Trout Fishing Tips


Sportsmans-Link.com Site Ring
Ring Owner: Ken Liimatta Site: Sportsmans-Link.com






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Tips to make your fishing trip more enjoyable.
The water level is low and clear, The top fly over the catch and release was the Glow Ball. Reed's Cabins have stocked some small Glow Ball's this year, No one in the area have them except Reed's. This is a very Hot bait.
The weather has been warm except for a few day's, and we have been having about three hatches a day.
When water conditions are clear, watch for the hatch, it happens about that time of the afternoon on sunny day's, and is over in a matter of 45 minutes.
The fish become very active on the surface during the hatch so be watching. Some of these fish are in the lunker category.
Be sure to check out the new SOS Trout Fishing Line we have to offer. This line will amaze you at the strength it has. It is the strongest line I have seen outside of the Spider wire type lines. When I compared the breaking strength against Stren and Maxima I could not believe the differences. I will be using it for leader on my fly rigs this year.
Be sure to check out the Online Lunker Board at Reed's Cabins.
TIPS
1. Buy new line and spool it before you come to the park. (Dispose of old line in trash or re-cycle)
2. Check all bait hooks to insure that they have not rusted or bent.
3. Check waders for leaks. Fill them with water from the shower and look for leaks on outside. Dry and pack.
4. Buy tag and license the day or night before Feb-28. There will be long lines on the morning of March 1. The Lodge will be open all night.
5. Bring a change of clothing in case you get wet.
6. Check landing net for rot or holes.
7. Check reel for drag smoothness and lube.
8. Check rod eyelets for nicks ( use a q-tip and twist in eyelet. )
9. If using line that has been stored for over a month, Attach to swivel and hook to a object then open real and walk away letting the line out. Then reel in the line while holding it between thumb and finger. This will remove line memory.
10. Talk to the people standing around you before the whistle. Have a plan for fishing that both sides knows what to expect at whistle. Don't cast across other lines.
11. Parking can be the biggest pain on March 1, If you can car pool do it. Know someone who has a van? Take it. Have a truck? Fill it. And don't expect to park by the hatchery or top half of the park after 5:30 A.M.
12. Secure everything at cabins or campsite before you leave to go fishing. ( Hint. Keep fishing equipment in vehicle or camper when not in use. Lots of it seem to walk away. )
13. If you are a bait fisherperson try The Secret Trout Bait. You can find it at the lodge.
14. Fires are not allowed on the banks at Montauk so hand warmers would come in handy.
15. Fly rod use in the bait area could slow you down and cause tangles with your neighbor. Think short, light, fast.
16. Fish the fly area during the afternoon, You might not see any anglers during that time.
17. During the heat of the days in summer, fish the deep pockets in the shade of boulders or trees.
18. Take the time to see what insect may be in hatch, and have a knowledge or reference of them.
19. Let someone know where you are going to fish, or leave a note in your vehicle. In case something should happen, they would know where to start looking.
20. If you have a reaction to insect bites or stings, carry a medicine with you.
21. Try using the new SOS TROUT fishing line. It is the strongest outside of the spider wire lines I have seen.
Types and times of fly's to use
March Thru May
Early Season Mayfly Hatch Chart
| Approximate Hatch Dates |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Time of Day |
Hook Size |
Imitation's |
|
Mid Mar to Mid April |
Little Blue Winged Olive |
Baetis Species |
Early Afternoon |
16-20 |
Blue Winged Olive Emerger and Dry |
|
Mid April to Early May |
Blue Quill |
Paraleptophlebia adoptiva |
Early Afternoon |
16-18 |
Blue Quill Dry Paraleptophlebia Nymph |
|
Mid April to Mid May |
Quill Gordon |
Epeorus Pleuralis |
Early Afternoon |
12-14 |
Hare's Ear Wet Fly, G.R. Hare's Ear Nymph, Quill Gordon Dry |
|
Mid April to Mid May |
Hendrickson (Red Quill) |
Emphemerella subvaria |
Mid Afternoon |
12-14 |
Hendrickson Nymph, Light Hendrickson Dry, Red Quill Dry |
Early Season Caddis Fly Hatch Chart
| Approximate Hatch Dates |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Time of Day |
Hook Size |
Imitation's |
|
Mid April to Mid May |
Little Black Caddis |
Chimarra atterima |
Early Afternoon |
18 |
Dark Brown/Black Elk hair Caddis |
|
Mid April |
Grannom Caddis |
Brachycentrus numerosa |
Late Morning - Early Afternoon |
14-16 |
Leadwing Coachman Wet, dark Brown Elk Hair Caddis |
|
Late April to Early May |
Cream Caddis |
Psilotreta species |
Late Morning - Afternoon |
14 |
Cream Elk Hair Caddis, Cream Emergent Pupa |
|
Early May |
Green Caddis |
Rhyacophila Species |
Late Morning - Afternoon |
14 |
Green Caddis Larva and Pupa, Henryville Special Dry |
Early Season Stonefly Hatch Chart
| Approximate Hatch Dates |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Time of Day |
Hook Size |
Imitation's |
|
Early March |
Little Black Stonefly |
Capnia Vernalis |
Mid-day |
16 |
Black body-dun hackle and down wings dry. Early Black Stonefly Nymph |
|
April |
Early Brown Stonefly |
Taeniopteryx Fasciata |
Afternoon |
10-14 |
Early Brown Stone Wet, Early Brown Stone Nymph |
May Thru June
Mid Season Mayfly Hatch Chart
| Approximate Hatch Dates |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Time of Day |
Hook Size |
Imitations |
|
Mid May to Early June |
March Brown |
Stenonema Vicarium |
Sporadic Throughout the day |
10-12 |
March Brown Dry, Stenonema Nymph, Spinner |
|
Mid May to Early June |
Gray Fox |
Stenonema Fuscum |
Sporadic Throughout the day |
12-14 |
Gray Fox Dry, Stenonema Nymph, Spinner |
|
Late May to Early June |
Green Drake Coffin Fly(Spinner) |
Ephemera Guttulata |
Throughout Afternoon and Evening |
8-10 |
Green Drake Dun, Green Drake Nymph, Coffin Fly, White Wulff |
|
Late May to Mid June |
Little Maryatt |
Ephemerella Invaria |
Evening |
14-16 |
EphemerellaNymph |
|
Late May to Mid June |
Pale Sulfur Dun |
Ephemerella Rotunda |
Evening |
14-16 |
Sulfur Dun & Spinner |
|
Late May to Mid June |
Pale Evening Dun |
Ephemerella Dorthea |
Evening |
14-16 |
Pale Evening Dun & Spinner |
|
Late May to Late June |
Light Cahill |
Stenonema -ithica |
Evening |
12-16 |
Light Cahill Nymph, Emerger, Dun & Spinner |
|
Early June to Late June |
Blue Winged Olive |
Ephemerella - cornuta |
Late Morning to Mid-day |
12-16 |
Blue Winged Olive Nymph, Wet, & Dun |
Mid Season Caddis Fly Hatch Chart
| Approximate Hatch Dates |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Time of Day |
Hook Size |
Immitations |
|
Late May, June |
Tan Caddis |
Hydropsyche Species |
Afternoon Evening |
14-18 |
March Brown Spider, Tan Elk Hair Caddis |
|
Late May, June |
Dun Caddis |
Psilotreta Frontalis |
Midday |
14 |
Elk Hair Caddis, Tent Wing Caddis |
Mid Season Stonefly Hatch Chart
| Approximate Hatch Dates |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Time of Day |
Hook Size |
Immitations |
|
June |
Little Yellow Sally |
Alloperla Species |
Afternoon |
10-14 |
Michigan Stone Dry |
|
June |
Golden Stone |
Phasganophora Capitata |
Afternoon Evening |
10 |
Stonefly Creeper |
|
May, June |
Giant Black Stonefly |
Pteronarcys Dorsata |
Morning, Afternoon |
4-8 |
Kauffman's Nymph, Bitch Creek Nymph, Montana Nymph |
|
May, June |
Giant Spined Stonefly |
Allonarcys Biloba |
Evening |
4-8 |
Kauffman's Nymph, Bitch Creek Nymph, Montana Nymph |
June Thru October
Late Season Mayfly Hatch Chart
| Approximate Hatch Dates |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Time of Day |
Hook Size |
Imitations |
|
Mid June |
Slate Winged Mahogany |
Isonychia - bicolor - harperi |
Sporadic Throughout the Day |
10-12 |
Leadwing Coachman, Isonychia Nymph, Dun Variant, Rusty Spinner |
|
Mid June, Mid July |
Blue Winged Olive |
Ephemerella - attenuata |
Morning, Midday |
14-16 |
Ephemerella Nymph, Emerger & Dun |
|
Late June and July |
Golden Drake |
Potamanthus - distinctus |
Evening |
12 |
Cream Variant |
|
July thru September |
Trico |
Tricorythodes Species |
Morning |
22-24 |
Trico Dun & Spinner |
|
July thru October |
Tiny Blue Winged Olive |
Baetis and Pseudocloeon Species |
Sporadic Afternoon |
18-24 |
Blue Winged Olive Nymph, Emerger & Dun |
Late Season Caddis Fly Hatch Chart
| Approximate Hatch Dates |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Time of Day |
Hook Size |
Immitations |
|
June thru Sept |
Tan Caddis |
Hydropsyche Species |
Sporadic All Day |
14-20 |
Tan Elk Hair Caddis |
|
August thru Oct |
Summer Sedge (Autumn Sedge) |
Limnephilldas Family |
Late Day, Evening |
12-18 |
Woodchuck Caddis, Cased Caddis |
Late Season Stonefly Hatch Chart
| Approximate Hatch Dates |
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Time of Day |
Hook Size |
Immitations |
|
Mid June, July |
Lime Sally |
Alloperia Species Choloroperia Species |
Afternoon, Evening |
16-18 |
Michigan Stone, little Green Hairwing |
|
Mid June, July |
Yellow Sally |
Isoperia Species |
Afternoon, Evening |
14 |
Little Yellow Hairwing |
|
Mid June, July |
Great Brown Stonefly |
Acroneuris - lycoris |
Evening |
8-12 |
Stimulator, Ted's Stonefly |
|
June thru August |
Big Golden Stonefly |
Paragentina Species |
Evening |
8 |
Golden Stone Nymph, Stimulator |
Good Manners Mean Better Fishing
Missouri anglers can find a variety of trout fishing opportunities, ranging from the solitude of a small, Ozark spring branch to Trout Park opening day, which draws thousands of anglers to each of the
four trout parks.The state's trout waters are limited, however, and they must support an increasing amount of fishing pressure. To make everyone? s experience more enjoyable, anglers should practice a code of ethics that includes a general respect for the environment and for other anglers. These guidelines will help you become an ethical trout angler.
There are several ways to improve your fishing for the
future. Establishing your own length limits, even where length limits do not apply, will result in more fish for you and other anglers to catch again.Participating
in the Conservation Department's "Released A Lunker" program also helps. Anglers that release large trout at the trout parks receive a patch for their achievement.You might also set your own, lower daily creel limits. Prescribed daily creel limits need not
be viewed as goals. Catch and release fishing allows you to have fun and still leave fish in the water for other anglers to enjoy.Anglers arc responsible for knowing and following fishing regulations. These regulations may include bait and gear restrictions, length limits and creel limits. Check the Wildlife Code, Summary of Missouri Fishing Regulations
or area brochures to keep yourself informed and within the law.Specific regulations are posted throughout the trout parks and at most access sites. Chumming, or baiting fish, is illegal at all trout parks. Snagging fish is also prohibited. A fish nor hooked in the mouth or jaw must be released unharmed immediately after being caught.
Grading or culling fish from a stringer, basket or net is also prohibited. Fish that are culled from a stringer, basket or net often die, and
no one benefits from them. Regulations are established to allow anglers to get the most benefit from the resources available.Reduce your impact on fishing environment
Anglers should also minimize their impact to the environment. Our individual impact may seem small, but when multiplied by the thousands of other resource users,
it is substantial. Good environmental ethics are one way to protect and enhance our [limited resources. Try to make these guidelines a regular part of your fishing trips.insect (invertebrate) life. The damage may easily outweigh the benefit of catching more fish.
You can join with other anglers and interested citizens to take on projects aimed at protecting and enhancing Missouri?s waterways. The Missouri STREAM TEAM program promotes good stream ethics and encourages group participation in promoting good stream management. Contact your
nearest Missouri Department of Conservation office for more information on starting or joining a STREAM TEAM. Inquiries may also be directed ToSTREAM TEAM
Missouri Department of Conservation
P0 Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65102
314-751-4115, ext. 16S
The above was taken from A Guide to Trout Stream Ethics. (MDC 2002=1)
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