Finding your own fishing hole

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

Hey everyone.

I am new here and new to fly fishing. I have fished all my life but just recently decided to get into fly fishing (bad mistake).
I am definitely hooked now. It is so different compared to the fishing I used to do.

Recently I have got into finding my own little creeks and streams. I usually am looking for brook trout or brown trout. I sometimes come across the odd small mouth bass (good sizes). I have been successful in finding a couple creeks that hold brook trout (anywhere from 4" - 12" long).

What do you guys look for when finding your own fishing holes? I have been VERY surprised to find brook trout in what looked like a stream NOTHING would live in.

 

[Madriverfisher]

Water temp is pretty important because if its to warm there probably isn't trout also good cover and flow but I tend to stop any where and check anything out also google earth helps a lot

 

[rich_ace_G]

creeks lead to somewhere. to the best of my knowledge...there are only a few creeks that would hold both (brook & brown). I've caught brook trout under log jams and trees. Most of the browns I caught are behind waterfalls. I've only used spinners and crawlers for both species.

 

[salmotrutta]

I have been VERY surprised to find brook trout in what looked like a stream NOTHING would live in.

So true

 

[[email protected]]

i have found browns and suckers, in creeks no wider than 3ft and 3 inches of water through most of the runs, fish will go where they can

 

[staffman]

Go scouting in winter after a prolonged cold snap and look for creeks which haven't frozen. Creeks of this kind are likely spring fed and likely their temperature is around 50 degrees year round and these are good to check out in the warmer months for trout.

 

[miles]

I have been very surprised in the past. about 12 years ago I got a couple nice specs out of part of the upper Don river that were close to a pound.

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

Today I found another new creek. Mind you walking to it in 29 degree weather sucked but the brown trout was worth it. I used a brown nymph.

I am still new to fly fishing so I am still learning what type of insect flies to use at what times of the year.
(New at forum use as well so I am not sure if this photo will work)

 

[Alfiegee]

As has already been said, cold water is a must for Brookies, not quite so much for Browns.
I'm always on the look out for culverts when we drive back roads. Many trout can be in the smallest of streams, but often a short walk up or down stream will reveil some sort of blockage, beaver dam or log jam that creates a pool.
Last year my friends wanted to go out and ride their Atvs and have a BBQ. I was told there was no place to fish but I brought a rod anyway. As we arrived at their spot I saw a culvert and a tiny creek no more than 12 inches wide. Sticking my hand it the water it was ice cold on a 30 C day. :idea: I walked down this tiny creek and came to a bend where the current had undercut the bank, 3 or 4 Brookies 6 - 10 inches. A little further down the creek widened and slowed at a beaver dam. I caught Specks 8 - 14 inches in the pool the rest of the afternoon . No place to fish they told me.
Upon arriving home I checked Google maps and zoomed right in on where we were. That little creek doesn't show up at all. We were in a wilderness reserve so I checked that site out, again no mention of that tiny creek. Needless to say but I missed the BBQ :lol: I was busy. I did manage to have a feed on 3 of the nicer Brookies I caught that day when I got home though.

Alfie.

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

Unreal...

That's awesome! I would love to find something like that. My biggest Brooky so far is 10".
What a little ATV adventure can create eh...

 

[Alfiegee]

Lol. Ya but Im not into Atvs unless they are getting me someplace specific, where there are fish.

Alfie

 

[RobH]

Look for temperatures below 68°f in late summer. If it remains below that, it's a good start. Then look for bugs. The most important insects to trout fishing in our region are caddis, mayflies and stoneflies. The most tolerant to bad stuff in a river are caddis and then mayflies and finally stones. (Stone flies are the canary in a coal mine on a river system.) If you find mayfly and stonefly nymphs, there is a good chance that there will be trout around. You at least know, by these findings that the water quality is suitable.
Don't fish for trout above 70°f.

 

[ChaseChrome]

Look for temperatures below 68°f in late summer. If it remains below that, it's a good start. Then look for bugs. The most important insects to trout fishing in our region are caddis, mayflies and stoneflies. The most tolerant to bad stuff in a river are caddis and then mayflies and finally stones. (Stone flies are the canary in a coal mine on a river system.) If you find mayfly and stonefly nymphs, there is a good chance that there will be trout around. You at least know, by these findings that the water quality is suitable.
Don't fish for trout above 70°f.

Sage words...

 

[GuitarBuildingAngler]

Once again I went looking for more places to fish. I landed this good sized Brook. The fight on these guys is great!