Armstrong’s DePuy’s Nelson’s
By: Tom Travis
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The pages of this informational pamphlet will contain information on fishing the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks during a day in the month of July. It is important for the reader to understand that I will be trying to cover everything that a fly fisher MIGHT encounter during July. I surely won’t cover everything in twenty nine pages, for that would take more like 500 pages. Some of the situations I will be covering may not be encountered on all of the creeks. It is also important, for the reader to understand that hatch cycles can run early or late depending on the general over-all pattern of the weather. The density of the hatches can also vary depending the natural cycles of the insect populations.
Furthermore, nothing is cast in stone; all methods and strategies may be modified and adapted as needed. What I will be doing, is describing the methods and patterns that I would use during this time period. However, I am not claiming that my methods and suggestions are the only ways to be successful; I can only relate to you what has been successful for me! I have been, fishing on the spring creeks since 1970 and have been guiding on them since 1977 so I do have a modest amount of experience.
Before I cover the fishing day on the creeks, I am
going to review some information, which I feel is critical to the fly fishers’
success. To be a successful angler on the spring creeks the fly fisher
must be open minded, calm, patience, observant, stealthy and have a game plan.
I can hear some saying “A Game Plan”? Yes, you need to have strategy
based on the situation, and what you have observed.
Whenever, I arrive to fish on one of the spring creeks I am never in a hurry.
Haste and fly fishing just does not work well together.
Often, I see anglers that have observed what the trout are doing, and have selected an imitation which they felt would work, then they step into the creek; promptly spooking trout that in-turn spooked their intended target. That is not a very good start to the day and can be avoided with a more thorough observation of the situation and a strategy for approach and presentation.
Frankly, most anglers are in to big of a hurry when
fishing the creeks, they tend to wade around like a wounded Cape May Buffalo,
throwing out bow waves and making far too much noise. Move SLOWLY, and if
you can hear yourself wading, you are probably making to much noise. If
you are approaching a feeding trout or a group of feeding trout on the flat
water, you must move very slowing, so that your bow wave doesn’t disturb the
working fish.
I often tell clients, be a predator, and move like a Great Blue Heron.
I am a serious angler, fly fishing and all its related endeavors consumes my life. I fish, tie flies, read about it and write about the subject. However, I have always retained my sense of humor about what I am and what I am doing. Fly fishing is supposed to be fun, and the places that we fish are often set in beautiful locations. Therefore, I am always pausing to watch the flight of eagle, the small signet swans and their protective parents, or just the simply beauty of the passing clouds.
Sometimes, I will quietly berate myself because I have
done something stupid and in doing so spooked a trout or missed a trout, or made
that impossibly bad cast that tied my leader into a massive knot. I make
all the mistakes that everyone else does; however, I don’t slam my rod on the
water or yell and scream. Mostly, I tend to laugh and my mistakes.
Because of the good fortune which I have enjoyed with my chosen hobby and
profession, I have hooked and missed or hooked and broke off more trout than
most people will ever hook in their life. I can tell you that missing or
breaking off a trout is not the end of the world. If we were perfect with
every trout we targeted, we would soon grow bored with the whole routine.
So, when you make a mistake, regardless of what it may be, calm down, take care
of the problem and return to your fishing.
Screaming, yelling, cursing and throwing your hat or your rod is just plain silly. If you are going to continue this style of behavior, I suggest you take up golf! If you by chance are fishing with me, understand that I will poke a little fun at such antics.
A Note on Tackle & Accessories: My favorite spring creek rods will vary from One Weights to Five Weights, I prefer Weight Forward Floating Fly Lines. However, I always have a Six Weight with me for those rare extreme windy days that you might encounter. I also have the Six, for special flies like mice and larger streamer imitations.
I prefer 9’ Knotless Leaders, normally I will start my day with a 9’, 5X. Use whatever, leader and tippet brand you favor, however I don’t like to mix them. Tippets, I know that some of you were shocked at the 9’, 5 X leaders to start the day with, I don’t believe in giving the trout anything they don’t earn. If I can take them on 5X, I will. If I can’t and I am sure that the imitation and presentation is correct then I will go to 6X. On RARE occasion I will go to 7X. But that will be on a super bright day and on very flat calm water. 8X and 9X I never bother with. In my opinion, you might well throw the flies in unattached.
There are a couple of other items, which I carry with
me; one is a little Aquarium Net, which I use to sample the water with.
I also carry a stomach pump, because I prefer that my information comes straight
from the trout’s mouth, so to speak.
However, please don’t use a stomach pump unless you a sure of how it is done. I also carry a glass bottle, filled with a mixture of 90% Alcohol and 10% White Vinegar, where I keep the samples, later rinsing them and labeling for further study. (Also, if I get real hungry, pickled bugs are pretty tasty and have lot of protein.)
I always have a landing net, it is easier and faster to land fish with a net, (or net glove) than to try and land them by hand.
Whoops!!, Let me backtrack to Fly Lines for a moment, I attach a butt section of heavy monofilament to the tip of my line. For this I use 25 lb Maxima, and I use a NEEDLE KNOT. When properly tied, needle knots slide through the tip top of the rod and the guides without hanging up. I also use a Perfection Loop on the end of butt section and on the end of the leader. I use and prefer a loop to loop connection to join the leader to the butt section. I have seen anglers’ loose good trout, using a Nail Knot connection for their butt sections. Nail Knots have a nasty habit of hanging up in the tip top or the guides, thus allowing the trout to break off.
Now, I have read various selections that claim that the leader should never enter the tip of the fly rod. Well, if that is the case, you better have a really long rod or really long arms. By using the Needle Knot connection on the butt section and the Loop to loop system for attaching the leader, I have reeled the leader into the tip top and guides more times than I care to count. I have yet to lose a fish because I did this. On rare occasion, when I perhaps brought the trout in a little “Green”, I simply drop the rod tip and off goes the trout for one more attempt at freedom.
Notes on fighting Trout and Line Control: When fighting a trout, don’t keep your rod in high position, slowly move the rod to the right or left and change the angle of the pull. This will allow you to move the fish away from obstructions. This will cause the trout to fight you, rather than you fighting the trout. These tactics will tire the trout out faster allowing you to land the fish faster. It is important that you keep an ark or bow in the rod, that doesn’t mean you have to keep the rod high through the entire fight.
Many presentation methods call for upstream or up and across stream cast. Many anglers fail to lower their rod tip to the surface of the water after the cast and mend are made. Leaving the rod tip up off the waters surface will lead to drag. Drop the tip of the rod and retrieve the line as the current feed it to you.
When employing across stream cast, make your mend and then lower the rod tip and follow the progress of the drift. This is especially true if you are dealing with a wind. As wind and high rod tip means drag. Many times you may have the correct imitation, however if you fail to present it to the trout in a natural manner you will suffer frustration. Sometimes, getting the correct drift means changing your angle, this often means, taking a step to the right or left and continuing to move until you achieve the proper angle. Proper presentation is often a game of inches.
General Fishing Tips: The following will be a selection of fishing tips and observations that the fly fisher should consider while fishing the spring creeks.
When fishing upstream or up and across stream, adjust
your position to get the right angle of cast and angle of drift. This is
especially important when fishing during low light, say a late evening spinner
fall. During this time period, it will be hard to see if your imitation is
dragging.
Therefore, face the current which you are casting into, don’t worry about
lining the fish, in those low light conditions, as lining the trout will not be
a factor in spooking them. But, a dragging imitation will cause you to go
fishless.
Stalking Trout: During the heavy feeding time periods, be careful in your observation and planning, by moving from trout to trout and not flock shooting or spending time casting blindly, you will be more successful. Make sure you pick a target. Most the time, spring creek trout are not going to move to take your imitation, they need to be fed.
Be sure that you observe what current line the trout is feeding in and how you can get your imitation into that current line. More times, than I can count, I have watched anglers choose a target, get into position and drop the first cast right on the trout’s head, spooking him.
If this happens to you, back off and rest the trout, until it resumes its normal feeding pattern. Then begin to measure out your cast, be deliberately short and then inch the cast out as needed, until you can place the imitation in the proper drift line.
If the trout is holding close to a bank, weed bed edge
or other obstructions, once you have the cast at the proper distance then, pinch
off the line on the cork grip of your rod. Cast to the trout,
allowing the imitation to drift to the trout’s feeding station, once the
imitation is by the trout, lift the imitation out, keeping the line pinched off,
false cast and put the imitation back into the feeding lane once again.
Using this method, you can place cast after cast to a feeding fish. Be
patience, often anglers are far to impatience, thinking that the trout should
eat their offering on the first cast.
You may be out of rhythm with the trout’s feeding cycle, or possibly, you’re
an inch or two short. Remember, often times a trout in this position will
not move. It doesn’t have to. Also, remember that you are
competing with a lot of Natural insects!
Another, tip which is important; when you pick up to re-cast your imitation, DO NOT MAKE YOUR FIRST FALSE CAST OVER THE TROUT!!! If you do, you will be casting water droplets over your trout which may spook the fish! Make your first false cast off to the side of your intended target.
If you are one those individual who have taken casting lessons, and have one of those pretty, straight as a arrow cast, please remember that you need a little slack line to get a good drift. A straight cast will begin to drag almost immediately.
For the serious angler; keep a journal, record the weather and water condition for the day. The sections of the creek you fish, the time of the hatches and what methods and patterns you used, what worked, what didn’t and what skills, do you need to practice. Anything you learn on the spring creeks can be adapted and used on many of waters. These creeks really are the greatest fly fishing classrooms in the world.
Oftentimes, spring creek imitations are small, with the sizes running from #16’s to #22’s. Also, some of the pattern types are hard to see on the water. I often hear complaints about how hard it is to see a small fly on the water. For those of you, who are, shall we say, visually challenged try employing a larger imitation that you can see and fishing the imitation you can’t see about 18” behind it.
For those of you who will be fishing the spring creeks
for multiple days. I suggest that you move around and do not fish the same
water two-days in a row.
Also, if the section you choose to fish doesn’t produce after a couple of
hours, MOVE!!! I normally select an area, that I am going fish to
early morning, during the hatch, in the late afternoon and during the evening
spinner falls. On Armstrong’s which a 1-1/2 miles in length, and
DePuy’s which is 3 miles long, it is fairly easy to move. On Nelson’s,
which is only a ½ mile in length, moving is a little more difficult, but you
still can move around a little bit.
Weather: The weather can have a major effect on your fishing day. Both the daily weather cycles and the long term weather cycles. If you find out that you are fishing in a drought cycle. You may find that the hatch of PMD’s starts a little later in the day, say around noon. Also you may find that the main part of the emergence is shorter in duration. However, you may also find that the hatch will trickle all afternoon and sometimes into the early evening hour. This will create excellent fishing opportunities for the observant angler.
Fly anglers are the toughest people to please. If the hatch is too heavy, they complain that there were too many bugs on the water and that there was to much natural competition. If, however, the hatch is light and/or sparse, they complain that there weren’t enough bugs on the water.
The truth of the manner is that what we want really isn’t important. Were there bugs and did the trout eat them. During sparse trickle hatches the trout are always looking. Furthermore, the trickle hatches produce a lot of insects, which mean a excellent spinner fall going to happen at some point.
If the wind or a rain storm delays or interrupts the
evening spinner fall.
Be aware that there will be a good spinner fall the next morning.
Sometimes, clouds from an upcoming storm will bring on an early spinner fall in
the afternoon.
A special note on setting the hook: After I cast and mend, I place the fly line under the trigger finger of my rod hand, and I retrieve the slack line as the current allows. I also have my rod tip low to the water, and I am following the progress of the drift with the rod tip. When the trout takes the offering, I lift the rod smoothly with my rod hand and strip the line (which is still my finger) with the other hand. Once I feel the trout and have hook firmly set. If the trout wishes to run I allow it to do so, allowing the line to slide out under light tension from beneath my trigger finger. As soon as it is practical, I then reel up any additional slack and/or fight the trout from the reel. Stripping in the line and not putting it on the reel often leads to some interesting situations, where the trout may swim through one of the loop of line dragging on the waters surface.
When, you set the hook or strike the fish, both terms, which I dislike, do so by smoothly lifting the rod and tightening the line. Try not to break its neck on the strike or rip off its lips.
However, if you choose to ignore this advice, cheer up!! As you will be popular at your favorite fly shop!! By using the HULK method of setting the hook, you will find your spending more time tying flies on to your leader, than you are fishing,
Some notes on fly rigs and combinations: Often
times, in today’s world of fly fishing two flies are used at the same time.
Why? Well, it increases fly sales and watching two flies is more
frustrating for the angler. Sorry, just kidding!!
The truth of the matter is that sometimes you need to use two flies to get the proper presentation. As the PMD nymphs leave the bottom of the stream to begin their journey towards the surface. This process takes a while; they just don’t jump on an elevator and jet to the surface.
They will be found at various depths throughout the water column, during the emergence process. At first, they are deep right off the bottom, at this time standard nymphing methods will work well. However, as they ascend closer to the surface of the water the best way to keep the emerging nymph at the proper depth is to fish it behind or in tandem with a dry fly. Depending on the situation, the dry fly will keep the nymph at the proper and desired depth.
Tying the dropper nymph off the bend of the hook will often cause patterns like sparkle duns and some para-duns to fall over on their side and ride improperly on the surface. I prefer to tie the dropper strand off the eye of the dry. Thus both patterns will be presented properly.
Please, remember, just because the trout are not rising, does not mean that they are not feeding. Nymphing is a viable method for taking trout on the creeks. As rule of thumb, I will place my strike indicator 3-1/2’ above my nymph. Often, I fish a two nymph rig, when doing so the nymphs are only about 12 to 14” apart. If I need extra weight on the leader I will place it 4 to 6” above the nymph. If you place it 18” up the weight will be on the bottom, but where will the flies be located?
There are days when the wind and weather conditions
render normal fishing method less successful than you might desire. Or,
perhaps you have managed with an abundance of good luck to hit the creeks on a
day when they just are not producing as they should.
There are options and tricks, which may turn a rather tough day into something a
little more successful.
Streamers: Woolly Buggers, Flash-A-Buggers, Sculpins and various Leeches and Cone or Beadhead adaptations will work on the creeks very well at certain times. Also, a small Muddler Minnows can be effective.
Finally, there are places on both Armstrong’s and DePuy’s Spring Creeks that are deep, and have heavy water. These places can be fished deep, placing the indicator 8’ up from the first fly and placing additional weight on the leader. This style of fishing is not popular on the creeks; however some of these trout see very little angling pressure. Normally I will use a two fly rig, my favorite patterns to start with a large Size 8 Red San Juan Worm, with a gold bead, tied on a TMC 2457. The second pattern that I favor is a Size 14, Beadhead Prince. I will use other patterns like Midge Worms and PT Nymphs, but I always like to start with bigger patterns in the really deep water. Some times they hold larger trout.
A special note of Importance: For many of the
presentation methods you will want to grease your leader and make it float.
When I fish nymphs, I will grease the leader down to the strike indicator, which
will allow you to mend without dragging the dry fly under or moving the nymph
more than you have to.
JULY SPRING CREEK HATCHES
Insects
Sizes:
Hatch Times
Midges Adults, Black
18-20
5PM to 8PM
Black & Gray
18-20
7AM to 10AM
Black & Olive
18-22 9AM to 2PM
(Chironomid species)
Notes: The Midge Pupa and Midge Larvae are available to the trout almost all of the time. One thing I can tell you, do not go to fish on Nelson’s Spring Creek without, both red and olive Midge Worms. The midge worms are important throughout the month of July. There many days in July when there midge emergences that are important to both the trout and the anglers. The key is observation. However, I will state that almost every morning during the month of July I can take Trout on Midge Imitations. However, please note that I have also used midges with success during the afternoon and during the evening hours.
Black & Olive
16-20
8AM to 11AM
Caddis Adults
2PM
to 4PM
(Brachycentrus americanus)
Notes: The caddis imitations seem to work best in
the riffle sections. This also a pattern that is often overlooked by the
anglers, however, stomach samples over the years have proven that the trout
seldom pass up a caddis pupa snack. Early on they are a true 16 in size,
as the month progresses they drop to size 18. The pupa has a black and
olive banded abdomen, with dark olive thorax and black legs. The adults
have a bright olive/green body, with a thin black rib. Black Wings and
normally can be found carry a little sign that says “EAT ME, I TASTE GOOD”!
The #1 hatch in July is: Pale Morning Dun 16-18
PMD (Ephemerella inermis) 18
10AM to 1PM
(Ephemerella infrequens) 16
10AM to 1PM
Notes: The smaller inermis is the most common,
however on certain days there can be good hatch of the larger infrequens.
These are the normal hatching times; a hot weather cycle can push the start of
the hatch to 12 noon or even later. Also this can happen during a normal
weather cycle, when a cool day shows up.
The nymphs, emergers, duns and spinner are all important to both the trout and to the angler. Make sure you are fully stocked with a good selection of the various PMD pattern types.
During the past few years, the PMD hatches have grown stronger and lasted much longer than ever before, with viable hatches going into early September.
The Sulphur Duns of Summer 18-22
Sulphur Duns
18-22
4PM to 6PM
Formerly known as (Centroptilum elsa)
For years the Sulphur Hatches were the curse of the
anglers.
These small insects are classed as member of the Baetis family and are very
active and agile swimmers, and are very active during their emergences.
Anglers have often thought that the rise forms resemble those of trout chasing
emerging caddis.
However, in 2005, the major sulphur hatches seem to
disappear.
Yet, we were still seeing clouds of Little Rusty Spinners in the morning hours.
It has been theorized that the Sulphur hatches moved to night-time. In
2008, we had a normal weather cycle, without the extreme heat and some Sulphur
hatches began to reappear. Nelson’s Spring Creek had the best and most
reliable hatches during the month of July, with an occasional hatch appearing on
the other creeks from time to time. The best place on Armstrong’s to
look is above the bridge. On DePuy’s the best Sulphur hatches have been
found at the Head of the House Pond and on the lower end below the Breech Dam.
If we are now out of the drought cycle that plagued us for so many years, I
think the great Sulphur hatches will return to once again complicate our
fishing.
Minor Mayflies of Summer
Speckled Duns
16
11AM to 2PM
(Callibaetis americanus)
Notes: Callibaetis hatches occur at random times throughout July. Generally, they are not of major importance. However, on all three spring creeks, I have on occasion had to use Callibaetis imitations and have taken trout on them.
Trico’s
20-22
9AM to 11AM
(Tricorythodes minutus)
Notes: Towards the end of July, the Trico’s begin to appear on the creeks. However, the only creek that I use Trico’s on is DePuy’s. These insect hatch throughout the night and finish up during dawn early light. It is the Trico Spinner, which is important to the angler. From the head of House Pond, down to the end of the creek, you can find Trico Spinner falls during late July.
Terrestrials
Black Ants
14-20 Available throughout July
Beetles 12-18 “
“ “
Crickets 10-14 “
“ “
Mice
6-10
“
“ “
Hoppers 10-14 Only available in late July
Leafhoppers
16-20 Only available in late July
Notes: Terrestrials are often used during the afternoons in mid to late July. However, I have often done very well with Ant imitations in the morning and Beetle imitations from 9:00 A.M. on. Crickets can be used anytime as a searching pattern. Generally, Hoppers and Leafhoppers don’t appear until late July. Mice, well Mice imitations are something special that I will discuss later. Please remember that wet imitations of these terrestrial types may also produce a nice trout or two.
Aquatic Insects of Interest
Leeches
4-14 Always
available in July
Sowbugs
16
“ “
“ “
Damsel Nymphs
12-16
“ “
“ “
Scuds 14-18
“ “
“ “
Aquatic Earthworms
10-14 “ “
“ “
Crane Fly Larvae
8-14 “ “
“ “
Notes: There are also Stonefly Nymphs, Water Beetles, Water Boatmen, Snails and various other larvae found in the waters of the creeks. However, these normally don’t play a big part in the anglers’ strategies or plans.
Minnows
Sculpins
6-12
Always Available
Rainbow Trout Minnows 6-12
“ “
Brown Trout Minnows
6-12
“ “
Sucker Minnows
6-12
“
“
Whitefish Minnows
6-12
“ “
Carp Minnows
6-12
“ “
Notes: Minnows are always available to the trout on the creeks. These imitations are normally only used by a few and then only during special times or under special situations.
One final note before I begin to cover fishing the spring creeks during a July day. I will be covering a time period from early morning until very late in the evening. Not that I expect everyone to spend that much time fishing the creeks on a daily basis. I will however, be covering what you might encounter if you choose to spend a full day on the creeks. Furthermore, I will be covering some special situations which you may or may not encounter. But these situations can be experienced.
FLY FISHING ADVENTURES, A DAY ON THE SPRING CREEKS DURING JULY
I would like to start out by saying that many angler
come to the spring creeks with preconceived ideas and by doing so they limit
their ability for success. If given an opportunity, I love to match wits
with the trout during a hatch. However, there are situations and weather
conditions that sometimes conspire to destroy the normal fishing that we expect
to enjoy on the creeks.
When that happens, we can either sit around, complaining and fishless or adapt
to the situation and enjoy some success.
At first I am going run through a typical day on the creeks in July, later, I will cover a couple of the special situations that you might encounter. I can’t cover all of them as this is supposed to be a booklet and not a full blown book.
Dawn’s early light happens around 5AM in July. Now you can come out this early, and if you desire to do so, I would pay the day before! Arriving at 5AM, you may encounter some Midge action or nothing at all, except having the creek all to yourself until around 8 to 8:30AM when the other anglers will begin to arrive. If I was going to arrive this early and found no midging activity I would begin fishing with Mice or Streamer Imitations covering the water rather quickly, hoping to pick up a rather large and aggressive trout.
The ideal day may begin rather early for some anglers, however, for those who willing to venture out early, can be rewarded, and find excellent fishing: Therefore, I have selected a semi-reasonable time to begin the day.
7AM: Often times, I will find trout, either feeding on Midges or on some warm mornings, even spinners. Normally, during these early morning hours the spinners will be little Rusty Spinners, size 20 or 22. You may also encounter what we refer to as the Mystery Spinner, which is an 18 or 20. This spinner is not yet, keyed out, possibly it is Paralep. Anyways, it has two tails and a black tip on the abdomen and clear white abdomen, with clear wings and a black thorax. However, the first things that I do are gear up and choose the section of the creek that I wish to fish. Then, I observe!
If I see no surface action, then I might pause for
another cup of coffee.
Just kidding, I would rig up two nymphs and proceed to cover the water. My
choice of nymphs would be a midge worm and midge pupa.
However, if I were observed surface action, then I would, plan an approach to the working fish. Upon entering the water, I would pause to study the surface of the water, to able to see exactly what the trout were feeding on. Sometimes in the early morning the rises are spaced out and infrequent, sometimes this is because there are only a few insects on the water. However, often a few trout will key on these insects. Therefore, my choice of imitations would be a size 20 Rusty Spinner and a size 18 or 20 Black Midge Pupa fished on a dropper 20 inches behind the dry. (The length of the dropper can be shortened if you feel the trout are feeding higher in the water column.) Normally, I have the stream to myself until 8 or 8:30 AM.
8:30 AM By this time on a normal warm July morning you might begin to see PMD Spinners, mixed with the Rusty Spinner and the Mystery Spinner dancing over the streamside vegetation. If so, try a Parachute PMD Spinner or a Harrop PMD Spinner (or your own favorite PMD Spinner in size 16 or 18. Remember, don’t flock shoot, pick a trout and feed the trout. Another note, you don’t get extra style points for the long cast, move as close as possible to the trout before presenting your imitation. The closer you are the better chance you have of reacting to the take in timely manner and hooking the intended target. The length of morning spinner fall can vary, I have experienced short spinner falls that last only thirty minutes or so, and others which have last for an hour and a half.
During those early morning hours, I would be using a 9’ leader, starting out with 5X tippet, and a 6X dropper. If the fish were feeding on very flat water I use 6X for both the tippet and the dropper.
Somewhere between 9:30 and 10:30 AM: If I was not already below a riffle I would then change my location. Then I would change to pair of nymphs, fished about twelve inches apart, and I would place the strike indicator about three and half feet from the first fly.
Often you can see the trout starting to flash, or you can see them move taking something just off the bottom. At this time of the day that generally means that they are taking PMD nymphs coming off the bottom to begin their rise to the surface. Besides, the PMD nymphs the trout may also be feeding on emerging Black & Olive Caddis Pupa. That is especially true if you are fishing in or just below a riffle section. Once I start nymphing I will keep close watch on where the trout are feeding the water column. As the trout move up in the water column I will move the indicator closer to the nymphs.
A word about strike indicators: I really do not care which brand you may favor. However, try to keep the indicator small, so it floats to the surface of the water like a feather, rather than dropping in like a rock. The rock type (large and/or hard) indicators can spook the trout.
A special note on covering the water: If you are prospecting and see no rising or moving fish, you may move along at a reason pace, the idea being that the more water you cover, the more trout you may catch. However, when you have feeding trout, regardless of whether they are taking nymphs, emergers or duns. Move, slowly, these spring creek have a large population of trout and moving to quickly will cause you to spook more and catch less, thus becoming more frustrated. During a heavy emergence I will often fish on section of water where I move no more than 50 to 100 feet of where I started, in a time span of two or three hours.
Spooking Trout: It is going to happen, deal with it. However not all is lost. Yes, all of the trout in the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks are wild. However, like all wild creatures, they have learned to adapt. In the books, articles and stories of a by-gone time we have all heard about the spooked trout that when down, and never returned until five or six hours later. Today’s wild trout on the Spring Creek have adapted and changed, yes a bad approach, a cast and the like will put them down.
However, 90% of time, within 10 to 15 minutes or less they will resume their position and return to feeding. Even though, the Paradise Valley Spring Creek Owners limit the number of anglers per day on the creeks, it the trout allowed bad approaches, wading practices and bad casting, to stop them from feeding, they would starve to death. In other-words, they have become tolerant of anglers, often times, you will make a bad cast or not get a draft free drift and the trout don’t spook, they just ignore you. This is, somewhat frustrating. Here I would like offer a word of caution, the spring creek trout do not like to be stepped on and if you hook a trout with a footprint on it, you will have one, wild upset fish on your hands.
Oh, by the way, some these fish will even score
you’re casting and presentation methods, by holding up little signs, that say,
“Bad Cast”, “Short”, “Your Dragging” or what
fly is that”. Yes, some these trout are very educated!
10:30 AM to 2:00 PM: During this time period you
will be well into the hatch. Now, I am going to urge you to be very
observant. I am still nymphing and I will continue to move the indicator
toward the nymphs, bringing them higher into the water column. When I see
the trout rise forms begin to bulge and break the surface of the water, then I
will switch patterns and discard my strike indicator.
One of the mistakes that I see all of the time, is that when anglers first see
the trout begin to feed and if there is a ring ANYWHERE IN SIGHT, off
come the nymphs and dry flies or surface emergers are tied on. Oh, they
may take a fish or two, but the bulk of the trout will still be taking nymphs.
Many studies have shown that the trout’s diet is made of 85% of subsurface
food forms. The trout will eat what is most abundant and easiest to
capture. On normal warm days in July the PMD nymphs reach the surface and
explode off the surface of the water rather quickly, and making them much more
difficult for the trout to capture. The proper way to rig for this
situation is to use a surface emerger and/or dry adult PMD imitation and a PMD
nymph, fished behind the dry on a dropper. The dropper length should start
out around twenty inches in length, as the rise forms, gets closer to the
surface, the dropper may be shortened.
During cool or damp days the duns then may ride on the surface for a long distance. When this situation is encountered, then the dry adult imitation is called for and the fishing we all enjoy is at hand.
Here are a couple of more bits of information pertaining to the PMD hatch. If you encounter a fairly heavy hatch or a hatch during a day with light winds, try using a spinner or spent winged adult dun imitation. Also during a heavy emergence a floating nymph behind a dry fly is a good choice.
Remember, just because you see rings on the surface,
does not mean that the trout is eating dry flies. In this situation, the
trout still may be eating emerging nymphs, just in or under the surface film.
There is only one way to determine if a trout is eating adults on the surface,
and that is see the adult dun mayfly and see the trout eat it.
Switching to a dry fly because you are seeing rings, or even when you see the
trout’s head, made lead to a couple of trout and who lot of frustration.
For those of you who wish to challenge, yourself, I suggest trying some fairly flat water and sight nymphing with a single nymph. Oh, did mention that when you are sight nymphing, you do not use an indicator. You place the nymph above the trout, based on the current speed and watch the trout, if it turns or moves and eats, lift and tighten into the fish.
As the hatch begins to fade, you will find more trout willing to eat surface imitations like Para-duns, Para-spinners, Sparkle and/or Compara duns.
During a normal July day the hatch will begin to fade and taper off around 1:30 PM or so, then I break for a nice long relaxing lunch.
Lunch: Generally when I am fishing myself or
guiding I will break for lunch between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM depending on the
hatch. Then I recommend that you eat a decent lunch, you have now been on
the stream since 7:00 AM, around seven hours. By this time breakfast, has
faded and you need to eat, relax and recharge. Gobbling down a sandwich
and rushing back to the stream, is not a good thing. As you tire, the
first thing to suffer is your casting; the second will be your patience.
Trust me on this, you will fish better in the afternoon and evening if you eat a
good lunch and relax. Remember, if you’re staying for the evening
spinner fall you may not get any dinner until very late.
However, for those of you, who wish to gobble down that fast meal and return to the stream.
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM; During this period of the day you may still find PMD’s trickling off, if you find fish working these sparsely hatching dun. Work into position, observe to see what they are eating, then get to work presenting your imitation of choice. Sometimes you will one trout feeding on duns, another will take a spinner, and still another is feeding on emergers in the film. The point is that the trout may all be doing individual things.
If there is no hatch, nor any rising trout, you might try prospecting the water with a large Beetle with an Ant imitation on a short dropper. Or you may try a Cricket. You can also prospect with a Parachute Adams or even a Royal Wulff.
You can also, move to a riffle section and try various
nymphs.
If you think something might work, give a try, the worst thing that can happen
is that you won’t catch a trout, the best thing, well I should not have to
explain that!
Now, for those of you, who have relaxed, had nice lunch and are once again ready to challenge the spring creek trout of Paradise Valley. Let us continue: 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
During this late afternoon time slot, there is a lot that can be happening on the spring creeks. First off, I generally move, looking for fresh water and working fish. You might find a pocket of fish midging or you still may find some trout still feeding on PMD’s. Beetles, Ants and Cricket imitations may also produce a fish or two. You can also run into a Sulphur Hatch. The Sulphur hatches in 2008 were fairly predictable on Nelson’s, even though, the hatches, during early and mid-July were sparse. The trout still responded to the Sulphur insects. On Armstrong’s and DePuy’s the Sulphurs are more unpredictable.
However, if you encounter a Sulphur hatch you will notice that the takes appear to be close to the surface and very violent, almost like that of trout chasing emerging caddis. That is because the trout are chasing the swimming emerger Sulphur nymph. One of the most effective methods of taking trout consistently during this hatch is to use a Sulphur Para-Dun or Parachute Surface Emerger and fish a small PT nymph or Sulphur nymph behind the dry on a short dropper, sometimes as short as six inches. Also, don’t be afraid to twitch the imitation. The Sulphur nymph is not a dead drift insect, so subtle movements of the imitation are very effective. Most of the trout can be taken on the nymph, using the above mentioned method. Sure you can take a few fish on surface emergers, duns and even spent winged adults.
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and sometimes later: Once again, I have moved. My number one prime choice of water will be any place that there is riffle with a flat below. Why? Because these are my favorite waters to find and fish the spinner falls.
However, there is more action than just the spinners. Often during the evening hours, you may encounter pockets of trout feeding on the egg laying Caddis, when you do; a size 16 or 18 Parachute Caddis or Olive Elk Hair Caddis will work just fine. I prefer to trail a size 16 or 18 Olive Soft Hackle behind the adult caddis.
You may also encounter some midging trout. Here again, I prefer a size 18 or 20 Para Midge Adult, either black or gray and a similar sized Midge Pupa on a short dropper of ten to twelve inches.
Finally, I keep checking the air above the streamside vegetation, to see if the PMD Spinners are dancing, if so great, as the PMD Spinner fall can be some of the finest and most exciting Dry Fly fishing you can have. Now, let us talk about fishing Spinners. I have three spinner patterns that I like to use; all of them are a PMD Olive as you seldom see any Rusty PMD Spinners on the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks. The first and most favored pattern is the Parachute PMD Spinner, the second is a PMD Spinner, with wings made of dry fly hackle (Marinaro Style) and the third is PMD Spinner made with Clipped Dry Fly Hackle. On rare occasion I will use a standard Spent Winged Spinner with pale dun hackle tip wings and full standard light dun hackle. This pattern rides, cocked on the surface film and is easier to see, this pattern works very well in the riffles. On other occasions I will use a standard style, flush in the film spinner tied with antron or z-lon wings.
As I stated earlier in the methods section, as the light fades, get as close to your intended target as possible and cast up to the trout, dropping the rod tip and bringing in the slack line as the current allows. Look for the rising noses of the trout, if you think your fly is there, lift and tighten, sometimes the trout is there, if not recast and repeat.
By casting straight up to the fish, you will avoid any across stream drag. With the failing light, you need not be concerned with lining the trout.
On many July evenings, by the time this is over, your day is done and you now been on the creeks for fourteen or fifteen hours and it is time to pack in for the day and head for the motel and some food and rest. You have earned it!!!
Now, that I have covered the perfect day in July on the spring creeks, I will add a few notes on some special situations that you may also encounter throughout July!
Spinner Falls: During late July mornings you can encounter Trico Spinners, generally they are only found on one section of Armstrong’s (Above the Bridge) and on lower end of DePuy’s (From the Head of the House Pond and downstream). These spinner falls are important enough to be prepared for.
Also, please remember, that you can encounter a spinner fall any time throughout the day, when the clouds gather and darken the bright blue skies of a Montana Big Sky day.
During late July, you will also begin to encounter Grasshoppers. Be aware and be prepared.
Now, for those of you who enjoy tempting larger trout, or on days when the weather conditions conspire to mess up the regular methods of spring creek fishing you can try Mice Imitations. For this I like a six weight rod system, 3X leaders and pick a section of the creek and cover the water. Plopping the mouse imitation down as close to the bank as possible and twitching it back, this is a step and cast method, where you are constantly moving. It can result in some good trout in the early mornings, late evenings and on those bad weather days.
This method can also be used with Leech and Streamer imitations. During those same conditions as already mentioned.
Nymphing in the deep water is also another option when
you encounter, less than ideal conditions. The trout in the deep water
rarely are bothered as most anglers on the spring creeks are looking for the
hatches and the dry fly fishing.
FINAL THOUGHT ON THE CREEKS
There are a great many methods and patterns which will work on the Paradise Valley Spring Creeks; you are only limited by your own preconceived ideas of spring creek trout. One late July morning I arrived on the creek at 7:00 AM with a client, hoping to find a few trout feeding on midges and spinners. However, a rain storm during the night had dampened the grass and caused the air temperature to be a little cooler than normal. The client I had with me, refused to fish and nymphs! What to do! I choose a section of the creek with riffles and more broken water, I tied on a size 14 Royal Wulff, my client looked at me, like I had grown two heads with horns. His comment was “A Royal Wulff, and a 14, there is no self respecting spring creek trout that will eat that”. Well to shorten a long story, I told him to trust me, and to prospect the water, moving slowly and to covering the water. Well, he missed the first six trout, because he didn’t believe they would rise to that large Royal Wulff. He ended up with five, landed trout in that section. Remember, he had already missed six, so I guess there were eleven Trout in that section that had no self-respect! These pages are nothing more than suggestions on what I would do on the spring creeks during July. I hope you can learn from this booklet and build upon the suggestions contained in its pages.
A note of Caution: The base elevation in Paradise Valley is 4250 feet, for those of you who are not from the Rocky Mountain West, please remember to carry water with you on the stream or take breaks and partake of liquid refreshment often. As it is very easy to become dehydrated while spending a summer’s day on the creeks!
Streamside Ethics and Manners: Most of the
anglers and guides I have encountered while fishing the spring creeks are very
nice and well mannered people.
However, I have run in to the other kind. If you think you are crowding
some one, back-off. Ask, before you set in front of another angler.
In other words, employ common sense and the golden rule. Enough said.
Each angler must choice for themselves, the type of fishing they enjoy and the length of day they wish to fish. My uncle, who was one my early fishing mentors once said “It is not how many hours you fish a day that is important, It is how many hours you fish effectively”, that my friend is a very true statement.
I am often asked, “If I come and fish the spring creeks, how many fish will I catch? Gee, I don’t know, I am a guide not a fortune teller. One fine day in July, I had spent the morning with a long time fishing client, working three rather large brown trout which located in nasty positions to get a good drift into. When we broke for lunch, a couple of other anglers asked how we had done. My client replied that he had landed a nice 21” brown trout and broken off another nice brown and had missed a third fish. The other anglers looked at us and gee, we each hooked 10 fish apiece during the PMD hatch. My client’s reply was classic, he said “Hey, that great, guys, but I was only working those three fish, by choice”. We all must decide what success means to us as individuals.
A word about wading: I have already encouraged you to be stealthy when wadding. However, I would like to caution you to, also look where you are wading. This will keep you from slipping a rock, or tripping over a log or rock, which could cause you to take a dip in the creek. The water is 51 degrees or so, and is less than ideal for bathing or swimming. So look before you step!
The story behind this booklet
In July of 2008, I was guiding a long client one of the spring creeks. She is a delightful lady, whom I occasionally guide, but fished on the creek fairly often. I promised to write for her a selection of tips on fishing the spring creek in July. As with many of my projects, I realized that others might also benefit from this information, so I expanded it to its present length. It will be given to Buzz Basini who owns and operates, that fine little fly shop on DePuy’s Spring Creek called Spring Creek Specialists. I know that Buzz will pass this out to many other anglers who can benefit from the information contained in this booklet.
Enjoy & Good Fishin’
Tom Travis
December 2008
For those, who wish to book a guide trip with me, order flies from me, or share their experience on the spring creeks with me, I can be contacted at ttravis@mcn.net or a 1800-543-4665 which is the number for my guide service Montana’s Master Angler Fly Fishing Guide Service.
Those who have questions, or need further information
on a method, fly patterns. Or tell me what worked for you; please feel
free to contact me. I look forward to the exchange.
However, a word of caution! If you want to contact me because you
didn’t like my sentence structure, or you found a punctuation mark left out or
in the wrong place. Or perhaps you didn’t care for the phrases that were
put together. Well Buzz-OFF. Don’t waste your time, because I will
not respond to anyone being nick-picky! I am only interested in fishing
questions and shared patterns and experiences.
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