S
spindoctor
I have been spending a lot of time on the streams and not much time at the computer. The 2013 season has been very good so far, not so much for trophy-sized trout, but for good quantities of fish in the 11” to 14” size.
Since the beginning of the season, I have been finding that the trout are mostly feeding on the bottom. Because of this; I have been having my best luck using large Magnum spinners; in Pumpkin-Fire, Copper, Blue, Golden Rainbow, Black Pearl, or Black Lightening, color patterns. This week the trout are starting to show interest in pink as well. Colorful spinners seem to work best during grasshopper time.
The Bow Spinners with single hooks are the right tool for the job when going deep and bouncing off the rocky bottom structure. The majority of my fishing has been with the Twist-less models of Bow spinners. All the trout that we caught while filming the recent episode of “Northland Adventures, Spin Cycle” were caught using Twist-Less Bow spinners.
In spite of all of the rain that South East Minnesota has received this year, the rivers and streams are surprisingly low and clear. Over all; the water conditions are about the best that I have seen for late summer trout fishing. Until recently, cool nights have kept the water temperatures in the low 60’s to mid 50’s, keeping trout comfortable and active. Smaller streams, like Forestville Creek, and Trout Run are about 56 degrees and clear. The Root is clear and toward the lower side, and a little warmer than the smaller streams. From Preston up to Forestville, the shallower water of the Root is very mossy, with long slimy, rope-like strands of this frog-snot floating with the current and clinging to rocks, as well as fowling lines and lures.
I fished the upper part of the Root Sunday, and found the trout holding in moving water over waist deep, and close to structure. No matter how good the pool looked, there were seldom any trout in shallow water.
I checked out Forestville Creek in the area of Maple Springs Campground.
Forestville creek was somewhat of a surprise, because I was almost certain that due to hot bright conditions, I would find the trout taking refuge in the shady pools where the stream runs through the woods and trees.
Instead I found that the fish were lurking in the more exposed deeper runs and pools that were bordered by long grass; having few trees anywhere near.
An indication that the trout were probably feeding on hoppers, but they eagerly attacked a Blue Magnum, a Golden Rainbow, or a Copper Super Bow spinner.
Until next time..
Keep it slow, low, and with the flow, and don’t go without your Bow!
Spindoctor.
Eggersspinners.com
