Spring Browns

[AlexHeihn]

Being new to the sport of fly fishing Im just now learning the ins and outs of casting and patterns. I am going to be hitting a stream in a couple of weeks for my first outing. I hear that there is an abundance of Browns down there but Im not sure how to fish them. I was hoping there might be some folks around who know a thing or two about fishing browns.

1) Where in a stream do you look for Browns? What water levels are optimum?

2) What fly pattern would you use in late May/early June?

3) What approach would you take? Upstream and let the fly drift down over? Cast across their noses? Let the fly drift? Im fishing a weight forward floating line with a 4X leader and 4 lb tippet on about a 4/5 rod. I have an assortment of flys but I have no idea what they are!

Obviously Im a rookie so any help is appreciated! Thanks Guys!

[tie flyer]

Alex, Welcome to the fly fishing addiction!

Brown trout generally hold where there is a break in the current. They get fat by sitting in the relative calm created by a cut-bank, logjam, or underwater limestone shelf. Generally, they sit in front – or upstream – of the break and dart into fast water where the most food passes by. They also like to sit on the slower side of a current seam, which is why people say to cast where there is foam on the water.

This time of year your best tools will be your eyes. Careful observation will tell you what fly to use. I have seen a lot of anglers surrounded by insects stare into their fly box in uncertainty. First look around you: on the water, in the air, in the water, and you will see some trout food. Once you find a prevalent insect (assuming Ma Nature is cooperating and there is a hatch, which is likely in May) then open your fly box and find something that looks similar to the bug.

For flies the most important considerations are 1) Shape, 2) Size, and the real number I) presentation. Color is less important than any of these.

If fish are visibly rising then quarter your dry fly up and across the current. Cast two or three feet above the rising trout. Focus on one fish. If you are blessed with trout rising all around you don’t lose your cool! That’s difficult for the beginner because you will be in trout heaven when this happens.

If there is no visible trout or insect activity above the surface then try drifting a wet fly or nymph. The easiest presentation for anything wet is to quarter your cast downstream, or even cast perpendicular to the current, and let the fly “swing” all the way directly downstream of you. Let it dangle there for up to ten seconds to imitate an emerging insect.

Keep your rod tip low to the water and make sure your line is tight! When a fish hits your reel will buzz! Lift the rod tip and it will be hooked. When dry fly fishing don’t set the hook until the fish has your fly and resubmerges itself in the water. Sometimes rainbows actually jump over your fly and engulf it as they reenter the water.

That’s about as “watered-down” as fly 101 gets. Where are you fishing? Do you know how to tell the difference between a dry fly, wet fly, and nymph? Don’t be embarrassed if you can’t. We’ll help ya.

The most important piece of advice: Be patient and have fun!

Oh, and keep your hook in the water.

[AlexHeihn]

tie flyer-

Thanks for the crash course! I was going to PM you where Im headed but for some reason thats disabled. I can kind of tell the difference between wet and dry flys. I think Ill actually have to throw one on the water before I can say for sure. I've read a little about flys but I can't seem to find anything about the tendencies of the fish. I have a cabin near the creek so Im stopping there Sunday morning to look it over. Ive never been there before so it should be pretty cool. Its a small creek with Brookies and Browns that dumps into a popular lake. The creek itself has had a ton of restoration from what Ive read. Im not sure how the fishing will be but at this point that does't really matter

[tie flyer]

Alex, glad that made sense to you. Go to the library and check out “Handbook of Hatches” by Hughes. It explains the major aquatic insects in trout streams and lakes; the style is readable and he uses lay terms. If you learn the trout forage you will know where (and when) to target them on the water. It will probably plant a seed for the fly tying bug, too.

Generally, big pools will hold big fish. But trout don’t necessarily feed when holed up, especially in the daytime. So fish the fast water going into deep pools and you will encounter hungry fish. The fast, shallow places are called riffles. Many aquatic nymphs and larvae live under and between the rocks. Trout move into these rocky areas for a meal when bugs are active. Where riffles empty into deep pools fish often have a bonanza with insects that get swept downstream. The head and tail of a pool can be excellent feeding zones.

Deeper, moderately fast water is called a run. Often rising trout can be spotted feeding in these. The best trout water has some sort of deep water nearby, preferably with a cut bank, overhanging tree, logjam, ledge, etc.

Remember to stay low and wear drab (brown or green) clothing. Always walk upstream. If you think there’s a trout in the water you’re more likely to catch one. I'm sure you'll have fun. Are you going out this weekend?

[AlexHeihn]

Great! I've been looking for a book to read. The seed has already been planted for fly tying and rod building

Im going to take a look at the stream on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, I won't have time to fish (given that I haven't ever thrown a fly on the water I probably shouldn't even call it fishing). I just want to scout it out and get a feel for it. I'll have the wife, kid, and the dog along so if our gang doesn't scare those fish away I don't know what would.

Thanks for the location insight. Im going to be looking for some of those spots on Sunday. Also picking up rocks and looking at bugs with the kid. He's 3 so he loves that stuff. Should be fun. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

[TRZ]

i brought home 3 nice browns from whitewater yesterday, a 15, 15.5 and a really nice17. made for a couple nice meals. the best trip i have had in a few years. all on crawlers and crappie minnows in deep pools.

[A Fly Angler]

I've got no problem with keeping fish, but don't you think three trout 15 inches and over is excessive? I'm not sure why you'd want to eat a fish that large especially when there are lots of 9-10 trout that NEED to be taken out of some of the southeast stream systems.

If you knew all of the chemicals that end up in the Whitewater, you might think twice about eating the larger fish that have been ingesting those chemicals...ESPECIALLY THE LARGER FISH.

[Pig_sticka]

To me 9-10 inch browns are very small to be keeping for me. Rule of thumb for me is to be atleast over 12-13 inches.

Brook trout is totally different, 9-10 might be an ok rule for them.

[JP Z]

Alex,

Check out Amazon for Fly Fishing in their books section. A couple that are decent that I have are the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide and "Fly fishing for Dummies" I usually go for the Used ones and get them for $5 instead of $20.

[WxGuy]

Quote:

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i brought home 3 nice browns from whitewater yesterday, a 15, 15.5 and a really nice17. made for a couple nice meals. the best trip i have had in a few years. all on crawlers and crappie minnows in deep pools.

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Nice fish, TRZ. Were you in the park, or off on one of the branches?

[A Fly Angler]

You're killing your prime reproducing fish once you cross that 12 inch mark threshold. You get to keep five. You can't make a meal out of 5 10 inch fish?

[Pig_sticka]

I really dont catch many 10 inch browns actually. I am not a fly angler, most of my catches are usually surpassing 12 inches every fish. I just picture 10 inch browns as baby fish.

[WxGuy]

And as a fly angler, depending on your methods, it's can be very typical to catch many fish over 12". Believe it or not, we can even catch those big fish over 20".

If we keep taking a limit of fish over 12", we'll remove the stock of fish that have superior genetics (higher reproduction rates, making more fish with size potential) and in turn we'll eventually take a big chunk out of that larger fish population.

The argument is approaching being a moot point, however, as there are many streams that don't allow you to take fish 12-16" anyway...or any fish. Hopefully where it is legal to take fish in that size range, there is ample stocking.

[AlexHeihn]

I think Lac Laverne is closer to St. Paul and adequately stocked with trout of all sizes for those who like to keep a few fish. That might be a better option for those who want a meal and not a challenge.

[say_der]

If you're talking about Laclavon in Burnsville I don't think that has been stocked with trout for about five years. That's a 'lake/pond' that the DNR put rainbows in for about a decade starting in the late '80's.

Can't a meal & a challenge co-exist?

[WxGuy]

Quote:

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Can't a meal & a challenge co-exist?

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Absolutely! And I think a meal and challenge should co-exist. The meal tastes better when it took you some work to catch it, IMO.

It's not the issue of taking fish, just the issue of size of the fish you keep. There's a very good reason that you can only keep 1 trout over 16" on any of the streams in SE MN. Those guys are prime spawners and survivors.

10-12" browns certainly aren't "pigs" or trophies, but they're definitely yummy...

[AlexHeihn]

Laclavon ` yes

I thought it was on the designated trout pond list of the DNR. I thought that meant it was stocked.

yes ` a meal and a challenge do co-exist. I just want fishing to be good for my son and my sons son.