[Trout Traveler]

Today I went to a stream I hadn't fished in eight years. It's not a stream that is very conducive to spinner fishing. It has a lot of deep slow water, which gives the trout a lot of time to look the spinner over. I much prefer to fish moving water but when water is at a premium like it is now, it's important to adapt.

I arrived this morning at a spot that had changed since I had last visited the stream. I noticed several no trespassing signs that were not there the last time. There were no name or address on the posters. All the signs were downstream of where I intended to fish. Even though I saw no signs upstream, I walked up to the nearest house to ask permission, which was graciously granted.

The stream is difficult to fish in spots because of the depth, instream cover, and softness of the bottom. My expectations of the day were low. The first three hours produced slow action. I caught 11 wild browns. All but one were on spinners.


An early brown


Fog on the creek


My only trout of the day on a plug



A nice 15 inch Wild Brown

The action picked up in the fourth hour. I landed eight wild browns with the largest being 12 inches.

The next hour the action slowed to a crawl. Only one trout came to hand that hour. I had heard a car door slam and figured it was another fisherman. After a while I saw a fisherman walking down the far bank. I got out and walked upstream.

A short time after I waded back in, the action picked up considerably. I caught 11 wild browns that hour and had several others get off.


Another deep stretch

I fished another 1/2 hour and landed three more browns. I decided to call it a day and make the long walk back to the car.
For the day I caught and released 34 wild browns, the largest of which was 15 inches. A larger trout followed and did not hit. I did better than I expected, so I was glad that I ventured out.

A line stretching 6 incher

 

[Wild Trout 24/7]

Re: Returning to a Stream Not Fishing in a Long Time

Glad to see your still landing trout. That 15" brownie is a pure beauty.

 

[HD1969]

Re: Returning to a Stream Not Fishing in a Long Time

One heck of a day you had, esp considering the low water conditions.

Mixing it up with the baby rapala pays off sometimes.

 

[JJ4D]

Re: Returning to a Stream Not Fishing in a Long Time

Great post. Thanks!

 

[Trout 2003]

Re: Returning to a Stream Not Fishing in a Long Time

Nice job finding water Andy. It's nearly impossible right now.

 

[mauser06]

Re: Returning to a Stream Not Fishing in a Long Time

That sure does look like tough fishin! You did good though!!


You should have made a trip out to your favorite watershed..what was it..last week...that area got pounded and was plenty fishable for a while..the last couple days it's looking skinny again..

I didn't get a drop of rain at home and didn't real that area got so much rain while I was on a long weekend or I would have sent you a text...


I was hoping for some fall action..but starting this week I goto 2 days off and not Sundays...so till I stick a buck I will be hunting..

I am gunna try to hunt the ridge I killed my long beard though!

 

[Trout Traveler]

Re: Returning to a Stream Not Fishing in a Long Time

Interesting that area got enough rain to make it fishable. Had I been able to go, I still wouldn't have fished there because it had gotten so low that it needs some catch up time for the trout.

The last time I was there it was the lowest I had ever seen it and that was in August and it's been very dry there until recently.

 

[mauser06]

Re: Returning to a Stream Not Fishing in a Long Time

I wish it would have kept raining every few days...

Kinda went from too high right back to being low....

 

[FrankTroutAngler]

Re: Returning to a Stream Not Fishing in a Long Time

Considering the conditions, I'd say that was a pretty good day of fishing.

The 15" wild brown is quite attractive. Just one that size makes the day on a smaller stream.

I've found that flat water can be really good in November and December, assuming the water is warm enough. Generally though, flat water is not good spinner fishing habitat, likely, as you said, because the trout have lots of time to really look over your spinner.

 

[Trout Traveler]

Re: Returning to a Stream Not Fishing in a Long Time

Thanks Frank. Welcome back.

That stream has the habitat to hold big trout. The deep water, in-stream cover, some difficult to access sections, and the presence of wild brown trout makes me sure there are big trout there.

I had one big trout follow but not hit. I only caught one trout on a plug but had quite a few follow. Sometimes plugs work better in the slow, deep sections than spinners.