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By Walt Young
sports@ltoonamirror.com
As we reach mid-April, trout season is now two weeks old. The typical crowds of the opening weekend have dwindled drastically on most trout waters, a situation most experienced trout anglers readily await.
Not having to dodge throngs of other fishermen to enjoy their sport is a welcome relief, along with the ability to pursue their quarry with a reasonable degree of expertise.
The progression of the season presents a different circumstance, however, for most of the multitude of folks who eagerly flocked to the stream opening morning but have now transitioned into consistent no-shows. In those first hours, many of them undoubtedly hooked some trout from a pool loaded with gullible hatchery fish that demanded little or no skill to catch.
But as those easy catches disappear so do lots of would-be trout anglers as subsequent outings yield mostly failure and frustration.
Despite the intense pressure of opening day, it is remarkable how well some of the initially stupid hatchery trout will adapt to the ways of the wild if afforded the chance. The overall numbers of the stocked fish are thinned early on as many are caught and kept on the first morning. The fish that survive the initial onslaught begin to beware of all the two-legged predators sloshing about.
Some will receive a reprieve for their first mistake by slipping off the hook or being returned to the water by an angler practicing catch and release. The longer a stocked trout remains in the stream the more it learns about the aquatic insects and other natural food sources in its new home while avoiding some of the more outlandish offerings and unnatural presentations from anglers.
One of the basic skills any good trout angler should possess is using some degree of stealth when approaching a potential fishing spot. A prime reason most anglers are unsuccessful is they spook the fish before making their first cast.
So far this season, water levels in most streams have been relatively low and clear compared to typical springtime flows. Without ample and regular rainfall in the coming weeks, that situation is likely to be even more pronounced by late spring and early summer and making trout fishing extra challenging. Trout have excellent eyesight, so low, clear water gives them an added advantage at detecting the presence of an approaching angler. Remember that trout always face upstream into the current, therefore approach your target area from downstream whenever possible.
Sound travels five times faster in water than it does through the air, so wade slowly and cautiously when necessary. Stay out of the water and fish from the streambank as much as possible. Even then, tread lightly because the vibrations of heavy footfalls can penetrate the water and alert a war trout.
Wear darker, drab clothing that will easily blend in with streamside vegetation. If all that sounds a bit fussy or tedious, observe a fisherman who always seems to catch more than his share of trout, and you'll probably discover he uses plenty of stealth when stalking his quarry.
An important tactic for catching more trout after the opening weeks of the season can be to find productive fish-holding spots that most anglers overlook. Some of my favorite and most dependable locations are a deep riffle or a stretch of pocket water at the head of a popular pool.
Other good producing spots can be somewhere that is a little difficult to fish like around a fallen tree or logjam, under an overhanging limb or bush, or an undercut bank. When fishing around such nasty cover, expect to get hung up occasionally.
If so, break off with as little commotion as possible and keep trying. These kinds of cover can hold several fish, so sacrificing a few hooks, lures or flies to tempt them can be worth it.
If the generally low and clear water conditions continue, consider fishing with smaller, more natural baits, lures or flies. Big, bright or flashy offerings work well at the beginning of the season and even later on when the streams are flowing bank full and off color.
But when the water is down and clear, the bigger gaudier stuff seems to lose its appeal noticeably. This is especially true in streams that have good populations of aquatic insects and other natural food sources. In those situations, stocked trout that have evaded capture have probably also had the opportunity to acclimate themselves to the abundance of natural food items around them. This is also a perfect time for fly-fishing with small wet flies and nymphs.
Not only will those kind of fly patterns closely imitate the things the fish are feeding on, but fly tackle will also present them with ample delicacy and precision. So if you don't fly-fish but have thought about trying it, this could be a good year to do so.