Spring Creekin'

Steve and I were exchanging messages about how good it would be to get on a stream and float a fly. Steve knew of a winter fishery in Arizona with large trout, so we began making plans to meet in Arizona this week, and fish a stream he has been telling me about for years. Yup, it was time I fish that unique fishery.

We both drove directly to the stream from our respective homes. Steve drove up from Tucson, and I drove over from Albuquerque. It worked out just as we had planned. Our drive time for each of us was the same, and we pulled into the parking lot within ten minutes of each other. Yeah, we couldn't get rigged up fast enough. It was a nice warm day with bright, clear, blue skies. We didn't see anyone on the stream landing a trout. And, we didn't either.

The trout are very educated in this popular spring creek, and the bright blue sky made them even more intelligent. I know you won't believe this, but the following story is true. Promise. I dropped a dry fly in the feeding lane a few feet in front of an Apache trout that looked to be 18 inches or more. When the fly drifted down in front of his nose, he turned his head toward me and swam over to the bank just two feet from my feet. He looked at me eye to eye for a few seconds, then he turned and slowly swam away. That was a first for me. The look on his face said, "really?" 

The next day, we left the motel for an early start on the stream. We had planned to hike to the upper waters and fish where the trout are not as pressured. And, without yesterday's strong winds, there were hatches with plenty trout food flying over the water's surface. I was feeling lucky as we worked our way to the upper area.

This spring creek holds both Apache and Rainbow trout. Even better? You will see mostly trout twenty inches and longer in the stream...the creek is loaded with them! I've never seen so many trout that large in a small spring creek. It is impressive, and makes for an exiting hike up along the stream!

Again, we didn't see or talk with anyone who landed a trout on this second day of fishing. Fortunately, we did get some tight lines! Steve landed a couple of Apache trout, and I fooled a Rainbow. Considering the other anglers had dry, empty nets, we were very happy with our catch for the day. Steve's two trout were strikingly beautiful. I will definitely go back for another chance to land an Apache Trout!

Gear: Winston WT 8'6" 5wt fly rod; Bauer SST5 fly reel; Simms sling pack; #16 Royal Wulff and Orange Stimulater dry flies. Even though this stream is really best to fish with under surface flies, we kept our commitment to dry fly only fishing.