Spring Trout
by Dave Anderson

As spring begins to rise from the doldrums of winter, many people take to their local trout stream to enjoy some early season action. April 1 marked the beginning of a new era in southeast Minnesota trout fishing as all designated trout streams were open to a strictly catch and release barbless hooks only period until the "opener" resumes on April 17.

I have had the opportunity to fish this new season five days straight starting on April 1. The action was phenomenal for me, a fly fisherman, and I would guess it was decent for others who pursue trout by other methods.

There are several factors to keep in mind when fishing for trout early in the season. A quiet, stealthy approach is a must as their is little overhanging cover to conceal your approach to the stream. I find myself fishing from my knees in many situations in order to keep a low profile. Earth colors or camouflage clothing would be a good bet. Staying out of the water whenever possible is a must. The fish have a tendency to be spooky enough without making an extra commotion in the water.

Some of the more popular trout streams will have a plethora of people, so the best way to avoid crowds is several different things. Location is a key element to keep in mind. Try some new water that is overlooked in the summer months due to dense vegetation. You might be pleasantly surprised to what you may find. Try fishing during the weekday whenever possible. I find myself almost fishing exclusively during the week days during the summer months and also on some of the more secluded spots during the weekend hours. Don't be afraid to go for a little hike to find your own slice of heaven.

For fly fishermen, baetis (BWO's) are a predominant dry fly in the early season, as well as the Dark Hendrickson, a larger may fly whose hatch lasts a relatively short time (10 days in most cases). Early season caddis hatches may occur when the conditions are right. The opener in 1998 saw a caddis "blizzard" as temperatures were warm throughout the month and the hatch took off. Standard flies this time of year are pheasant tail nymphs in a variety of colors - olive being a good bet. Scud patterns seem to work all year round and they are a great fly to have as the main part on a tandem rig. Caddis larvae and emergers along with some elk hair caddis are a good bet, as well as the staple BWO tied parachute style in sizes 16-20. It's a good idea to have on hand some streamer patterns: zonkers and woolly buggers are always a good choice. Some stone fly nymphs, particularly Prince Nymphs are always a good choice along with gold ribbed hares' ears. Don't be afraid to use some lighter tippet material - up to 7X at times, especially when the water is clean.

I leave you with an editorial of sorts. Respect the rights of the water when trout angling. If you see someone working an area, give them some space and if you leap frog them, leave them some distance between you and them. There's nothing more irritating to me as a cold water angler than to have someone else walk right up to the area you are fishing and begin to work it also. There's plenty of water to fish in southeast Minnesota, so be courteous to others around you and good luck.