Bsc Questions

[Corb90]

Im still pretty new to fly fishing. I tend to make a trip about once a week to either BSC or Meramec springs, lately its been a lot of MS because of frustrations on BSC. I have a couple questions regarding trout location on BSC. Meramec spring is easy, you see the fish, you put the fly near the fish, you catch the fish. BSC is a little trickier. Where should I spend time casting to at BSC. Riffles? Pools only? Runs? Ive gotten lucky a few times at BSC and have actually caught more fish than I have seen. I know theyre spooky so its not like youll see them either way, but without seeing them, where should I try and put my fly?

[mic]

I'm the odd ball of the bunch, but this works for me.

I've focus on any area deeper than surrounding water with cover. I've found a lot of dead four foot water, but have caught quite a few in 15 inches of water next to a root ball. What makes me a little different is I use a short four or five foot indicator leader from KSBASS here on the forum with color in the butt and a medium leader. I also only use one fly. My thought process is one... a short leader allows me to get fly line out of the rod for better casting. Two, most of my casts are close in because the fish are not as spooky. Three, if I get snagged, I pull in the line in to the tip and shake the fly lose. If you snap the line these small holes, they are toast anyway, so I get my fly and move on. Now if you get to the handful of picture perfect runs, you can switch out your rig if you like. I don't. I just use smaller drifts. Final note, dries always seem to work better for me in the riffles.

Tight Lines,

MIC

[Corb90]

Thanks Mic. Do you tend to have better luck casting upstream to riffles and letting it float back to you or stand a ways up from the riffle and just let some line out and allow the fly to float down the riffles and the pool before retrieving it?

[mic]

Always upstream unless there isn't another way.

[Corb90]

Yeah I figured that'd be the preferred tactic. Which area this time of year...above or below N?

[mic]

Anytime but summer, but life got the best of me and I haven't been in a while. I fish anywhere above the road to the river based more on empty parking lots. PS... Scuds are my go to fly there in the winter.

[mic]

PS... earlier I meant to say a short leader and medium length tippet.

[tonethetiger]

BSC is a real challenge so it's awesome you are giving it the time to figure out how to fish it. All I can say is, the more you go, the slower you move, the more attention you pay to the water, the better you will get. There are good size fish in the water there, but they are elusive. Personally if I catch one fish to release, per trip, it is worth it. I am going there tomorrow to check out the stream and see how it is in winter. Using wooly buggers seems to work for me, also scuds and bhpt's have worked for me. I have lost more flies than caught fish, at BSC, and love the lack of fishing pressure. Most people who do the parks would hate the "work" involved in fishing BSC. Another bit of a dice that someone mentioned that I have taken to heart is: when you get to a spot, get low and relax for a good 15 minutes. Let things die down. That seems to let the wildlife get back to trusting the environs. Most of the big fish I have seen were probably spooked by the sound of splashing upstream/downstream and went into hiding. If you get ninja-silent and lay low for a good 15, they seem to come out of hiding. Also, keeping your shadow off the water seems to help.

[2sheds]

I have been bit by the wild trout bug for a few years now and find BSC as challenging as any of them. Patience and stealth seems to be the key, plus faith that the fish are there.

Meramec Springs is the other end of the spectrum. Very nice, but a totally different sport.

[Gavin]

Sneak up and make your first cast count.