the alternatives listed above.

Contents Of Must Have Items

For fly fishing, I carry my fly box (the one I wrote about in the my last Photo Fishing Bucket & Contents blog), my box of miscellaneous hardware which contains hooks, sinkers, swivels, lures and a myriad of small other items which I might need. Tippet material, a bottle of Gink and Xink and perhaps one or two other items I might need. To complete my ensemble, I take my rod and reel - it is really embarrassing when you go with out the rod and reel but its been a while since I did that. All these can be carried and stuffed into my pockets and I am not encumbered too much. That leaves me free to fish. If I need anything else, unless my companion(s) carry it, it would be worthwhile to reconsider whether or not I really do.

On all other fishing occasions, including when I go fly-fishing, my trusty bucket is by my side - well, at least it is in the trunk.

Advantages To Packing This Way

There are several important and significant advantages to my bucket.

First, I am recycling something that otherwise would be at the garbage dump.

Second, because of its size and color, it does not get forgotten or left at home.

Third, in an emergency;

it makes a great water bucket for fire control,

aquarium for minnows or crawfish to keep my grandchildren entertained, while I am fishing,

fish creel (on those rare occasions when I want to take some fish home),

chair - when needed,

and it is an exceptional deterrent to water fights - when my fishing companions feel the need to splash or use water to induce jocularity during fishing. Believe me, only a fool gets into a water fight with a guy with a 5 gallon bucket, though some have tried and learned their soggy lesson quickly and completely.

There are thousands of non-emergency uses the bucket - I will only mention one here: the lid makes great ersatz Frisby for kids and dogs which might be lingering nearby.

Back To Basics

In addition, there is something down to earth about a bucket that I like. It does not represent the level of style and intensity that the vest of a really serious fly-fisherperson connotes. Some of these people look like they were standing in a fly shop when someone threw in a bomb; so festooned are they with hooks, pads of wool, things tied and otherwise affixed to them. They remind me of Christmas trees.

In addition, the bucket is the antithesis of the bass fisherman’s professional assortment of perhaps a dozen tackle boxes, numerous pre-rigged rod and reel combos, enough electronic gear to make an AWACS pilot jealous and a boat nearly as fast and expensive as a water born Ferrari. Tournament fishing is a wonderful pastime for its participants and fans, but it is professional - with all the good, and not so good that that entails.

Hidden Advantage

Finally, there is a hidden advantage to the fishing bucket: it creates its own priority storage system. Everything is thrown into the bucket, the things I need on a regular basis tend to stay at the top and things which I don’t need, migrate to the bottom. So, when someone asks where my “______” is, I can answer with a reasonable amount of accuracy: “Look in the bottom of the bucket.” And I can go back to concentrating on fishing.

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copyright © 2009 TrophyTroutSchool.com

My Fly Box or Catching Trout On A Limited Budget

Fenwick does it again with an article pointing out the obvious of just how simple fly fishing can be if you remember to cut down on the clutter and excess equipment and just have a really good time catching trophy trout.

Free Locations & Hatch Chart For Our Readers

Free Hatch Chart & Fishing Guides Locations In UtahAt the end of the article there will be some location information as well as a year round fly hatch chart for our readers to access. There will also be some information about our trophy trout fly fishing guides for Salt Lake, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Provo & Orem areas.

Photo Fall Rainbow Trout The Basic Flies

I usually don’t carry a large selection of flies with me. Rather than carry boxes of dries, emergers, nymphs, terrestrials, and what we used to call “wet flies“, I carry a few of each of the patterns which have served me well over the years.

Carry Only What Will Work

What I do not carry is numerous fly boxes of multitudinous selections of flies; i.e., six each of BWO’s in sizes 14 through 20 or similar collections. Why I do not carry such a menagerie of flies and sizes is that it is simply too complex for me. I cannot discern between a size 18 or size 20 Beaded Hares Ear, and; while some purists insist trout can and do tell the difference, I am not sure I am interested in those fish anyway. They are, do a degree, like some of the girls I knew in college - one had to put up with so much just to get to know these ladies, much less build a relationship with them, that after a while, it just wasn’t worth the effort. There were lots of beautiful, kind, loving and happy girls to be found that such machinations. In fact, I married just such a girl and have never rued my decision.

Photo Trophy Rainbow Trout Targeting The Trophy Trout

If the fish I am after are that finicky (pardon the pun) are they really worth the time and trouble to catch them? And, if one does finally catch such a selective target, what have you really proven? It takes a real leap of ego to go from catching a selective trout to validating that I am a superior and more intelligent angler than the fellow down the stream who cannot catch them.

Blasting Trout Out Of The Water

There are no guaranteed methods of catching fish unless you want to start throwing sticks of dynamite into your favorite lake or river. And, if fishing ever becomes so mechanical that taking steps one through five guarantees you catch a fish, I just don’t think very many people would be interested any more. Rather than fishing it would be like going to Wal-Mart: give them your money and they give you your goods.

Catching Exceptional Trout

The fish we catch, even the most selective, are the exception. The vast majority of fish do not succumb to our skills and techniques If this were not so, the rivers and lakes we ply would be emptied in no time. It takes a head full of hubris to assume otherwise.

That is not to say that we should not take pride in our skills and try to improve them. Rather, as we learn and improve, we should keep in mind that a good deal of luck factors into the fishing equation.

Still, there are those who insist that fishing is skill and luck has nothing to do with it. But, if that is true, do not those in the past who fished, netted and dynamited some species of fish into near extinction have a greater claim than to skill than we do today? Hey, they caught more fish, didn’t they?

How To Hook The Largest Trout

When I hook the most fish or the largest fish, I am justly proud; however, I never let go of the notion that part of what makes me such a good angler is that fortune and luck are on my side. I have confidence in my skills and luck and - for that reason, perhaps more than any other, I end up being both lucky and good.

Much of our skill at catching fish is designed to entice the fish to strike, but a good deal of the art of fishing is that we do not inhibit the process. The enlightened fly-fisher strives not to make the perfect presentation, but to make the least errors. It is not perfection he is striving for, he is reaching out to become a part of nature and finding harmony, realizes perfection is not needed. And, when luck, skill and some willingness on the part of our prey coincide, good things happen. I think that explains much more than just fly-fishing.

Fenwick Fleigenbinder

Post Script: Fenwick only carries the basics, on the other hand I pack everything I can carry in my fishing vest so I can be ready for any situation. Especially those times Fenwick needs a fly pattern that is catching fish that he doesn't have in his limited inventory. Ah, yes if you only take the basics, make sure they include a good fishing buddy who packs it all and is willing to share.

All-Tied-Up

Hatch Chart, Locations, Photo's & More !!!

Now For The Free Hatch Chart & Trophy LocationTrophy Rainbow Trout and Trophy Tiger Trout Location & My Free Fly Hatch Chart Where The Trophy Trout Are For Park City, Utah, Heber Utah, Provo Utah, Orem Utah, Ogden Utah, Salt Lake City Utah, complete with Updated Information And Photos.

http://trophytroutschool.com/utschool.com/

Check out the Tiger Trout photos, they are currently in full spawn colors and look just like salmon with their big orange bellies. They maintain these magnificent colors throughout the fall, winter and early spring months here in Utah.




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Fly Fishing Secrets For Catching Trophy Trout

Secrets For Catching Those Big Fall Trophy Trout

Photo Big 4 Lb. Rainbow Trout Caught Fly
Fishing Near Salt Lake City, Utah

Go Where The Big Fish Live
Location, location, location

In order to catch the big rainbow and tiger trout you need to do a little home work and find out the best locations to fish. That is, the best locations where no one else will be fishing but you. Yeah, you may get a little cold or wet and lose some flies and tippets and maybe a foot or two from your tappered leader.

You may even need to find a local ranch that you can access or pay a guide to gain some good information and experience. Whatever you do you must go where the fish reside. But this is the price you pay to earn the reward of hooking into a big rainbow or tiger trout. I will share a truly incredible location near Salt Lake City that you can access for trophy rainbow trout and tiger trout that are ready to accept your fly at the end of this article. This location has wild trout and the access is controlled by reservation so there is never a crowd and the fish are never stressed.

Photo Fly Fishing In Rain With A Guide &
Catching A Huge Rainbow Trout Near Park
City, Utah.

What Fly Do I Use

Keep Good Records or Use Mine

Selecting the proper fly is critical to catching these big guys. After all they did not get this big by being dumb. So you must be armed with what they are eating the day you show up. For years I have maintained my own personal fly hatch chart that also details nymphs and streamers that have proven successful in the area's that I fish. I will share this year round fly hatch chart with you at the end of this article.


Photo Rainbow Trout Full Fall Colors
Caught Near Park City Utah

Go At The Right Time
When The Fish Are Active

Time of day in the fall is usually late morning to early afternoon, when the insects get warm enough to move around. Early evening is also a great time. These are the times when the insects are active and hatches are taking place when the warmth of the sun is felt on the colder water surface. The warmth acts as a trigger to the fish that the food buffet is about to begin so you need to be ready.

There Is No Hatch...What Do I Do?

Check the hatch chart I have linked for you and go to the nymph and streamers. Remember you are looking for active trophy trout and don't be afraid to move around the area you have selected to fish and use different flies and presentations. If you are with a guide they will take care of supplying the flies as well as all the local knowledge you will need to succeed.

Trophy Rainbow Trout and Tiger Trout Location & My Free Hatch Chart

Where The Trophy Trout Are For Park City, Utah, Heber Utah, Provo Utah, Orem Utah, Ogden Utah, Salt Lake City Utah, complete with updated information and photos.

http://trophytroutschool.com/

Check out the Tiger Trout photos, they are in full spawn colors and look just like salmon with their big orange bellies.


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YEAR ROUND FLY FISHING IN UTAH

Trophy Trout Fly Fishing For Rainbow & Tiger Trout In Utah Close To Salt Lake, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Provo & Orem Can Be Enjoyed Year Round If You Know The Best Location For Big Agressive Trout. Expert Guides Are Available.


Photo Huge Rainbow Trout 5 lbs 14 Ounces
Fly Fish For 3-10 Lb. Rainbows & Tiger Trout.
I've seached the world over and found Utah fly fishing has some mighty fine locations for small stream trout. The mountain lakes provide a good stock of fish and afford new challenges for the still water fly fishing techniques, but even the trout are very small for unusually large bodies of water. Plus the mountain lakes completely freeze over each winter.

Photo Tiger Trout Fall Spawn Colors

Now I've found the best location for fly fishing for big aggressive catchable rainbow and tiger trout and I am sharing it with my fly fishing friend.

Fly Fishing All Year Long In Utah's Best Location, A Privately Owned & Operated Family Ranch Near Salt Lake City, Utah. Our expert fishing guides show you the biggest trout on private waters. Artestian wells provide year round crystal clear water at 59 Degrees temperature, so we never freeze and we don't have to replace trout every Spring due to winter die off.

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More Fly Fishing Secrets, Leeches, Woolly Buggers And Then Some...

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Utah Fly fishing Guide Service Takes You To Monster Rainbows & Wild Aggresive Tiger Trout On A 10,000 Acre Ranch Destination Just 45 Minutes From Salt Lake City & Utah County Park City, Heber Ogden Just A Little Bit Further to drive. Best Year- Round Dry Fly Fishing Location In Utah For Lunker Trout!

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Private waters located on 10,000 acre ranch near Salt Lake City, Park City, Heber City, Utah County, & Ogden. The Utah Fly Fishing Destination. Dry Fly fishing at it's absolute finest. All trout over 3 lbs. and 20 " "+". Monster Rainbow & Tiger Trout Will Strip The Line Off Your Reel. See Our Website For Photo's & Complete Details About Fly Fishing With Guides On Our Private Waters Location Right Here In Utah.

Leeches, Scuds, Woolly Buggers, Lawyer Flies, Glow Bugs, Wool Head Sculpins and Lunker Trout, Oh My

When The Fish Are Down In The Water Column

Dry Flies Won't Work

Photo Double Rainbow Trout On A Fly In Utah


Always rig two flies and you just may double the pleasure and double the fun with a pair of really nice Spring rainbow trout. Let's hope your leader and tippet are strong enough to endure the ordeal. Two large streamers or wet flies are just as good as any other attractor combination. Try out whatever appeals to you. Remember to change it out if the pair are not working. Something as simple as a larger or smaller hook size in the same fly will be the trigger to success. For still water fishing remember to move the flies slowly on the retrieve and be patient on the cast to let the flies completely sink to the bottom when using streamers or nymphs before starting the slow retrieve. The basic food of still water trout are Scuds, Leeches and Chironomids (covered in the previous article). 90% of a trouts diet comes from insects living below the surface of the water so it is a good idea to know what these insects are and how they live in and move around in the ponds and lakes they call home. Dry flies are a true adrenalin rush but they are not always available to the trout so the avid fly fisherman must be prepared if he also wants to be the year round fly fisherman.

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My Original Chenille Halloween Leech
This is my take on a night crawler or a really long leech with some color contrast. Jigging this long body creates a really nice curling pattern and the
quick rod tip action allows the leech to really stretch out long and lean as it shoots through the water for 4-6 inches and then drops back to the bottom, and allowed to rest for a few seconds before starting all over again. On an open lake, right after "ice off" I like to drift fish this one from my one man pontoon boat just a couple of feet below the surface. It has the look of an easy meal to slow moving lake trout and I believe the presentation of floating in a fully stretched out position has the appeal of an easy meal that is just waiting to be picked off by a hungry Spring trout.


Photo Bead Head Woolly Bugger
Colorful Woolly Bugger with a gold bead head has contrasting black with orange body and white hackle. "Jigging" and slow retrieve is the ticket to successful Spring fly fishing using contrasting colors for attraction. This is another favorite for ice off on the lakes both big and small. Is anyone thinking Strawberry Reservoir, besides me ? Try stringing up a couple of these combinations and create a parade of color. What, two streamers at once ? Oh, Yeah. Give it a try and you just may be surprised at which contrasting colors pull in the big ones. With a short stubby tail I don't mind a bead head for extra weight and glitter on this fly but I do fish it a little differently than a non bead or cone head. Quick jigging with the rod tip while moving the rod side to side to create a back and forth swimming action when combined with a slow "finger over finger" line retrieve will give this fly all of it's action and it doesn't require a lot of movement to generate a hit. Remember to lower the rod tip so the fly makes a quick dive to the bottom at the end of the upward tip lift and before the line retrieve or after the rod tip lift and at the end of the side to side rod movement creating the swimming side to side action. Try both methods.

Photo Bead Head Chartreuse Leech
Broadcast Your Fly To All Trout In The Area. Change your patterns and your colors if the fishing is slow. You want to have as many presentations as possible while you move up or down the stream or pond bank or just drift along in your boat. You are looking for active feeding trout, so be sure to change color patterns, move (only a couple of steps every few casts, wind and waves will do all the work on lakes and ponds) and "dance" your presentation for the best success using bright colors. Remember to let the fly settle back down and rest on the bottom after each dance so it appears to be in trouble or hiding from any of the opportunistic fish in the area.
"Attorney Fly"

Photo Black Egg Sucking Leech
This fly creates a "two-fer" meal for the trout. The leech and a tasty fish egg (two for the price of one)! Contrasting the bright red glow bug with the jet black body these colors allow the fly to stand out in clear or stained water of Spring. There is no leaded wire on the fly or a bead head for extra weight. To properly weight this fly locate sinkers on your leader above the head so the fly can freely float in the currents and be unfettered from the rocks and debris on the bottom, the sinkers will take the abuse of these obstacles. The sinkers can also be bounced using the rod tip allowing the fly to dip and dive without the extra weight from lead wire or a bead head. The fly also flows more smoothly in the currents for a more realistic look without the extra weight of the bead right on the head, but it also moves more slowly so use patience to let the fly "flutter" all the way to the bottom on the first cast and at the end each short retrieve.
Bright Orange Says Here I Am


Photo Gold Bead Head Orange and Red Leech

Add some red and get a really brilliant pattern moving through the water that is hard for even the most nonchalant lunker to ignore, let alone miss. This type of bead head I usually fish one to two feet above the bottom and allow the head to dive and rise using my rod tip and short strips of my line, two to four inches at a time. On still water a strike indicator also assists in the rise and fall while letting me know when the fly hits the bottom. The strike indicator will move backwards toward the fly while the fly is floating down and the indicator will stop moving when the fly is on the bottom. I give a slow count to "10" when the strike indicator stops moving, lift the rod tip, drop the tip back down near the surface, and strip a 4-6 inches of line in and start the process over again. Strikes come as the fly is falling. Be ready for the strike indicator to move in one direction as cruising fish swim and suck in the fly as they continue to swim steadily in the direction they were heading when they encountered your fly. Set the hook solidly by pulling the rod backwards with the rod tip just above the surface of the water and parallel to the top of the water. Lifting the rod straight up will have you miss a lot of strikes since this movement lifts line off the water, before it places pressure on the fish this extra time allowing for a slow response allows the fish time to feel the pressure of the slowly tightening line in it's mouth and have time to "spit" the hook and swim away.



Don't let the big ones get away! I have seen professional fishermen on video's fail to use this technique and have the undesired results of missing the big one time and time again!



What Looks Like A Fish And Swims Like A Fish



Photo Wool Head Sculpin
With a wool head, feathers for fins and a rabbit zonker tail this critter imitates tadpoles, small fresh water catfish, salamanders and dozens more. Next to marabou, rabbit hair adds the most incredible shimmer and live look to an artificial lure when submerged in the water that can be imagined. The long tail sways effortlessly with the slightest tug of the line by an angler, sliding and slicing through the water like the natural tail of a fish. It is truly mesmerizing to watch as it moves gracefully in the water. This fly is large enough it could have a gold cone head for weight, but this one does not. I prefer to add two or even three snailed sinkers on the leader, the first on located about 6 inches from the eye, and another up the line about 14 inches and if the water is fast or deep a third sinker another 12-14 inches above the second sinker. Thus the line from the fly to the last sinker sits fairly level in the water as it sinks and the current can carry the free floating fly up and down to the bottom as the sinkers bounce and sometimes hold to the bottom. I like the fly to be as free as possible imitating a very natural swimming action. I can raise my rod tip to release the sinkers from the bottom and let them sink again while the fly takes on a life of it's own unencumbered from extra weight on it's head from a bead or a cone.


Gold and Olive Offers Flash And Subtle Natural Color



Photo Gold Bead Head
Olive Leech

Fly fishing is not a science, but a sport and a hobby. Use the techniques, tips and fly patterns you see I offer and try some of your own.

Remember it's called "fishing" not "catching" but with some good ideas, basic understanding and a willingness to try you too will catch some fine trout and earn some bragging rights.