Fish Early
Tip of the Week by Jeff Smith

The Early bird gets the worm is true in summer trout fishing. During the summer we have a difficult time catching trout when the sun is high in the sky.

A few weeks ago I had a trip and they did not want to start until 8:00 am. I told them it would be better to start at 6:00 am but they had a long drive and it did not work out. One of my guides started with another group at 6:00 am at the same location.

When we arrived at 8:00 am Paul and his crew had caught and released 56 trout. Paul’s boat went on to catch nearly 100 trout that morning in four hours. My boat fished for four hours and caught less than 50 trout all day.

The difference was the time of day. Trout are sun sensitive or can simply see your mistakes better in the sun and are not as easy to catch. I have always found early morning to be best for trout and believe this statement to be true. You will catch as many fish in the first two hours of daylight as you will the rest of the day if you fish all day. I have seen it to be true and for the most part it works out that way.

What is my point? Get up early and be back in the air condition by noon with more fish than anyone else on the river!

Sore Lip 'Em All,