Spring Flyfishing for Stillwater Trout

Generally considered by many flyfishermen to be one of the most productive times of the year to target stillwater trout, spring is a welcome reprieve from the harsh winter mornings, where the flyfline would literally freeze onto the rod-guides.

After the snowfall in Dullstroom over the weekend, the temperatures have soared and warm balmy evenings with abundant hatches of Trico Mayflies have created the opportunity to sightfish to cruising trout.

Let's jump right into the tactics for effectively targeting stillwater trout in Spring. Firstly, the deeper areas of the larger lakes and dams retain heat over the evening period from the sunshine during the day. In the mornings, the heat rises and the entire column of water is uniform in temperature, this effectively means that once the winds that traditionally blow at this time of year arrives, the contents of the lake will be mixed. All the nutrients that settled in the deeper layers of the lake during the winter period mixes with the surface layers.

Normally fly fishermen regard windy conditions as a curse when on the water, but in actual fact the more windy the conditions during the initial phases of spring (August through October) the better the fishing is likely to be.

Imagine a cup of coffee and a teaspoon of sugar. The coffee being the water and the sugar being the oxygen, when the sugar is added to the coffee, it dissolves and becomes part of the coffee. Just as adding oxygen (21% concentration in the air) to water (1.5% Oxygen), it will diffuse into the water, increasing oxygen content. The act of stirring the coffee (Wind) will make the diffusion of sugar (Oxygen) much faster, hence reaching saturation levels more quickly.

This is good for the trout, as an increase in Oxygen levels mean an increase in aquatic weed growth, which in turn means more habitat for the trout's food sources, insects. A greater oxygen content in the water also make the trout more active and therefore easier to fool with a fly.

In Spring, the weeded shallows and the inlet channel are our main points of focus when targeting the actively feeding trout. As previously mentioned, there are four main factors to consider when looking for trout. They need security, food, adequate temperatures and sufficient oxygen content. Through the process of photosynthesis, weedbeds 'create' oxygen. Conveniently, they also provide Ambush structure, security and food for our piscatorial prey.

Effectively fishing weedbeds in the shallows is most easily done with a Floating line, which incidentally is a brilliant all-purpose line to target trout at any depth. A team of flies is very effective, allowing the fly fisherman to imitate a variety of the possible insects that may be hatching or active at the time. A long leader is always important when fishing the shallows, as the trout are more wary.


There are a number of changes on the aquatic menu in Spring. Dragon and Damselflies become more active as the temperature increases. Mass migrations of the damselflies in particular to the shore-line to hatch make catching trout that are selectively feeding on them a challenge. Presentation of the pattern is absolutely crucial catch the trout during this time. (Usually midday on warm days) The natural damselflies swim very much like a minnow, using their delicate tails as propulsion. No aquatic insect in existence can swim in 2 feet strips of the fly-line. A very slow, figure of 8 retrieve works best, with long pauses in-between, occasional twitches will attract the trout. Tom Sutcliffe, a widely regarded authority in the fly fishing sport, believes that damselfly patterns (Red Eyed Damsels etc) should be tied with no weight, and fished with a long leader coupled with a floating line.










Incidentally, another very effective method to fish for trout in shallow water, is to stand on the windward bank (wind blowing towards you) and fish the ruffled water over the shallows. Harsh sunlight will force the trout deeper, when the wind breaks up the surface, the trout could stay in the shallows throughout the day. There is also less chance of spooking the trout as their vision is distorted by the ripples. Cast directly into the wind with a floating line and long leader, then simply keep tension as the wind blows your line back toward you. The ripples will give a fly tied with marabou or CDC (Red Eyed Damsel and CDC emerger respectively) an irresistible action.

There is so much information on all of the different tactics and techniques to use in Spring, that there have been entire books dedicated to the subject, following is a short but to the point nuts and bolts guide to catching more trout in spring.

Floating and intermediate lines with 9ft leaders and varying lengths of tippet, relevant to the application. A longer tipped (5-9ft) with the floating line and a shorter length for the intermediate line.

Fluorocarbon is an advantage in shallow, clear water as the refractive index is closer to that of water, making it less visible to trout. A selection of 5-8lb tippet will be fine.

5wt rods are completely adequate for most situations, casting the full fly-line is not as important as an accurate, delicate presentation for rising or cruising trout. Line colour is debatable, I prefer a brightly coloured line (orange) for easier strike detection, the long leader makes the use of camo lines optional.

Flies selection will be mainly light tan colours to dark olive. A good selection of dry flies include the D.D.D, Humpy, Adam's parachute and a generic hopper pattern tied with foam.

Nymphs can include the Red Eyed Damsel, the Papa Roach (A very effective dragonfly pattern developed by Herman Botes), a generic mayfly imitation, such as a G.H.R.E or a PTN, and the humble brassie.

Streamer patterns can be anything from Wooly Buggers (A generic pattern that doesn't imitate anything in particular, it imitates everything) to Zonker minnows (Grizzly and Olive in Colour).

We usually use two flies in conjunction. A (#8-#12) Wooly Bugger or Dragonfly attached to the tippet with a normal clinch knot, coupled with a small (#14-#18) nymph, something like a G.H.R.E or brassie tied directly onto the shank of the larger fly, also with a clinch knot.

Focus your efforts around weedbeds and other structure, a clearly defined inlet channel with weeds adjacent to it is a really effective area to fish. Plan your casts, don't flog the water to death, check the margins, see what is hatching and if possible, hold off fishing for a few minutes and check if you can see movement on the surface. Sight fishing to cruising fish is a real treat, lead the fish by few meters, let the flies settle and begin a steady retrieve on the surface. If you see the fish following the flies, do not stop retrieving, keep retrieving until you feel weight on the line and lightly lift your rod. Takes in shallow water are normally very positive.


Something else to take into consideration, the trout are cruising the margins, although wading can be effective, fish the margins well before missioning off into the water. Remember to fish smart, watching your casting, you don't want to spook trout by slapping the water on your forward cast. Check your flies regularly to make sure they are not fouled by weed.

When the following situation happens to you, and it will, eventually, keep an 'emergency supply' of small, unweighted White Death flies handy. 'Activity will be everywhere, the water is bubbling with rising trout, thick hatches of Trico Mayflies (the tiny ones) fill the banks in clouds of white. Everything has been tried, and tried again. Frustration reigns. This is one of the only times in South Africa where a trout will be selectively feeding on a single, miniscule pattern that is viciously hard to imitate. Fish the white death with a long leader and a floating line, strip it back slowly, with 3-4 inch strips just below the surface. Many theories have arised as to why this works but it does, and that is what's important.

To conclude, spring flyfishing is one of those magical times of the year for us Trout fishermen, our quarry is ready and willing, hungry after a long winter and active because of the oxygen in the water. Read the water, apply the tactics and you will be rewarded.