First trout of the new season

Hi Folks, Guided my first trip of the new season yesterday afternoon.  Still pretty challenging conditions out there with high, dirty, and cold water.   A good percentage of the lakes I like to fish in the Stowe area are still locked up with ice.  They should break any day.  Water temperature was 37 degrees at the confluence of the Little River and Winooski River.  Very well known fishing spot as was evident from all of the trash, uggh.  Still not a bad spot this time of the year with clear warmer water merging with dirty colder water.  We kept in simple yesterday as I guided a young aspiring angler.  We fished spin gear with small red hooks dressed with garden hackle.  We focused on a big eddy and that where we landed a nice 11" wild rainbow.  Not a bad start for the year.  Conditions will only improve.  We witnessed a good hatch of #14/#16 little brown stone flies and a few hung up in the eddy we fished.  No trout responding to them on the surface.  Only a matter of time before we begin to see #14/#16 Quill Gordons, #16/#18 Blue Quills, and then the much awaited #14/#16 Hendrickson hatch.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun. Willy

opening day

Hi Folks, Trout season 2013 is upon us.  Still feels like winter out there with snow yesterday and last night.  I have the wood stove going this morning.  Anglers will run into cold water to start out the season.  Rivers in and around Stowe are at a nice level to fish, but just too darn cold.  Lake and pond fishing will be limited as most bodies of water still have a layer of ice on them.  Any pond with spring influence should be ice free but still very cold.  Edges, inlets, and outlets could be potential places to fish on still water.  Tail waters are not a bad bet for stream fishing.  You might find water temperatures in excess of 40 degrees.  If they hold brown trout, any stable pool could be a good bet as browns that spawned in the fall could still be hanging around.  Spawning rainbows are always an option.  Just make sure to leave the spawning beds alone.  Lake run rainbows can a blast in the spring if you are able to time when they are on the move.  Pike fishing is always a great early spring option.  Marshes, sloughs, creek channels, and back bays with dark bottoms are all potential spots for toothy Northerns.  Regardless of what you choose to pursue, slow down your approach with subsurface flies that are heavily weighted.  April is the big tease for fishing in Vermont.  The best is yet to come.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy