Tight lines and fish tales
Tight lines and fish tales
Spring trout fishing is a Pennsylvania rite of passage
BY TYLER FRANTZ
Nothing rejuvenates the soul after a long, stuffy winter like spending a spring day out on the water, soaking up sunshine, and feeling the wriggle of a trout on the end of a taught fishing line.
For thousands of Pennsylvania anglers, this much-needed cure for cabin fever isn’t far away, as the Southeast trout season opener rapidly approaches.
Before long, rods will be rigged with tackle, trails will be trampled, and lines will be cast upon the cold-flowing waters of a favorite creek, giving lifeblood to finned beauties inhabiting its currents, as well as those probing the hidden depths from dry land.
Most will choose spinning reels with light action rods as their weapon of choice. These smaller spinning combos provide terrific versatility for a variety of fishing techniques, and they offer a worthy fight when hooked up with a decent-sized fish. Live bait aficionados are likely to have much success, since it doesn’t take long for stocked trout to gain appetites for meaty morsels.
Night-crawler earthworms, redworms, wax worms, mealworms and butter worms all are hot tickets and easy to skewer on size 8 or 10 hooks to get the job done. Add some split shot and cast upstream, allowing the weight to carry the bait lower in the water column as it drifts with the current.
Threaded minnows also can be very effective when reeled downstream, or suspended in a seam facing the flow. Anyone who uses this technique might want to consider checking out the “Bait Up” live bait holder by Pennsylvania-based GenieJar (www.geniejar.com). It is a pretty innovative design that works smarter than most other minnow buckets on the market.
Using an inline spinner, such as a Panther Martin or Rooster Tail, can artificially mimic minnow patterns, and generally, gold does better in stained water, while silver is better for clear runs.
Others might opt for a jigging setup, as the up and down bouncing motion of a Trout Magnet at times can be irresistible to hungry trout. Scented dough baits, such as PowerBait or Berkley Gulp Trout Nuggets are popular choices as well, but some won’t trade anything for their salmon eggs or the old standby- a can of corn.
Fly fishing can add a whole new dimension to trout angling, however, the space required to cast and drift is difficult in the congested and tight quarters opening morning is bound to bring. When the early bird anglers begin to clear the stream as the day goes on, however, opportunistic fly fishermen can have a terrific outing, especially in more remote areas where the fish haven’t already been educated.
Egg pattern flies, imitation nymphs- such as pheasant tails, hare’s ear nymphs, and copper johns, as well as streamers all can be very effective early season presentations for trout.
There won’t be as much dry fly action up on top of the water, so the focus should be more on subsurface offerings. Just remember to regularly mend the line to keep drifts as natural and drag-free as possible.
Those who’ve developed a knack for “reading the water” will enjoy more success than others who randomly cast their lines at any old location. While trout can lie anywhere in a stream, they certainly have their sweet spots.
Stocked trout will often congregate in deeper plunge pools downstream from rapid water, as these areas provide cover and feed opportunities. The larger fish will take refuge under logjams and undercut banks, making access to them more difficult. But those who are skilled enough to lure them out from the cover had best loosen their reel’s drag and hold on tight. As with any outdoor pursuit, it is important to fish without a trace, leaving the wild areas for enjoying this pastime in better condition than one found them. Many of the stocked trout waters in PA flow through private property, and anglers owe it to the landowners, as well as the environment, to respect their property by picking up any trash left behind. This simple measure of generosity and stewardship is what helps preserve stream access and the longevity of the sport everyone loves.
As you head to the water over the next few weeks- be it with spinning rod or fly outfit, live bait or artificial lures- remember to fish safely, respect the local ecosystem, and share the stream with others. Spring trout fishing is finally here; enjoy those tight lines and fish tales!
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