Any one having any luck

I have been out a few times this year and I have had alright luck, but now that there has been no rain the water is getting pretty clear. Crystal clear to be exact. Now it is getting really tough to catch fish and I was wondering if anyone else is having the same problem. I was also wondering if anyone knew where the water might still be a little dirtier. Like to hear your thoughts.
Jerry Jonsgaard

I fish SW Wisconsin steams and the conditions you describe are also true here, along with the water flows being lower than normal which makes fishing tough. I’ve had problems catching numbers of fish all year until yesterday. I fished a section of steams miles below designated trout water and found both numbers and size. The browns were mostly caught on gold rapalas and Silver Big Bow Spinners. I normally throw Super Bows but with the bigger water I was fishing the Big Bows whcih get down deeper. Fish ranged from just under 20 inches to as little as 9 inches and were mostly caught out of deep riffles.

You might want to consider fishing downsteam sections of your favorite streams way below the designated trout sections. The areas I’m catching fish are more known for their smallmouth action. Although the streams are still clear the bigger andd deeper water downstream seems to be holding fish.

I’m afraid I can’t help with the dirty water as there is literally none to be found. I can say that I have had some pretty crazy outings in the last ten days – anywhere from 15-50 fish days are the norm, especially if you can hit a hatch and every fish in the stream shifts into feeding mode and will readily take bugs. The died in the wool spinner guys may find numbers in the 50’s hard to believe, but I’m willing to bet that the fly anglers who have spent a day on the water when the conditions and the hatch is just right that 50 sometimes is a little low.

The only downside to crystal clear water is that fact that if you are nymphing, finding deep enough holding water can be tricky, as well as spooking the hole. It’s not uncommon with such clear conditions to hook up a fish and it will spook the pod for a few minutes. You have two choices – wait it out or move on.

To piggyback on John’s comments about clear water and wanting rain and big fish being gone after the weekend, he’s right. We do need rain, but after Sunday night, there will be fewer of those larger fish in the streams as many will choose to harvest them. Certainly, it’s their choice, but it’s a shame for guys who like to pursue larger trout (and 14 inch stocked rianbows don’t count – they can go back to the hatchery as far as I’m concerned). Hopefully, LTM will get passed this fall and there will be more diverse fishing opportunities for everyone. You can still go out and catch and keep your fish, but there will also be more opportunities to go after larger fish.

Not much to add here Jerry, everything said is right on.
I won’t say where I have been fishing exactly because I want folks to spread out. But here is a method that has been working for me. Look on your map and find a small trout stream, follow it down to where it flows into a larger river, pick a point about a 1/4 mile below that spot on the large river and fish from there up to the mouth of the small stream to about 1/4 mile above. the Root has been getting hit heavy but there are several other rivers that fit the bill which are almost ignored. Branch out from the norm.
John