The Smudge

This is the time of the "smudge". A porpoise like take that Brook Trout seem to use just prior to the spawning season. The weather is calm, slightly warmer and sunny. This delightful break in the cold rains we have been experiencing will only last these next few days. Rain is again expected over the weekend. This past week I hit this smudging behavior just once. Large breeder Brookies continually feeding mid-river. The trout were taking Tricos, I really don't like fishing Tricos, in that porpoise manor out in the middle of the river never returning to cover.
It was 3:00 to 7:00 PM trip. A Brookie will just about take anything you throw into the river; Adams, Royals, Hoppers. You don't need a lot of "match the hatch" thinking, rather just good 10 yard cast, one time delivered near your target. A couple other things you do need to think about however. Don't line the trout, whipping your line over the whole, with several dry casts. One good cast, let the fly drift out of the whole, then cast again. Move in the river stealthily, the trout are in deep, open, calm holes and you must sneak up on them.
Of course the big bad Browns don't exhibit this open river behavior but they will smudge on rare occasion tight to the bank. With the resort season over and the color season a couple of weeks off, the rivers are a quiet, peaceful retreat.
In revue, look for a warm calm afternoon, place your self near a large deep hole and wait for the big trout to begin to smudge...my favorite time to fly fish.

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