FOOD SOURCES ON SPRING CREEKS (part 8)
| Sysadmin Note |
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| Part 7 can be found here |
Sculpin:
Because spring creek waters are clear and rich in nutrition, sculpin and other types of minnows inhabit the stream in great numbers. Hence they are one of the more important food sources for trout in spring creeks. These are not the type of food that is consider standard spring creek fare, but using flies that imitate these small minnows will produce some surprising results.
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Top |
Side |
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Belly – see why "gill" is often imitated red/orange in most fly patterns. |
Found dead while kick-seining. No surprise if I find the same ones from stomach samplings. |
Seasonal Importance:
Sculpins and minnows are another constant year-long food source for trout on spring creeks. Hence streamer fishing can be effective any time of the day, any day of the month, and twelve months of the year. When trout migrate into creeks from Yellowstone River for spawning, those large and aggressive trout will take streamers viciously. Often I use streamers day-in and -out and when I don't see any surface actions or somehow my nymphs are not producing.
ZAC Fry
 Natural |
 Olive-Black |
Note: ZAC stands for "Zonked And Chomped" as large predatory trout seem to find these small Zonker types just suitable for "one quick bite". |
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Egg Muddler Sculpin
 Natural |
 Olive-Natural |
Note: Recommended color combinations are as follows.
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How to Fish:
A 5 or 6-weight rod with a regular floating line plus a 9 to 10-foot of leader will suffice. Leaders should end with 2X or heavier tippet. If necessary, apply split-shot on the leader in order to sink streamers. Dead-drifting with multiple mending and long and slow retrieve (1 foot of stripping) are two methods that I use the most. Often I encounter situations to sight-fish with streamers.
Satoshi Yamamoto, https://leftyangler.blogspot.com, is a guide and a professional fly-tyer in Livingston, MT.
| Sysadmin Note |
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| Part 9 can be found here |