Winter Trout Fly Videos

So all of these videos have been posted before, and can also be found on my YouTube channel. However each of these are great flies to have ready for the winter months ahead of us. Winter is a great time to get out and fish your local tailwaters and spring creeks. Midges, caddis larva, and sow bugs are my top fly choices for this time of year. Enjoy each video and get those boxes filled!

Periodic Spring Creek Trips

Over the summer I took a few mornings off from the warm water game to chase some spring creek trout. These photos have been hiding amongst dozens of smallmouth pictures, I think it is a great time to show them off before we welcome in the new year. I have and always will love spring creeks no matter how many times I want to throw my rod in the mud or curse at a large unwilling trout that refuses to take my fly. There are small victories and lessons each time on the water, some how I feel its amplified on a spring creek because you have to get it all right to make it count. Over the years we have put some beautiful trout in the net, and these few photos continue the tradition. They aren't all huge monsters that some people need to catch to feel accomplished, but they are a combination of size and color, each with their own story to tell. That is what makes me keep coming back!

The Beginning of June

Until the rain came, fishing was fantastic. Caddis and Sulphur hatches every day and every evening that had fish up and feeding like crazy. The spring creeks are fishing very well and fish are eating sow bugs, caddis, and sulphurs. Even the smallmouth are starting to eat again, now that they are done spawning.

Big Spring: First Guide Trip to 30th Birthday

As many of you know, there is a special spot in my heart for Big Spring. I love all PA spring creeks for many reasons, from their stories and their challenging techniques. I did my first trip of 2016 on Big Spring and it was great success. I took long time client Mike Orr out there so he could challenge his fly fishing skills. After a few little guys we got into multiple large ones, we only landed one, but he loved the visual eats and the stealthy approach. Then where else would anyone want to celebrate their 30th birthday than the spring creeks in cumberland county. Rob, Jack and I spent the morning on Big Spring, but it got a bit crowded in the afternoon. So we headed over to the Letort for the afternoon. Big Spring was on fire for us, and it seemed they wanted nothing but sow bugs. The Letort was a different story, but all I really wanted was to see a large "dinosaur" brown trout. After a short walk, there he was. I even hooked him, but he was smarter than I and got off. It was just awesome.

SYE Sow Bug  

Video - Crescent Cress Bug

I have a small obsession with cress bugs, one that rivals my obsession with sculpins. This is a fly that has worked well for me over the past few winters. The first edition of this fly was designed almost three years ago, and after about four re-designs I am very satisfied with it. Life like, but doesn't take a lot of time to tie. Check it out.

Macro Flies

My lovely wife gave me a macro lens for my camera as a wedding present. I have been messing with it for a while now and can finally take a decent picture with it. I am no professional photographer here, but I do love taking pictures. Once we got back from Belize I made a goal to fill all my nymph boxes before I would go fishing. Well the before fishing part didn't work out, but I have completed filling in the gaps of all four boxes. The caddis box, midge box, sow bug box, and general nymph box, are all full. Here are few shots of some of my favorite patterns for most nymphing situations. 

Small Prospecting Nymph.

An Army of Prospecting Nymphs.

Orange Collared Pheasant Tail Nymph.

Pheasant Tail with a Hot shot. 

Psycho Prince Nymph and Pheasant Tail.

Artsy Black and White of a Squirrel Nymph and Pheasant Tail.

Two of my favorite Jig style flies.

Midge, Midge, Midge 

Variety of Midge Fly Patterns. 

Peaking Caddis Jig a 2015 Orvis Tactical Fly.

Simple Caddis Larva.

An army of Cress Bugs.

The Pink Sow Bug Fly.

Natural, Rainbow, and Pink my three favorite colors. 

The natural sow bug or cress bug is a great fly for all winter time fishing.