I got a chance to actually spend most of the day on the water with a friend from Wisconsin. Water levels are low and clear…everywhere. The water temps were pretty low this AM, so the fish were pretty sluggish, I should say the trout were sluggish early but the chubs and shiners were not. I fished a tandem nymph rig the whole day: scuds with a small BWO emerger early, and then a scud #16 black flashabck PT later in the day. My partner stuck to his ever faithful turkey leech. We both pulled the trifecta: brooks, rainbows, and browns, and I also caught two fish at once on the nymph rig not once, but twice. The first time was two shiners, the second was a small rainbow and brown. I can also lament the fact that there were lots of small rainbows where we were – all in that 5 inch range. I guess the DNR is hoping they grow up because they aren’t even big enough for the pan. Seems kind of silly to me, but then again, what do I know.
There were midges around all day, but not any baetis. We pumped a fwe fish and found a partly decomposed earthworm in one (The MAWI fly here) and some baetis and even a Dark Hendrickson nymph in the other, which is what prompted the swith to a larger trailing nymph.
I know there are mixed thoughts on pumping fish, and certainly if it is done incorrectly, it can kill the fish, but when done properly like today, it certainly shed some light into what the fish are keying on, and a simple switch in the set up paid dividends.
Turned over some rocks and found mainly baetis and Dark Hendrickson nymphs and no caddis to speak of?!
I don’t know about the rest of you, but we could use some rain to stain the rivers a bit; they are pretty dang clean and clear right now.