Morning hunt/fish

vugs & junglejim Well, Though usually secretive about method, but I will tell how I fish river trout. All fishermen have their own ways, here is what works for me. Flies? Oh, but of course! I was using a size 6 Garden Hackle Peacock. That is what I tell the tourists, when they ask. Leaves them baffled, as there is no such fly. That is my technical term for 'worms'. Actually, I also used a small silver spinner, that is what prompted the two bigger (male) browns to strike.

I do fly fish, and used to tie my own flies. Flies are good now too, (small tan hoppers, smaller Parachute Adams, streamers too) We have just come off of the pitch of summer heat, not many hatches happening now besides spruce moths. I can usually fill my creel with my spin rod year-round. I know the waters around here well enough to guess what mood the trout are likely to be in considering weather and time of year, amount of water in the river, etc.

I was fishing deeper runs, not holes. Big trout will feed in deep current that is rather swift as day breaks. On a cloudy day they stay longer before retiring for the day. I started off in low light, drifting worms on a light spinning rod, using as little weight as possible to drift with/under the current and not hang up. I cast across, and then walk down the river staying even with my line as the worm drifts near the bottom under the swifter current. This presentation is very natural, and little bow in the line so can feel / strike accurately, and covers a lot of water per cast.

After it was more light out I switched to a small silver spinner, which I modify by replacing the treble hook with a smaller red treble, (works as an added attractor). I wade out as deep as I can at the head of a run, cast out a long way down current and slowly jig the spinner back up the current. The browns will be spawning in a month or so and are starting to get aggressive. They hit the spinner like a lightening bolt. . .

Nice. What time is dinner? I have the rocks.
Jim

vugs, did you make that yourself? I've been making trips out there for several years now dishing Lake Perris and Skinner. Love the big gills, redear and crappie out there.

Awesome! Freshwater fishing is a skill I admire. I am a big dummy ocean fisher. Fish and rocks, what a great haul.

A fruitful trip! What a great way to spend a day.

vugs, Nice swimbait! Only trout around here, though I have fished bass in Noxon Rapids dam on the Clark Fork.

@shotgunner, Yep, they do have pink meat. Not quite as orange as the trout from mountain lakes with loads of fresh water shrimp to eat.
No Brookies two 'bows and three browns. The smaller brown is a female.
Montana brookie from a stream nearby.

Scott, I didn't take the photo, it is a great one! I live very near this creek though. They are really pretty. Sad story in a way, this part of the east slope of the Rockies once only had native Cutthroat and Golden trout. I believe that cold, clean water and a diet rich in fresh water shrimp are what makes orange-fleshed trout my favorite meal. With green beans and fried spuds.
Areas where there are less shrimp or other crustaceans, the meat can be more white, though still firm and sweet.
Golden

The Brookies, Rainbows and German Browns were introduced in/around the 1880s and eventually pushed the Cuts back into the high country. The Brookies really like the small mountain streams that were crucial spawning grounds for the Cuts, hence their depleted numbers. However, I must confess that I am happy to get to fish several species of trout locally. The Brook trout run small around here in our part of the state, as they are found mostly in the alpine streams. Good fighters, and tasty. Here is a pic of the largest Brookie I have caught. Was eight miles into the mountains at a old reservoir just after ice out.

that big brookie is gorgeous. I bet it tasted sweet and clean too.

Beautiful Brookie!! Replica mount?? We only have rainbows and browns here in Missouri or at least that's the only one's they stock. One hatchery raised some Brook Trout for another state and a few must have escaped because I saw a guy catch one last year and he didn't know what it was until I told him. He released it. These were beautiful, 16-18 inch fish. None were stocked in Missouri waters that I know of. Agent was surprised I knew about them but saw them in the hatchery pool. Never have caught one myself. Maybe there are a few swimming in that river. That little Golden is beautiful, great colors.