Fly-Fishing Alternative for Special-Regs Trout

For starters I should say that I do enjoy fly-fishing, and sometime when I go trout fishing or fish for other species, I tote a long rod. I do not, however, consider a fly-fishing a better, more sporting or purer way to fish for trout. It's simply a different style of fishing and one that can be exceptionally effective when the trout are keying on some kind of hatch or eating a specific type of tiny invertebrate farther down in the water column.

I believe when people see "single hook artificial lures only"in a stream's regulations they tend to read that as "fly-fishing only," and that idea is re-enforced by the fact that fly anglers generally make up the bulk of the crowd on these waters. In truth, various lures you can throw with a spinning rod sometimes do extremely well in these waters. The fish see a tremendous number of Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails and Woolly Buggers, but they don't really see many lures of other kinds.

When spin-fishermen do visit these types of waters, most of them clip two of three points from the treble of a small in-line spinner, which can work really well. My preferred baits, though, are small jigs such as Lindy Watsit Grubs and Fuzz-E Grubs, Road Runner Marabous and small plugs. The video above talks about the Road Runner Marabou. A very recent blog told of the whopper brown trout that took a liking to Nathaniel's Tracdown Minnow.

Few anglers use minnow- or crawfish-imitating hard baits because the lures come equipped with twin treble hooks and the hooks are too small to trim to a single point as is done with in-line spinners. I remove both trebles and replace the back one with a little larger single hook. For Rebel Teeny-Wee Crawfish or Tracdown Minnows, which are about 2 inches long, I like a No. 4 or 6 Daiichi Bleeding Bait Octopus Hook.

Try these offerings next time you see "single hook artificial lures" in the regs and see how they work for you!

Trout Cooperated

Nathaniel and I spent a fun few hours knee deep in Amicalola Creek this afternoon. The trout were plentiful and cooperated well, with the bulk of them concentrated in deep runs with good current. The creek was low and clear so they didn't want anything too flashy. Nathaniel's best bait was a Rebel Teeny Wee Craw. I caught all my fish on Lindy Fuzz -E Grubs and Watsit Jigs. Back to writing fish stories tomorrow.

Final Days For Delayed Harvest

Only to days remain in the "delay" period for the 26 North Carolina streams and small lakes that are managed as Delayed Harvest waters. Only single-hook artificial lures may be used or possessed and all fish must be released on these waters through 1/2 hour after sunset on Friday, June 1. Starting Saturday morning, the same waters revert to general regulations, with natural bait and a harvest of fish both permitted.

Late May days tend to produce some of the best action of the year on these waters for anglers who enjoy catch-and-release trout fishing. Fish abundance is high, and the trout typically are aggressive. Fly fishermen do well with attractor dry fly/nymph combinations. Spin-fishermen do well with fast moving reaction baits like Rebel Teeny Wee Craws or flashy in-line spinners.

Of course if you like really fast action, want a limit fish to take home and don't mind the crowds, you'll want to be bank-side on the same streams when they open to the harvest on Saturday morning, 1/2 hour before sunrise.

Ready for Dry Run Creek

Nathaniel has been busy changing out hooks and gathering tackle in anticipation of half a day at Arkasnas' Dry Run Creek. We leave for Arkansas tomorrow. Dry Run, a special regs stream that is an  absolute gem for young fishermen, comes on Sunday.

Nathaniel has removed the trebles from several Rebel Teeny Wee-Crawfish and Tracdown Minnows and put a Daiichi Bleeding Bait bait style hook on the back of each. Only barbless single-hook lures may be used a Dry Run Creek, and those two lures armed with that style of hook have been his most productive baits on past trips. He also packed a steelhead net because he's landed one Dry Run fish that barely fit in his trout net and has seen a few that wouldn't have fit, had he gotten the chance to try!

Nathaniel is aware that his opportunities to fish Dry Run are numbered. It's a long ways from Georgia, so we only get out that way so often, and he's fast approaching the age where he won't be allowed to fish any more. Maybe we'll bring Asher then, and he can fish vicariously, like I do now!

Dry Run Creek a Gem

Nathaniel and I just left Dry Run Creek - an amazing special regs stream in Arkansas that is managed for youngsters and fully handicapped anglers. It's all catch-and-release with barbless single hook artificial lures, and Nathaniel caught and released 31 trout (by my best count) in a few hours of fishing. Lots of quality fish in the mix, including the big, hook-jawed rainbow in the photo above. He also lost a GIANT brown, which rolled on the surface and threw his lure -- and an even bigger brown tried to eat one rainbow he was fighting. What a wonderful opportunity for young anglers! He caught most of his fish on Rebel Tracdown Minnows and Teeny Wee Craws.