Clown Egg

Fish will spawn in the ends of runs as the water gets shallow and becomes riffles.  This is often where we decide to cross and walk in the river because it’s the safest place to cross for anglers.  While you should be careful not to disturb spawning fish or step on the “redds” (their egg beds) as it hurts future fish numbers, understanding where the fish spawn is key.   Once you’ve located some spawning fish, leave them be, but go down to the next hole right below them and throw the egg pattern.  Not all eggs get layed into the river bed and many float through the water freely.  Fish that aren’t spawning (like browns in the spring and rainbows in the fall) will often sit behind the spawning trout in the holes below waiting for an easy meal.  Your clown egg is that easy meal! I have caught more fish in a single hole using this tip, than I have any other hole or any other fly.

A note on spawning fish,  they aren’t going to eat your egg, and it’s bad ju ju to fish to them anyway.  Interrupting spawning fish is as disruptive as your kids walking in on you and your spouse… it’s jarring, scarring and ruins reproduction opportunities so just don’t do it :).