Hi Folks, Guided my first trout trip of the season today fly fishing a river system that experiences lake run fish. Water temperature was a chilly 44 degrees and the water was high and off colored. We received some much needed rain the last couple of days. This particular river gets some large brook trout in it in the early spring. They are chasing down lake run smelt. It seems that they typically drop out by mid May when the water warms into the mid fifties. I can tell you the water was cold today because my toes took awhile to come back to life this afternoon. We swung streamers all day. Mixed it up between #8 cone headed white muddler , #8 cone headed yellow muddler, and a #6 white zonker. The zonker was the fly of the day. We landed 1 16" brook trout and missed 3 other fish. Our focus was the slower sections of big pools and behind obvious cover. Lots of casting and drifting. Still worth it. Not everyday in Vermont do you catch a big brook trout in a river. Looks like the weather is about to warm. Start looking for #14/#16 Hendricksons. I did see a few may flies on Friday on a Lamoille tributary but I was unable to capture any and get a positive identification. Walleye season begins this Saturday. Now things are really starting to get going on fronts. Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy
