Almost wintertime stream bug observations

Tom Butler · Dec 16, 2023

My confidence patterns are tweaks of old standards. In my ongoing quest to be a better fisherman I'm trying to become better acquainted with the food I can expect a trout to see on the buffet line and to tie something that looks like said food. Took a white tray, and a kick net to the stream today and took some samples. Nothing in the air for the dollar store net.

There was a little black stone on the shithouse wall.

Being more aware of the green free living caddis, I had a Partridge and Green ready to go.

Which took the first fish. Love me a classic softhackle.

And based upon the stone flies, I fished a knuckle dragging golden stone on the middle dropper.

And a lightly weighted version of the simiseal stone I've been working on as a trailer.

And the fish liked both of those

Kado · Dec 16, 2023

How you catch so many doubles is beyond me. Great photos.

Zak · Dec 16, 2023

Maybe put a dime in your white tray to judge bug length later from the pictures? Cool to see those green Caddis. Nice double!

Matt B · Dec 16, 2023

Kado said:
How you catch so many doubles is beyond me. Great photos.

Only one double in this post, and no triples. Tom must be slipping in his game.

Tom Butler · Dec 16, 2023

Zak said:
Maybe put a dime in your white tray to judge bug length later from the pictures? Cool to see those green Caddis. Nice double!

That's a great tip, thanks.

Kado said:
How you catch so many doubles is beyond me. Great photos.

Matt B said:
Only one double in this post, and no triples. Tom must be slipping in his game.

I honestly don't know. The leader just stopped, and I thought another nice fish, and then I see two pretty ones instead.

Billy · Dec 16, 2023

Very nice Tom

Tom Butler · Dec 18, 2023

Saw the green rock worms and went to the bench where I tied a simple green wool and olive/brown hare ear fly. The observation led to success today.

clarkman · Dec 18, 2023

Kado said:
How you catch so many doubles is beyond me. Great photos.

I've been trying to figure that one out too!

RCF · Dec 18, 2023

Kado said:
How you catch so many doubles is beyond me. Great photos.

It helps to have at least 2 hooks in the water in an area with lots of fish...

Tom Butler · Dec 18, 2023

RCF said:
in an area with lots of fish...

I was on a different reach today, but the gentleman I met swore there were no fish in the river, and we were wasting our time. Three hours without a hit. He really didn't want to visit much, or take any flies. I caught one right where he had just been. I'd rather be teachable.