Making this a quick report due to two factors, 1 same stream from last report and 2 lack of time. I hit the stream at 9am and went through my ritual. I assessed the water temp and stream situation, the lack of rain here is keeping water levels low and crystal clear. I fished the leech almost all day but today was more about covering ground than fishing. I wanted to see as much of this place as I could.
I fished as I went and picked up browns as I enjoyed the warm sun, I think fishing the leech has improved my casting. I ate lunch in the sun on a rock watching trout take what I believe were baetis nymphs from the drift. At noon the fish were active with water temps around 47 and the BWO’s were coming soon.
I saw geological features that I didn’t know Minnesota had and saw beautiful fish as I went. Made it as far as I thought was good for the day and took a moment to take everything in, something about being in a place far away from others, far from cell phone reception. Interesting how something so peaceful can be almost freighting when you realize your so far from others.
I picked up these as I went and have a questions.
- What is it?
- Is it native?
- Are the dots on its face/body/fins a disease?
- Why did I find them only in one section of stream?
My only opinion of these fish is they are a pain in the ass. Every time I get a strike and set the hook a little chub comes flying at me. It makes getting hit up less exciting I guess.
The baetis came at around 1:15pm due to warmer air temp. It lasted until 3pm but I had a difficult time finding rising fish and I wasn’t spooking them. I fished a dry for a while and got no where but I still had a great day. I love this. Never did take a brookie but had another excellent day. Note: I do not take this time for granted, it is precious little and I look twice at everything so I remember it tomorrow.
Creek chubs I think. Spiny bumps are called tubercules, and I believe they come and go according to reproductive cycle of the fish. They are a pretty tolerant specie.
Looks like a great day. Amazing landscape we have around us.
The black spots are worms of some sort, tubercules are a bit different and looks like spikes and not spots.
When you find chubs you should fish a chub fly like an articulated zoo cougar or an articulated injured minnow pattern as trout do eat chubs.
They are native and they are probably only in a few sections on the creek because the browns have ate the rest of them.