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Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - april2008 - Index

also favorite times, but what makes spring special
is the enthusiasm of the trout. There are literally
hundreds of great pre-runoff streams in Colorado,
but one that is not getting its due lately is the Cache
LaPoudre. Draining east off Front Range toward
Fort Collins, it offers many miles of excellent fishing.
The Poudre was hard hit by whirling disease in
the 1990s, but the hatchery that was a major source
of infection is closed and the rainbows are coming
back. Again, they share the water with browns.
Pre-runoff is the time of BWO hatches and good
nymphing. Grant of St. Pete’s Fly Shop (970-
498-8968; www.stpetes.com) suggests a stonefly
nymph followed by a Baetis nymph. He is especially
high on the Juju Baetis. Give the upper Poudre a
try this month. It will surprise you!
CONNECTICUT
In the eastern part of the state, the Willlimantic
offers some great early-season fishing with hatching
mayflies sometimes as early as the first of April, with
a three-mile section that was donated to the state
exclusively for catch-and-release fishing. This is a
trout management area that can be accessed from
a rest stop in westbound I-84, or via North River
Road off exit 69. In all, the river flows 25 miles between
Stafford Springs and Willimantic. For More
information contact Connecticut Outfitters
in Hartford (860-296-0110).
DELAWARE
Striped bass in the Delaware River have perked
up, and often are in range on the beaches from
Dobinsville to Battery Park. Shad are also running
up the river. The numerous ponds and lakelets in
this small state yield sunfishes, particularly crappie,
and largemouth bass. Use colorful, weighted flies
in sizes 6 and 8 for the former, and slow-moving
or bottom-bouncing Clouser deep minnows in
sizes 4 to 1/0 for the latter. For more information
call Terry Peach at A Marblehead Flyfisher, a
full-service fly shop in Centreville (302-654-6515;
www.amarbleheadflyfisher.com).
FLORIDA
It’s spring break again in the Panhandle. Flats, surf
and near-shore fly anglers will be busy this month.
Water temps reaching the upper 60s, coupled with
more predictable weather patterns, bring in the
pelagic species. This is also a great time of year for
targeting tailing redfish and “gator” sized trout.
For near-shore anglers, cobia season is in full
swing. These large pelagics are found migrating
west along our beaches riding east winds. They will
readily take a fly presented in their path. Favorite
patterns include 2/0 Puglisi peanut butter and
2/0 deceivers in chartreuse and yellow, black and
purple, and rust and orange. Schools of oversized
jack crevalle can be found cruising the beaches early
in the morning near the surface. Target these fish
with chartreuse and white 2/0 poppers.
Surf anglers will find schools of Spanish mackerel,
pompano and lady fish. Arm yourself with a stripping
and basket and 8-weight outfit loaded with clear
intermediate line. Look for schools of pompano off
the second sand bar. A great sight-casting method
for shore anglers involves the use of a 4- to 6-foot
aluminum ladder. By “staking out” in known areas,
this will allow you to see the approaching schools.
Flies should consist of heavily weighted super hair
Clousers in sizes 4 and 2, and small poppers. Pink
and chartreuse are your best color choices.
April brings inshore anglers some of the clearest
water of the year. Redfish start to drop out of
their massive winter schools and begin to cruise the
shallowest flats. This is one of best times to target
tailing redfish. Gold or chartreuse, lightly weighted
crab and shrimp patterns work well for these fish.
Speckled trout will also be actively feeding on these
flats and can be take on top-water patterns. Look for
“bowls” or “pockets” on shallow grass flats to hold
larger trout. Stop in and let the experts at Old Florida
Outfitters fix you up with a guided trip with Shallow
Water Expeditions. Call Jason Stacy at Old Florida
Outfitters (850-534-4343) for more information
or visit www.ShallowWaterExpeditions.com
GEORGIA
April is a great time for hatches on the Chattahoochee,
with blizzard caddis hatches matched by
La Fontaine’s sparkle pupae in floating and sinking
varieties. Other dries include elk hair caddis,
Adams, Goddard’s, and Royal Wulffs. Nymphs to
imitate caddis larvae and pupae include Z-wing
caddis, witch doctor, check mate and Kyle’s copperhead,
all in sizes 14 to 18. Don’t forget the
conspicuously large stoneflies known to scientists
as Pteronarcys! If you chuck and duck a size-4 or -6
yuk bug or black woolly bugger in deep swift water,
better than average trout can’t resist this substantial
meal. See www.riverthroughatlanta.com
IDAHO
The number of spring-run steelhead passing Lower
Granite Dam have been increasing steadily each of
the last several years, now far exceeding the paltry
returns of the 1990s. Nowhere near the number
that could be here if the dams were removed, but
these returns offer a hint of what the future could
be without the dams. One place to go for spring
steelhead is the upper Snake River. From North
Fork up (south) through Salmon, Ellis and Challis,
the stream offers the chance to sight fish for
steelhead that can reach 38 inches. Justin Farr who
guides for White Cloud Outfitters (208-879-
4574; www.whitecloudoutfitters.com) looks for fish
in the tailouts. There may be several in one area.
He fishes for them using egg-sucking leaches, skunk
streamers or yarn eggs. He finds it best to drift the
river just after the ice jams free the flows.
ILLINOIS
Trout anglers will find some of the best fishing in
the Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin, southeast
Minnesota, and northeast Iowa. The Big Green
in Wisconsin, the Root in Minnesota, and Spring
Branch in Iowa can offer some of the better nymph,
streamer, and dry-fly fishing in April. Depending
on conditions, it’s usually best to start your day
blind fishing likely runs and pools with an attractor
nymph or streamer. By mid day, keep a look out for
hatches of BWOs (sizes 18 to 22) or black caddis
(sizes 16 and 18). April steelheading can be productive
on Lake Michigan tributaries from Wisconsin
to Michigan. These hard-fighting migratory fish
can be caught using a variety of techniques, including
indicator nymphing and swinging streamers.
For more information on early-season trout and
steelhead, stop by or Joseph Meyer at One More
Cast fly shop in Countryside (708-482-4990;
www.onemorecast.com).
INDIANA
Indiana’s St. Joseph River, right in downtown
South Bend, as well as the smaller streams like the
Little Calumet, Salt and Trail Creeks, offer plenty of
steelheading in April. Just over the Michigan border
you’ll find steelhead in the Grand, Kalamazoo, and
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