Changing Courses | Timing the Migration | Pre and Postspawn | Summer and Winter | Food Supply | The Approach | Eyeballing the Target | Making the Adjustment | Equipment | Getting There | Spinney Mountain Reservoir | Area Shops

The Approach
When large trout enter the river, they are wary of the new surroundings, which lack the safety and protection of the reservoir. When the trout are under or near structure, they are extremely difficult or impossible to see. In shallow, broken-water riffles it is also hard to get a clear view of what is lying on the bottom. Dream Stream trout hold in these two areas for the majority of the day but they move as the water temperature changes and become easier visual targets. In the spring, the water temperature increases a few degrees during the last three hours of daylight. In summer, the first four hours of the morning--when the water temp is rising--are the most productive. During winter, the three midday hours around noon are best, when the sun is at its highest point, warming the river and awakening the trout’s feeding instincts. For fall trout, fish the first two or last two hours of the day when the water has cooled a few degrees, causing the trout to move. The only exception to this is when cloud-filled or stormy skies cast shadows on the land and water. This weather provides cover for the fish as well as cover for fly fishers approaching nearby targets.