Exploring Upper Midwest Spring Creeks
Spotting trout. Plan to explore on a sunny day with clear water. Wear polarized sunglasses and look closely for trout. If after a stealthy approach you do not see any fish, kick beneath undercut banks or logs to flush them and mark the spot for a return visit. Trout may be absent for fairly long reaches of river; then one area may hold a pod of several fish.
Under bright lighting conditions, seeing into the deep pools is easy and you will almost certainly see fish. Learn to recognize rough fish, so the large suckers, carp, and red horse do not mislead you. If a fish has a forked tail, it is not a trout. Brown trout have square tails that often appear dark at the tip with a lighter band in front. Rough fish move their tails with a looser “wiggle” or sway than trout. Suckers can show a mottled appearance, and often the leading edge of the pectoral fin is light and contrasts sharply with the body color. At times, you can spot the white mouth of a brown trout.
Finding trout. Learn to recognize the characteristics of water that holds trout, usually a riffle with a drop-off of good depth and often in the vicinity of a submerged log or large bankside tree. Cobble bottoms with some larger stones are good; silted areas are poor. Look for a nearby “feeding flat.” Make note of small cold feeders and wooded areas, especially those with riffles. These areas will be cool in mid and late summer and large trout may congregate in them, making the area worthy of a return visit.
Don’t overlook the upper stream reaches. Some creeks that are just a trickle under the bridge may have some impressive pools farther upstream. Because these headwater creeks receive less fishing pressure, your chances of encountering large brook or brown trout are excellent, especially in September as browns and brookies migrate upstream in preparation for spawning.
Fishing the Seasons
Iowa streams have no closed season for fly fishing. Wisconsin and Minnesota streams close at the end of September. Some southeast Minnesota streams open January 1 to catch-and-release, while the regular season opens in April. Most Wisconsin streams open for catch-and-release fly fishing beginning in March, and the general opener is in early May.
Winter. The spring creeks do not freeze during winter and midges, black stoneflies, and Baetis hatch through the winter months. Trout become less selective then because they have fewer food choices. Scud and leech imitations are productive during nonhatch periods.
Midges hatch daily on Driftless Area streams during winter, and at times even large trout feed on them. Most midges are dark, either black or gray, and can be as large as #18. Cloudy, windless days when the water is clear are the best conditions for fishing midge hatches. Trout routinely begin their day feasting on midge larvae, then follow the hatch upward for ascending pupae, film-bound pupae, and adults. As the day warms, scuds or Baetis nymphs become active. Simple, straight-forward imitations tied on 6X or 7X tippets work well.
Copyright © 2012 Intermedia Outdoors
Comments