Post by yihunt on Apr 12, 2009 12:35:16 GMT -4
Fishing: Anglers share early-season secrets on landing trout
Sunday, April 12, 2009
By Ben Moyer
Pennsylvania's 600,000 trout anglers are as diverse as the rivers, lakes and streams of our state. Each has a "go-to" technique or tackle selection that fools trout when all else fails. Below, a sample of fishermen share their early season secrets.
Wax worms and access
"A bait that's really catching on, especially early in the season, is waxworms. The last few years, guys have really gone to them instead of redworms and are hammering trout. Fish them the same as a crawler or redworm -- but use two waxworms on the hook. Another thing: take advantage of some of the rails-to-trails systems that follow some of our trout streams and rivers. A bike on a trail can get you to great fishing fast, without the crowds."
-- Dave Love, Love's Canoe Rental, Ridgway
Live minnows
"Add more life and action to a minnow bait by tying in a swivel about 8 inches above the hook. It is surprising how much appeal this adds. I've seen trout repeatedly pass up minnows fished without the swivel, but nail the first one drifted by with a swivel tied in above the hook."
-- Steve Sutton, Elizabeth,bowhunting specialist
Fly casting
"You don't have to master [casting] in the beginning. Just get the hang of it. The way I learned, it's making the motion of throwing a Frisbee and pounding a nail. On the backcast, you throw the Frisbee -- that's loading the rod [activating the spring action of the fly rod]. Then pound the nail -- throw the line forward."
-- Bob Bukk, Squirrel Hill, Trout Unlimited fly seminar
Fly fishing
"During early season, fly fish the warmest part of the day. Trout are most active then and hatches usually occur during that time. Fish the back eddies and the tails of pools, where the water warms faster. Fish close to the banks, and as close to any structure you can find. You will lose flies, but you will also catch more trout."
-- Dave Wolf, Selinsgrove, fly fishing author and instructor
Bugs n'at
"For the local guy who's going out on open water where the fish haven't been fished over, on the first day it's hard not to use Wooly Buggers, egg flies and sucker spawn patterns. If you want to to use nymphs and are not matching a specific hatch: soft-hackle wet flies like Hare's Ears and Stoneflies. If you're looking to match the hatch it's more stream specific, but with the cold weather things seem to be delayed this year. Guys might still see some Blue Winged Olives if they want to fish dry flies, or small Pheasant Tails in 18 or 20."
-- Chuck Thompson, Robinson
International Angler
Location, location, location
"My best early-season tip would be to get out in the middle of the week if you can. Hit the pools away from the popular spots. Trout will move around at night and during the off days, and will show up at spots that never attract a crowd. And those fish haven't seen a lot of baits or lures."
-- Dave Fisher, Smithfield, rabbit hunting expert and videographer
Mentorship
"Take a kid fishing. First, this becomes your own excuse to fish with a bobber and worm. Second, seeing the joy in a young angler's eyes will make you feel young again yourself, if only for a little while."
Sunday, April 12, 2009
By Ben Moyer
Pennsylvania's 600,000 trout anglers are as diverse as the rivers, lakes and streams of our state. Each has a "go-to" technique or tackle selection that fools trout when all else fails. Below, a sample of fishermen share their early season secrets.
Wax worms and access
"A bait that's really catching on, especially early in the season, is waxworms. The last few years, guys have really gone to them instead of redworms and are hammering trout. Fish them the same as a crawler or redworm -- but use two waxworms on the hook. Another thing: take advantage of some of the rails-to-trails systems that follow some of our trout streams and rivers. A bike on a trail can get you to great fishing fast, without the crowds."
-- Dave Love, Love's Canoe Rental, Ridgway
Live minnows
"Add more life and action to a minnow bait by tying in a swivel about 8 inches above the hook. It is surprising how much appeal this adds. I've seen trout repeatedly pass up minnows fished without the swivel, but nail the first one drifted by with a swivel tied in above the hook."
-- Steve Sutton, Elizabeth,bowhunting specialist
Fly casting
"You don't have to master [casting] in the beginning. Just get the hang of it. The way I learned, it's making the motion of throwing a Frisbee and pounding a nail. On the backcast, you throw the Frisbee -- that's loading the rod [activating the spring action of the fly rod]. Then pound the nail -- throw the line forward."
-- Bob Bukk, Squirrel Hill, Trout Unlimited fly seminar
Fly fishing
"During early season, fly fish the warmest part of the day. Trout are most active then and hatches usually occur during that time. Fish the back eddies and the tails of pools, where the water warms faster. Fish close to the banks, and as close to any structure you can find. You will lose flies, but you will also catch more trout."
-- Dave Wolf, Selinsgrove, fly fishing author and instructor
Bugs n'at
"For the local guy who's going out on open water where the fish haven't been fished over, on the first day it's hard not to use Wooly Buggers, egg flies and sucker spawn patterns. If you want to to use nymphs and are not matching a specific hatch: soft-hackle wet flies like Hare's Ears and Stoneflies. If you're looking to match the hatch it's more stream specific, but with the cold weather things seem to be delayed this year. Guys might still see some Blue Winged Olives if they want to fish dry flies, or small Pheasant Tails in 18 or 20."
-- Chuck Thompson, Robinson
International Angler
Location, location, location
"My best early-season tip would be to get out in the middle of the week if you can. Hit the pools away from the popular spots. Trout will move around at night and during the off days, and will show up at spots that never attract a crowd. And those fish haven't seen a lot of baits or lures."
-- Dave Fisher, Smithfield, rabbit hunting expert and videographer
Mentorship
"Take a kid fishing. First, this becomes your own excuse to fish with a bobber and worm. Second, seeing the joy in a young angler's eyes will make you feel young again yourself, if only for a little while."