img_1863The tricos are becoming more active. We are in the early stages of this multi-brooded hatch so there is some inconsistency, as there always is, associated with the timing of active hatch/feeding times. The best timing for right now is to get there early, this way you won’t  miss it. 6:30am is good. The anticipation of waiting for the fish to rise in a frenzied, reckless abandon, feeding fashion is the only drawback. It doesn’t always happen that way.

Trico Spinner

Trico Spinner

The “takes” in the last week have been subtle to say the least. The fish tend to be taking sunken spinners and not even breaking the surface for the most part. I have been fishing a large lead trico dun in black(#20) with a light colored wing. I follow up with a small spinner (22-24). The fish have been keying on both male and female spinners on different days in different stretches. These are two different colored patterns and it will largely depend on what is on the water. LOOK before you start fishing. This is a pattern issue and we will look at that next. The reason I am using this rig now is the “take”. The take, many times, is happening with almost no discernible disruption to the water’s surface, only a nervous ripple. The two fly rig lets me see the slight movement of my lead fly and gives me the key trigger to strike. Fishing one spinner is possible but one must use an eagle eye and a fair amount of Zen to time the strike correctly.

Try to fish directly up stream and only hunt the fish closest to you. Cast only the leader above the trout’s head. Let the fly drift totally out of the fish’s window before you

Tricos in the web

Tricos in the web

pick it up. The clear water conditions have made the fish wary of line slap. After you put the first fish down move slowly up to the next.

As a popular bumper sticker states,” slack is evil”. Make sure you keep up with your retrieve and set with smooth, soft power. I am using 6-7X and a Tarpon set will break them off every time.   More later.