Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3911 May 2020 | Page 11

How To
couple times and finally before moving on
to another spot drop the bait directly into the
pocket’s slack water and let it set there for a
several seconds.
Since you’ll be casting up current, slack is
going to develop in the line as the bait drifts
back toward you. It is important to limit the
amount of slack that forms since it will rob
your ability to feel the bite and will result in
more frequent snags.
A skilled stream angler keeps the line
between the rod and a drifting bait nearly
tight, walking the bait along like a dog on
a leash. With a short cast the slack can be
picked up by simply raising the tip of the rod.
That is one of the reasons I like a long rod.
In situations where a longer cast is need, the
rod tip should still be raised, but the reel will
need to be used to pick up extra slack.
Since current velocities vary a great deal
across a stream it is important to keep a
high rod tip as this will keep as much line as
possible off the water. If your bait is drifting
with a moderately fast current and the line
is lying in a fast current, the fast current
will catch the slack and pull the bait along
unnaturally.
So how do you identify a bite? At times a
trout will dart out, grab the bait and shoot
back where it came from. This type of bite is
obvious, since it results in a hard tug and the
trout generally hooks itself.
At other times a trout will inhale the bait
and then drift along with the current. With
this type of bite you feel a small sharp tap
or two. Wait a beat or two before lifting the
tip and loading the rod and the trout will be
hooked. If your rod tip is already held high,
set the hook by cranking the reel several
times.
The third common type of bite comes when
the trout inhales the bait and doesn’t move
at all. This type of bite is signaled by the
line stopping dead in the water as if the bait
is hung on the bottom. If your line stops, it
could be a snag or it could be a trout, but
you’ve got to assume that it’s a fish. As a
result when the line stops give the rod tip
a short sharp tug. If the sinker is hung up
this will often jar it loose, if there is a trout
mouthing the bait it’s Fish On!
The strategy for fishing with nymphs is
much the same as when fishing bait, except
rather than retrieving the bait and casting
again when the rig drifts back to your
position as is the case with natural baits, I
like to allow a nymph or wet fly to continue
drifting downstream until it reaches the end
of the line. Even then I allow it to hang in
the current for a few seconds as I jig it a bit.
Trout will seldom hit a natural bait when held
in the current in this way, but they will often
hammer a wet fly.
Lure fishing requires a significantly
different strategy than fishing with bait or
flies. Instead of moving upstream, the lure
angler is most effective traveling down-
stream. It doesn’t matter if you are fishing a
spoon or spinner the basic presentation with
a lure is to cast straight across the stream and
allow the lure to swing across the current
on a tight line. You rarely need to work the
reel, because the current plunging past the
lure will give it action. Once the lure has
swung directly downstream of your position,
let it hang in the current for a few moments
before retrieving it slowly along the bank.
Strikes can come at any time during this
process.
Lures don’t need to be fished as close to
the bottom as baits or wet flies, but you
don’t want them skimming along the surface
either. If the current is such that your spoon
or spinner isn’t digging deep enough, add
enough split shot above the leader to get it
to the desired depth. In general, I like my
lures to run about two thirds of the way to the
bottom. For example if the water is three feet
deep, I want my lure running a foot off the
bottom.
In closing I’ve got a couple final thoughts
11
May 2020
VOL.39 • ISS. 11
By Cal Kellogg
to pass on in relation to stream fishing.
First of all most stream anglers with
the exception of fly guys don’t carry
a net. While I often don’t carry one
either, it is a good idea to have one on
hand. You can take care of most fish
nicely without a net, but when you
catch that brown trout of a lifetime
you’ll be glad to have a net hanging
from your belt.
Finally, as you traverse your favorite
trout streams, be sure not to leave any
litter behind in the form of discarded
line or empty bait containers. It is
bad enough to see this type of junk
dotting the shoreline of a man made
reservoir, but it is a real shame when
trash ruins the ambience of a babbling
trout stream. I carry a large zip lock
bag with me on the stream to carry
out some of the trash that other folks
leave and you should do the same. It’s
a way of giving something back to the
fishery!
continued from page 10
NOW BOOKING Sacramento River STRIPERS
Professional
Guide
DAN PONCIANO
Call Now for
Best Dates!
24’ North River sled
G Loomis Rods
Shimano Reels
Call Dan for a Great Striper Trip
[phone]
Also Specializing in Columbia River Sturgeon Trips
www.columbiariverfishing.com
3907
-PROOF
THE POWER OF PROOF.
ULTREX ™ : WITH POWER STEERING AND SPOT-LOCK ™ .
It doesn’t just stand up to the elements, it walks through hell and back. It doesn’t
fl inch at stumps and doesn’t take a day off. It’s been out there for years.
Locking onto spots with unparalleled accuracy and effortlessly
maneuvering you through anything. This is what proven power
looks like.
Get a motor that acts like it’s been there. Because it has.
minnkotamotors.com/Ultrex
© 2020 Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
M303-060370-9_Ultrex_PrintAd_FWS_szC_FIN.indd 1
M303-060370-0 Ultrex Print Ad (Freshwater South)
1/28/20 10:20 AM