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David Legg

Replying to Query on Stocker Trout Strategies

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I have a ? There is going to be rainbow trout stocked in a local pond.The only thing is, i have never caught any on the fly. i have used hummpies and stimulaters. Also the trout are feed trout pellets at the hatchery so i was wondering what flies you would suggest to use or if you could tie somthing up and post a pic of what you would use. Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

That's a great question. There are a lot of ways to approach this, but I usually prefer going to wet flies rather than dry flies. Dries will not necessarily be a problem... even hatchery fish eat many insects, but I have found that they are more aggresive with flies under the surface. I favor small brown wooly buggers as one option... I tie mine to look like small crayfish more than the standard baitfish style... in other words, with a more fluffy tail that would represent claws, and with a few strands of copper Krystal Flash on either side of the tail to add a little sparkle. Brown has always been my favorite color for buggers, but in the case of stocked bows, you probably benefit in that they are accustomed to feeding on brown pellets, so they are probably more eager to investigate anything brown since they automatically associate it with food. Some people tie pellet flies that are made to look like the pellets that they feed fish at the hatcheries. These flies are actually not allowed in some places because the fish tend to suck them down too far if they hit them. I have not actually tied pellet flies, but I can tell you that foam ants, beetle imitations and other small terrestrials work great, and that might be because the size is close to the pellets, but I think that these fish see terrestrials quite frequently in the hatchery. I've visited many hatcheries in many different states, and terrestials always seem to be present around the hatcheries. I usually see ants and beetles, sometimes crickets, and frequently there are grasshoppers in the area as well. Sometimes there will be a nearby source for mayflies, caddis and stoneflies, but there won't be any thriving nymphs in most hatchery situations. (I have seen exceptions, where the hatchery used diverted river water.) Once stockers have been in the water for a few days, they are on a search for new food sources, and they are quite happy to try out mid sized nymphs, such as Pheasant Tails, copper Johns, Prince nymphs, small wet flies with mallard flank that gives those flies a fishscale or buggy appearance depending on how it's tied, and small streamers. The fish will generally be hungry, and have not usually become highly selective yet, so you have a lot of opportunity to hook up. The fish will frequently lay right along the bottom (not uncommon trout behavior in any case, so you might want some beadheads in your arsenal, or just allow the fly to slowly sink before starting any retrieve.

If there is any inlet to the water, many fish will congregate there, since they are normally raised in tanks with moderate current, and many will seek similar conditions. You will see a ton of worm fishermen and powerbait fishermen on the water in stocked situations. If you are outfishing them, the fish are up and searching. If they are outfishing you, the fish are down, and just feeding opportunisticly as food drifts near them. In that case, you need to go deeper.

Stockers are often spoken of with disdain by some anglers, but not all waters offer the opportunity to pursue wild fish... I am neutral on the subject. I fish for both wild trout and stockers. If I am taking someone who is new to fishing, we are more likely to head to stocked waters... it's mostly closer to home, and you often don't need to worry about wading, since many fish are stocked in waters with easy access. Also, most stocked waters will hold some holdover fish from previous seasons that for all practical purposes could be wild fish. They are older, more experienced, more difficult to catch, and colored up more like wild fish. They have probably been hooked before, didn't like it, and usually have a game plan to deal with it when they do get hooked, like darting behind a log or rock to foul your leader or break it outright.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Have fun!

David <><

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I've always had luck with stripping wooly buggers for stocked trout in ponds. White is good, I think that when they are first there that the fish are just looking for something to hit. After they have been there for a while I'll throw 1/124 mini jigs black on yellow and olive or brown wooly buggers. Hope that helps, Travis.

Or if your just looking for dinner cork will always work too. :)

 

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here is the perfect stocker trout fly :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

also works great on deer and turkeys when casted from a 12 gauge shotgun :hyst: :hyst: :hyst:

post-10925-1266987431_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

What do you use to tie this fly? plz answer cause i've been looking for a corn fly

 

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here is the perfect stocker trout fly :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

also works great on deer and turkeys when casted from a 12 gauge shotgun :hyst: :hyst: :hyst:

post-10925-1266987431_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

What do you use to tie this fly? plz answer cause i've been looking for a corn fly

 

I have always used Swiss Straw over hard celled foam tied on an extra short hook.

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The local fly shop ties a fly for stockers.

 

It is just a lead wrap in the center and peacock hurl to give it a footballish shape from one end to the other. Over wrap a strand of copper wire to protect the hurl and you are set.

 

Sometimes a brown hackle tied to the rear of the fly, that's it. Looks just like a feed pellet as it descends.

 

Oh, and smelly jelly helps. =)

 

I put this on my 6 year old son's spinner rig under a bobber so I don't have to re-bait his hook all the time. Takes quite a beating sometimes. =)

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