Spinning Gear On Small Stream Trout

[mic]

Well all, I made it to Blue Springs Creek today for the first time. I had to take my eight year old girl. She had a good time, but I only got a couple of hours on the water. I did catch a fish, but not a bow. Can anyone tell me what it is? I got a really go hit, but it was on my float. I fished both with a spin and fly rod. Everyone was right (both for spin and fly). I think the next time I'll stick just the fly rod. I really loved the creek, and will return. I have a few questions, I'm hoping my posters will answer.

1. When there is no room for a back cast...what do you do? I assume a roll cast.

2. Can you (I think its called) a dead stick the creek...otherwise just following the fly with the rod and with no slack? I should have tried, but I was worried about scaring the fish.

3. Is there a good way to identify dead water? I thought I would be working up a flat and then there would be a hole with small fish in it. I spooked a very nice 12 to 15 trout.

Sorry, can't get the pic to upload

[Buzz]

Well all, I made it to Blue Springs Creek today for the first time. I had to take my eight year old girl. She had a good time, but I only got a couple of hours on the water. I did catch a fish, but not a bow. Can anyone tell me what it is? I got a really go hit, but it was on my float. I fished both with a spin and fly rod. Everyone was right (both for spin and fly). I think the next time I'll stick just the fly rod. I really loved the creek, and will return. I have a few questions, I'm hoping my posters will answer.

1. When there is no room for a back cast...what do you do? I assume a roll cast.

2. Can you (I think its called) a dead stick the creek...otherwise just following the fly with the rod and with no slack? I should have tried, but I was worried about scaring the fish.

3. Is there a good way to identify dead water? I thought I would be working up a flat and then there would be a hole with small fish in it. I spooked a very nice 12 to 15 trout.

Sorry, can't get the pic to upload

That sounds like my first trip to Crane. All of those things you mention are things I should have tried too.

If you are going to be in the water you have to move very slowly and stay as low as possible. Another suggestion would be to expect fish to be there even if you can't see them. Get the sun in front of you if at all possible, but stay low. If you can walk the bank or a gravel bar to a spot that is open enough, preferably a fast run, you can high stick those spots by flipping upstream with a weighted nymph and follow the drift with the rod held high, just keep as much if not all of the fly line out of the water.

Those are a few things I've learned the hard way.

[Flyflinger]

Blue Springs Creek is one of my favorite spots and I fish it 2-3 times a week. For what its worth if you want to catch fish there heres what I've learned:

1. You can't move slow enough...I mean really you can't.

2. Stay out of the water..always if possible.

3. If you don't spook them the fish will bite on any fly in your box. Really they don't care. For the purist the main thing I find under rocks are scuds...tons and tons of scuds.

4. If you spook the fish, forget it and move on to the next hole....they get lockjaw real quick..and will not bite no matter what.

5. Move upstream...not down...you will never sneek up on these fish unless you get behind them.

6. There are a freaking ton of trout in this small stream..some over 20 inches...most between 6-15.

7. Every deep hole holds a big trout(18+ inches)...yes everyone...when I say deep hole I mean waist deep or deeper. I know people will dispute this but trust me. The big ones hide better than marine snipers.

8. 6x-7x tippet is a must, maybe 5x if nymphing after a rain.

9. The trout in this stream will not be in the ankle deep riffles....pass them by and head to the runs and pools.

10. Blue Springs is the most rewarding and challenging fishing exsperience I have ever had...I simply love this little stream.

PS: Be sneeky man...no really be sneeky...when you think your being sneeky...stop and start really being sneeky. I know it sounds weird, I have fished all over this nation and have yet to encounter spookier trout. I have never seen anything like it..the things you get away with on other waters will only net you a handful of fingerlings on this creek. I actually think that a skilled spin fisherman might have the upper hand on this water..allthough I haven't tried spinning gear.

Good luck.

[Flyflinger]

Well all, I made it to Blue Springs Creek today for the first time. I had to take my eight year old girl. She had a good time, but I only got a couple of hours on the water. I did catch a fish, but not a bow. Can anyone tell me what it is? I got a really go hit, but it was on my float. I fished both with a spin and fly rod. Everyone was right (both for spin and fly). I think the next time I'll stick just the fly rod. I really loved the creek, and will return. I have a few questions, I'm hoping my posters will answer.

1. When there is no room for a back cast...what do you do? I assume a roll cast.

2. Can you (I think its called) a dead stick the creek...otherwise just following the fly with the rod and with no slack? I should have tried, but I was worried about scaring the fish.

3. Is there a good way to identify dead water? I thought I would be working up a flat and then there would be a hole with small fish in it. I spooked a very nice 12 to 15 trout.

Sorry, can't get the pic to upload

1. Ya roll cast

2. Sure

3. Dead water in blue spring is the ankle deep riffles...everywhere else holds trout.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I actually think that a skilled spin fisherman might have the upper hand on this water..allthough I haven't tried spinning gear.

Good luck.

How odd you said that. As I was reading your points for fishing this creek, I kept thinking about spin fishing. It sounds like an excellent challenge. I like fly fishing for trout but, I also really like spin fishing for them too.

[troutfiend1985]

How odd you said that. As I was reading your points for fishing this creek, I kept thinking about spin fishing. It sounds like an excellent challenge. I like fly fishing for trout but, I also really like spin fishing for them too.

That's why i kept telling him to bring the spinning rod I usually bring a spinning rod with me when I go to a blue ribbon stream. Often I leave it in the car, but you never know when its going to be windy or when your going to find out that today you stink with the fly rod.

Fishing our blue ribbon streams is a unique challenge, and one that will keep you coming back for more. I started fishing blue ribbon streams over three years ago and I was horrible. I couldn't understand why the stuff I was doing at Roaring and Bennett wasn't working at Crane lol. Now I can't seem to figure out that the stuff I do at Crane is no match for the gut hatch at Bennett I figure you can't go wrong with our little wild streams, even if you don't catch anything you still get the day to yourself.

Tight Lines

[Flyflinger]

How odd you said that. As I was reading your points for fishing this creek, I kept thinking about spin fishing. It sounds like an excellent challenge. I like fly fishing for trout but, I also really like spin fishing for them too.

You know Chief..it just might be the only way you can get into those bigger ones on this stream. I am thinking that i might be able to cast far enough away from them that I won't spook them....then I can just drift on by. I don't know...but I do know they hate fly line in the water. With that being said...when they are rising to little Tricos...a 3wt with 10 foot leader might be your best bet. I am going to purchase a smaller flyrod this month and give it a shot.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I agree with both of you. I wouldn't go as far to say a spinning rod will out preform a fly rod but, I think they can hold their own. And of course you will have those that see the spinning rod as beneath themselves for any type of fishing. And well, that is just a matter of personal choice. It surely does not make you any less of an angler. But you may not be allowed into some crowds.

Personally, I find spin fishing for trout to be a blast. I should say that I also enjoy using the fly rod, I just enjoy the spining rod more. And that may be just because I am more comfortable with it. And I wouldn' be ashamed to use it on any waters. It, to me, offers a whole different venue to trout fishing. And it is not a style usually associated with trout fishing. And maybe that is also an asspect of it that draws me to it. I am not one to follow the status quo. I tend to follow my own beat.

[Buzz]

I agree with both of you. I wouldn't go as far to say a spinning rod will out preform a fly rod but, I think they can hold their own. And of course you will have those that see the spinning rod as beneath themselves for any type of fishing. And well, that is just a matter of personal choice. It surely does not make you any less of an angler. But you may not be allowed into some crowds.

Personally, I find spin fishing for trout to be a blast. I should say that I also enjoy using the fly rod, I just enjoy the spinning rod more. And that may be just because I am more comfortable with it. And I wouldn' be ashamed to use it on any waters. It, to me, offers a whole different venue to trout fishing. And it is not a style usually associated with trout fishing. And maybe that is also an aspect of it that draws me to it. I am not one to follow the status quo. I tend to follow my own beat.

Good points Chief.

Earlier this year Chief, Wheatenhiemer, and I did a little wild trout fishing trip. We hit 4 different streams that are totally wild. We each caught fish on all of the streams but the last. Wheatie and I were using our fly rods and Chief was sticking with the spinning rod.

To make a long story short.. We were fishing Crane Creek and Wheat and I had both caught our fish, both short but beautifully colored McClouds. As we were nearing the end of the stretch of the creek Chief hooked into a fish that had both Wheat and I reaching for our cameras. I'm not joking when I say that it was pulling like a big catfish. Chief would gain on him and then the fish would make a big run then Chief would gain on him and the fish made another big run. On the last big run the fish broke him off. You can imagine how we all felt.

Don't worry, Chief caught a nice fish in the next hole.

Bottom line is that spinning rigs have their time and place. I'm thinking about trying it a little more this year.

[ozark trout fisher]

I think that a spinning rod can be a valuable tool on wild trout waters, but I think it really can be limiting if it's your only method of fishing them. The primary food base for most wild trout is the nymphs of small aquatic insects, and the most effecient way to imitate them is with a fly rod. I know you can do it with a bubble float and a spinning rod, but fly fishing just allows a more delicate presentation. Also, many times dry flies work better than anything else on small wild trout,especially when the water is low, and you're pretty much out of luck there with a spinning rod. And the fly fishing I do on these little creeks is anything but difficult. I fished a small wild trout stream over the weekend, and caught plenty of fish. I never made a cast of more than 20 feet, and I caught several pretty much right at my feet-and my leader wasn't even 10' long. Fly fishing for trout doesn't have to be the complicated far and fine fishing that everyone says it should be. The honest to goodness truth that a lot of people aren't willing to admit is that it can be just as easy as spin-fishing if you want it to be.

But if the water is up and a little bit dirty, I'd grab the spinning rod and a tackle box full of 1/32 ounce panther martin spinners. In that situation a skilled spin-fisherman will outfish the fly guy nine times out of ten..