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Salmo clarki
a.k.a. Clark’s trout, coastal, coastal cutthroat,
cut-throat trout, cutt, cuttie, lake trout, red-throated
trout, sea trout, short-tailed trout, Yellowstone
cutthroat |
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| Waiting
game: Finicky springtime cutthroat demand patience
from anglers |
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TROUT
TIP:
TACKLE |
So,
what’s the best all-around tackle for Canada’s
main trout and char species? It all depends on your
technique, whether you prefer toughness to finesse,
your own personal style and philosophy, and about
a dozen other factors. All combined, they boil down
to this: no single outfit is suitable for every
angler and every species.
For example, you could
get away with a three-weight fly rod for pan-sized
brook trout, but you shouldn’t even consider
packing the same rod for a West Coast or Ontario
steelhead river.
Generally speaking,
a four- to seven-weight graphite fly rod of eight
to nine feet long, or a six -to six-and-a-half-foot,
medium-action spinning rod, will handle virtually
all trout fishing in streams, rivers and most lakes.
Going much lighter with a fly rod isn’t realistic
in spring because most fishing is with weighted
nymphs and streamers rather than surface dry flies.
The one exception is for steelhead anglers, who
will want more backbone, and length, in both spinning
and fly rods.
Also note that this
is the one time of year you can get away with lighter
tackle for lake trout in shallow water, but you’ll
still need a rod with enough power to handle fish
that can grow to 20-plus pounds. |
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CUTTHROAT
TROUT
This
classic, native Western Canada trout is relatively easy to catch
in summer and fall, but it’s no pushover in early season.
In Alberta and B.C., most anglers don’t target cutthroat
until early summer, when streams have cleared and lakes are
warming, causing the fish to feed more actively.
But some ardent anglers, such
as Maciek Jaworski, can’t wait that long. “Fishing
for cutthroat can be very rewarding in late spring,” says
Jaworski, 24, a proficient fly and spin fisher from Calgary.
For cutts, his preferred technique
is fly-fishing, simply because he usually catches more fish
with flies than spinners. Jaworski seeks cutthroat in rivers
and streams—and some lakes—in southwestern Alberta
and southeastern B.C. The key, he suggests, is to search out
smaller streams that aren’t as susceptible to runoff woes,
and low-lying lakes or beaver ponds that have thawed earlier
than other, higher-altitude waters.
Since the water temperature will
still be relatively low in spring, Jaworski knows that insects
won’t be hatching on the surface, so dry-fly fishing isn’t
a real option. He also knows cutts will be feeding on aquatic
nymphs and larvae below the surface. That means it’s time
to break out the imitation nymphs, such as Bead Head Hare’s
Ear, Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Bead Head Prince—all in
sizes 12 to 14—and stonefly nymph patterns in sizes 6
to 10.
He uses 4X tippet and a yarn strike
indicator three to five feet up from the nymph, and farther
up in deeper water. If you’re eager to fish dry flies
even if the odds are against it, Jaworski suggests replacing
the yarn indicator with a Stimulator dry fly (be sure to check
your regs to see if this is legal where you’ll be fishing).
If natural stoneflies are in the air, cutts might go for the
dry fly instead of the nymph.
Spin-chuckers should try Mepps
or Panther Martin spinners (the smaller the better), retrieved
fairly fast.
In early season, focus on more
shallow water or shelves in lakes and pools, medium-paced choppy
runs and seams. You might need to cast several times into the
same pool before you get a strike. “The most important
thing to remember is to be patient and thorough,” Jaworski
says. “Early-season cutties can be apprehensive and finicky
and may require more patience than in the summer.”
The lesson here? For cutthroat
anglers, patience can pay off big-time. 
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