Two Bull Trout in One Day + Stillwater Tactics That Work
Published about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Fishy Fridays
By Tight Fly Lines
Happy Fishy Friday!
Hope you’re doing well. Who else is getting excited for Spring? I know I am. A few of my favorite rivers will be blown out or closed soon, so I’m trying to squeeze in one last trip while I can. I already missed a short window on one of my favorite nearby rivers, but no big deal—flows will settle in a few weeks, and I’ll be ready.
In the meantime, I’m shifting gears and making plans for some stillwater fishing. Last spring, I hit a lake for the first time with a float tube and had one of the best fishing days of my life. I can’t wait to get back and see if the magic happens again this year.
Quick heads up: I'm building an Essential Spring Fly Fishing guide. It will be ready in a couple weeks and everyone on my email list (that's you) will be getting first dibs. I can't wait to share it with you!
Alright, let’s jump into this week’s roundup. Some top-tier stillwater tactics, a fly pattern so realistic it’s almost unfair, and a quick flex—two bull trout in one day. Let’s go.
When rivers are blown out during Spring runoff, lakes and ponds can be absolute fire. Howard Croston, a World Fly Fishing Champion, breaks down his top three techniques for small stillwaters in this video—pulling streamers, nymph fishing, and dry flies. If you’re looking to up your stillwater game, this is must-watch material.
There’s matching the hatch, and then there’s perfectly matching the hatch. Brian Hilbert’s “Daysaver Baetis” is one of those flies that just screams fish magnet. Simple, realistic, durable—everything you want in a go-to pattern when baetis nymphs are in play. Plus, he’s teaming up with Montana Fly Company to bring this gem to the masses soon. Stay tuned.
I’ve caught three bull trout in the last ten years. Two of them were last Friday. If that’s not a good day on the water, I don’t know what is. I’ve got a video coming soon, but for now, here’s a shot of one of them. Bull trout are a special catch, and getting two in a single day felt like hitting the jackpot.
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