I'll second that! I've done better on spring creeks and freestones using them in the winter. Slow strips work well, too.
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jkilroy -
Try a t.c.t.k. - see the Fly of The Week archives for the third quarter of '07.
John
if i were gonna go out tomorow i would fish small eggs and sucker spawn, size 20 P.T.'s hence the baetis nymphs, zebra nymphs sz 20 on scud hooks with a small krystal flash wing,or small gray scuds with peacock thoraxes. i wouldnt even bother with drys. fish arent feedin as heavy in the winter. presentation is key. if ur working riffs an pockets work then alot longer than usual with fish being not as active u gotta put it right on they're noses and they usually dont "slam" it so i would stay in contact with my flies the whole time. tight lines, kyle
One alternative is to try a cress bug (like Coburn's). Yes, they're more predominantly trout fodder on spring creeks, but you'll find them in many limestoners. The added bonus is that, since the li'l bug is made of spun or stacked deer hair (depending on tying preference), it won't hang up on the bottom directly. The small shot or putty you use to sink it will, probably, but usually not the fly. I like that effect, since trout aren't nose down in the rocks. Suspend it a few inches off the bottom and vary that until you connect with a fish.
Of course nothing beats the old reliables like GRHE, PTs, brassies...
BHPT nymph. I typically use size 16-18 on a light tippet with great results in the winter.
If there is a decent sucker population, which there seems to be in most creeks anymore, a small (size 16) cream color sucker spawn usually works well, but not as good as a BHPT. Make sure your sucker spawn is tied with angora rabbit though. Regular yarn doesn't have the same look when wet and the extra fuzziness will catch the trout teeth when they try to quickly spit it out and give you more hook ups. I've even caught trout on them without the hook, just the teeth caught in the yarn.
4" - 5" bunny streamers.
Sorry,
I wasn't paying attention to the tread. I went fishing on the Quitty again and was skunked again. I nymph fished and used small flies and still went fishless. I even was directly downstream from some tailouts. Again, lost flies. This time I forgot the micro split shot and had to use the twist on. I think it was too much weight.
I broke down and signed up for the nymphing class at Flyfishers paradise. Maybe that will help my nymphing skills. I don't see how anyone can detect a strike without a indicator.
At least I got out, which beats the winter blues.