Importance of scouting

I get the question all of the time. How important is it really?

While everyone is complaining about the winter weather I am adding trout fishing honey holes to my list.

Why do you scout trout streams?
The reason is simple, I want to catch more and bigger trout. Just like anything to do with fishing or hunting the more time you put into the sport the more you will get back. I hear people complaining about never seeing any deer every year, but the only time they are in the woods is during the 9 day gun season. Same thing goes for fishing. I love to scout trout streams in the early and late winter during times of low snow pack. I will identify either an area to search or just specific streams that have caught my attention. I also have noticed that I will look and study  a stream differently when I am not fishing, I slow down and really see every detail. When I am fishing a new stream for the first time without scouting it, I want to cover as much water as possible and tend to rush areas, not noticing small details. This winter alone I have found at least 15 new streams that look like GEMS!! Loaded with trout...some of them really big ones.

When do you scout streams?
Normally during the winter months. I also do a lot of reading off of the Wisconsin DNR website. I read the most recent surveys and other literature about the waterways. I also will send emails to fishery biologist with questions I have about the systems.  I gather all this information and keep notes in my map book for future reference.

How do you know where to scout?
Like mentioned above, the DNR website has information for you. Some of these surveys are 10+ years old, but it will give you a baseline for what streams are worth looking into. See what streams have had HR work done on them. I have found that 3-4 years after HR work has been done is when the fishing really improves. I personally don't fish too much HR stream sections all that often. Don't judge a stream from the first bridge either! Find out what the stream classification is (I, II, III) and check out the stream from multiple bridges or crossings. I fish a couple streams that look like trickles from the bridges, but 100 yards upstream open up into really nice pool, run, riffle segments. Once you find a stream that sparks your interest get out and walk the banks (get permission if needed) and bring allow a camera.

Me and my dog Denali checking out a stream near my house that had some recent HR work done.

Early season........................... Fish ass-backwards???

The early trout season in Wisconsin can provide some different types of challenges from perfect weather to blizzards. It also will provide for some of the best fishing of the season. In March/April the weeds and grasses surrounding the trout streams will not be overgrown allowing for great casting angles. In stream weed growth will be at a minimum, and the stream water temps are near perfect most of the time.
I think that many people over think the strategies on how to fish in the early season. Yes things might be SLIGHTLY different, but you really don't need to completely change how you fish. Weather can and will be a constant challenge at times, but here are some pointers to catch a monster Brook, Brown, Tiger or Rainbow this season.
1.) Bring an extra pair of clothes. For two reasons, the first reason is obvious, if you fall into the cold water when temps can be below freezing you will want to change. And some mornings you will start out very cold, but temps will rise into the 50's and 60's quickly.
2.) Fish a bit larger than you normally would. Spin fisherman can up size spinners, spoons, plugs whatever. Fly-Fishers you should also consider doing the same with great early season patterns like wolly buggers, Maribou Patterns, Matukas, etc.................
3.) Very early in the year you might have to slow down your presentation just a bit. Trout are cold blooded animals so super cold water = super sluggish trout. The magic water temp I have found is 40 degrees for trout to really start feeding. This means fish near constant water temperature areas (springs, feeder streams)  when there is a good amount of snow melt which will cool the streams more the further down stream you go.
4.) Sleep in. I won't even get out of bed until 9-10 am during the first few weeks of the season when average high temps are still in the 30's. Sleep in and let things warm up a bit.
5.) Fish deep in the trout's "winter holes."  Trout will still be holding in deep pools saving energy and not battling the current in riffles, runs, or rapids where you might catch aggressive feeding trout in late spring and summer.
 6.) Fish ass backwards!! 90% of anglers will fish moving upstream (since trout face upstream) allowing you to sneak up on them without spooking the fish. Early season you might get a ton of follows or quick strikes with few hook-ups, but try this!!
* Find a deep hole you wish to fish.
* Walk away from the stream and bend up and around about 15 yards upstream of the pool.
* Sneak up to the side of the stream keeping a low profile and wearing dark natural toned clothes.
* Cast a lure or fly into the top area of the pool with a low cast to avoid a large splash.
* Let the current do the work allowing your presentations to spin, flutter, wiggle or dance without moving the presentation upstream, but just holding it steady and maybe twitching it a bit. Keep the rod tip out over the stream keeping your presentation working in the pool. The trout will not have to "chase" your bait down using a bunch of energy to catch it. This will allow you to catch more big trout in the early season.



I also would recommend fishing streams that you know very well the first two/three weeks of the season. Once average high temps are reaching the 40's go nuts.   Go find big trout in non-designated water.....explore and find new gems!!

Enjoy only 14 days until I see you stream side!

Wild Wisconsin Rainbows

Rainbow trout are stocked in many popular streams and area ponds a crossed Wisconsin. But very few of them are reported to have naturally occurring populations of Rainbow Trout. The species is a native of the west coast and far eastern Asia. Is some areas of the American West the Rainbow has negatively impacted  native fish species by out competing native fish, transmitting contagious diseases, like whirling disease or hybridization a good example of this would be the Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
But here in Wisconsin there are only a few places where someone would be able to catch a wild rainbow. Most tributaries to Lake Superior have naturally reproducing "steelheads" where the smolt will live in the streams for 2-3 summers before moving into the lake. At this age they are typically around 6-8 inches in length (although this depends on the stream) Although not all trout will move into the lake, but some will live their entire life in the stream.
Moving inland..................... Black Earth Creek and Mount Vernon Creek in Southwestern Dane county have SMALL populations of wild rainbows and I have caught a handful over the years.
 If you really want to catch a wild, stream born rainbow trout in Wisconsin look to Central Wisconsin in a few counties like Waushara county and the surrounding areas. I have found a great place to catch wild rainbows in Northeastern WI.

Rainbow trout prefer 55-60 degree water with a faster current and a gravel or rocky bottom. They are often found at the head of rapids or strong riffles.

Yellowstone

Not just saltwater!

Zo-Zuri lures is a name that is synonymous with saltwater fishing. Little do people know that Zo-Zuri is also a fantastic trout lure. The pins-minnow series comes in two great trout fishing sizes the 2 3/4 in floating and sinking pins-minnow and the 2 inch floating pins-minnow. They come in a wide verity of colors and patterns. My personal favorite patterns are the creek chub, brown trout and rainbow trout pattern. The rainbow trout pattern does very well in streams where smaller rainbow trout are stocked (example Blue River) and other large streams. The action on the pins-minnow is close to the x-rap with less "slash" and more wiggle. They can be very hard to find at times, but I keep at least 15 with me at any time. They do get a bit pricey, but I highly recommend giving them a try this season.

They have great action even while using a slow retrieve. This is great for early season trout fishing.

They also come with some of the sharpest and strongest hooks out there. My doctor can speak for that! He had to take one out of my hand last summer.

Introducing the Rapala X-Rap XR4

The Rapala X-Rap is one of my favorite big trout lures. The X-Rap is a slash bait which delivers a violent movement in the water. This lure produces big time for me in the fall once the browns and brook trout start staging for the fall spawn. Throw a X-Rap into the pool where a mature Brown, Brook or Rainbow is holding and the territorial strike will happen. Now Rapala has come out with the new XR4 series which is only 1.5 inches long and 1/16 oz in weight. Not only with a smaller size, but it will come in brook trout and brown trout pattern. This lure will now run 2-3 feet compared to the 3-5 foot range for the larger sizes. Needless to say I already have a few of these in my chest pack for small streams in the Driftless Area.

http://www.rapala.com/products/lures/x-rap/

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