Winter Trout?

[chuckinduck]

I have an urge to make a run to the AuSable some day for a day of fishing. I thought it would be cool to fish that in the winter with all the snow around. Anyone ever gave it a shot in the winter, mostly streamer and nymph fishing?

[Xstream Outfitters]

I've had some of my best days up there when there is snow on the ground. Stick to the Holy Waters or the South Branch.

If you want some patterns, send me a PM or stop into Gates Lodge (they'll open the shop for you but you have to go to the board room first).

[stinger63]

All that snow on the ground?It might not be around too much longer.

[brookid]

I hit an Iowa stream last weekend and against all conventional wisdom, or the trout are just a little odd over there, the best producers (numbers wise - but did include a nice 14' brookie) were #16 elk haired caddis and #16 yellow sallys(numerous brook, brown and rainbow)...biggest fish came on an #12/#14 orange glow bug (brown 15" & rainbow 18") and had decent success with a black leech and an olive/mahogany woolly bugger...and this is a heavily pressured spring creek...water temp was 42, air temp was in mid to high teens both days and it snowed...it was a first for me and amazing how warm you stay when your bringing fish to hand!!!
Ausable is certainly its own animal but if I learned anything from those two days is...I don't know much...so don't be afraid to try something a bit unconventional...ya never know...a yellow sally in the middle of a snow storm???

Hope ya get in the water.....

Brookid

[brookid]

...actually they were little yellow stoneflys not yellow sallys...like I said, I don't know much ;)

Brookid

[Apache Trout]

I may be wrong but Yellow Sallies are stoneflies. Were you fishing a spring creek in Iowa? Sure sounds like you had some fun.

[brookid]

could be...unfortunately I'm no expert when it comes to flies. I get confused because they look very similar(and hell for all I know either one may not be what I think it is !!). If they are however...both look like an elk haired caddis with a few little differences...but mainly(at least mine) the "stones" have an orange and yellow body. Thats why I decided to give them a try. We were having so much success with the caddis and glo bug that the stonefly kinda was a combination of the two...and it worked.
Yes, it is a small classic spring creek...cyrstal clear w/ deep undercut banks. Its sureal at times, in some places you could hop over but your routinely siting 20+ inch fish...crazy...and it can fish very tough!!! It gets hammered...you raise your eyebrows to quick and those fish are down...all part of the charm because I've been humbled there many times...but its open year round and takes care of that winter itch....
If you ever have a reason to be in the NE Iowa area...I'd suggest giving it a try...

Brookid

[Apache Trout]

thanks for the response Brookid, I appreaciate your enthusiasm for the sport. I have only fished spring creeks out west but I have read about (I think) the creek you fished in Iowa. To be specific I have only fished Depuy's and found the fish to be relatively easy ( and I am no expert at this game). The fish were suckers for well drifted nymphs. I had a great couple of days; not because of my fishing ability - just such great sources of food drifting down the creek because of the rich spring creek flow - kinda puts the feed bag on the fish and makes the game easier. Match the size and color and you should do OK. Good luck to you in 2005.

[brookid]

...well a little digging, and it looks as though what I thought were yellow sallies
are not...not even close...I'm not sure what they are...looks like an elk haired caddis only the elkhair is yellowish, body is yellow with a brown wrap and a little red butt section also seems to have a collar w/ a wisp of brown hackle...sorry for the half assed description...I don't tie flys...obviously...

brookid