| Egg fishing flies are highly effective bait | | | | downstream. Egg fishing flies should be cast |
| for trout and salmon during the fall when | | | | far enough upstream from your target that the |
| fish are swimming upstream and spawning. In | | | | fly has time to settle on the bottom. Since |
| fact, during this time of year, fresh eggs of | | | | these fishing flies are bottom drifters, they |
| their own kind make up a large portion of | | | | are prone to catching and sticking on plants |
| trout or salmon's diet. With so many fish | | | | and rocks on the river bottom, so be sure to |
| swimming up stream during spawning season and | | | | pack lots of extra fishing flies. |
| so many nutritious eggs floating downstream, | | | | |
| fly fishing with these can make for a | | | | The bright color of these fishing flies aid |
| bountiful trip. | | | | in the detection of a bite when the water is |
| | | | somewhat clear. In murky or deep waters, a |
| A look under water: | | | | strike indicator is necessary to determine a |
| | | | take. When using an indicator, you'll need |
| While trout and salmon lay their eggs | | | | to watch very carefully and strike just when |
| upstream in mostly-safe spawning beds, plenty | | | | fish subtly suck in the egg fishing flies. |
| of eggs are jarred loose and lost to the | | | | |
| current. These loose eggs float downstream | | | | Tackle and Line: |
| and into the waiting mouths of fish | | | | |
| positioned downstream. The fish are | | | | When fishing with egg flies, just about any |
| naturally attracted to the eggs of their own | | | | standard rod or reel will do. An 8.5 to 9 |
| species, which contain a rich variety | | | | foot rod and floating line is ideal for most |
| essential nutrients and proteins. | | | | waters while heavier rods can be used when |
| | | | facing big, hard-fighting fish. For maximum |
| The eggs of spawning fish, and consequently | | | | effectiveness, it's important for egg fishing |
| egg fishing flies, come in a variety of sizes | | | | flies to sink rapidly. In thick or fast |
| and colors. Choose yellowish orange for | | | | moving waters, applying a little dish soap to |
| Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, Coho Salmon, and | | | | the line can help the egg to slide to the |
| Chinook. Bright orange quarter inch egg | | | | bottom quickly. |
| flies are better suited for Brown Trout. Be | | | | |
| sure to also carry some white or off-white in | | | | The ideal time for fishing with egg fishing |
| your tackle box to mirror the color of the | | | | flies is right around the corner. The months |
| many unfertilized eggs that don't take on a | | | | of August through December are when salmon |
| color. | | | | and trout are laying their eggs in the cool |
| | | | waters. So while you may employ your bug |
| Casting: | | | | fishing fly for the majority of the year, the |
| | | | fall and winter months give you the |
| Since eggs have no movement of their own, | | | | opportunity to add a new weapon to your |
| they must be cast for dead drifting | | | | arsenal. |