Hay Creek

[jigginjim]

Early Saturday morning the rains made for some really tough fishing fly fishing the chocolate waters down stream was fruitless. Stopping around noon for lunch to rethink how the morning went, then going to the head water was a great for a late afternoon and evening bite. Catches were so much better, though I only kept 2, getting back into swing of things was really. My biggest error for the day was really over dressing, but better to be warm then freezing.

[Bandersnatch]

Thanks Jim!

Was it the usual Hay Creek madness?

Used to be like a day at the State Fair!

[jigginjim]

I think the rain really kept the masses away. I really over dressed for the rain. I was sweating, 5mm neoprene wader, t-shirt, flannelshirt, My boat jacket, plus the frog togs over that. Walking, wading, and trying to cast my fly rod was like running a race in June with a snowmobile suit on. After I got so far away from the truck I figure I could cool down later. So much for that morning shower. I beginning to get the need to do more trout fishing been away from it for about 20 yrs.

The stream has changed so much, no big woods to walk thru, (more open for fly casting) the rip-rap and small falls make fishing interesting. Try to swing the fly within inches of the rocks, where a trout has been feeding on emergers, without getting stuck can be really tricky. Later I just broke down to the spinning gear, Meps spinners drew the fish out, and with the artificial spawn bag hooking the fish. Lost some fish on the barbless hooks but that's fishing, catching is keeping them tight on the line. I had rounded up small pieces of the Berkley trout puddy (1/8" balls tyied in a tiny spawn sack) try different weights to just tickle the bottom as the sack drifted down stream. If the Ol' miss is raging to fast for the walleyes then hay creek will be a back up. Keep the lines tight. Jiggin Jim

[mallardnwalleye]

Thanks for the report and nice to see you got out there. I remember fishing there 16-20 years ago before the fish kill. Hay Creek was always productive, close to the cities and from what I remember never that crowded after work on weekdays. I may have to get down there and re-experience the stream again. Thanks

[monger]

Looking at trying out these waters for some browns. Any reports from this weekend?

[fivebelow]

what's a good starting spot and baits for someone who's new to this area?

I was any spots close to parks that one can walk from without having to worry about walking on private land?