Sometimes conditions mean that fish are on high alert and very spooky. Ultra-clear water, or super-shallow fish can manifest itself into very hard to catch fish. When presented with trying conditions, the best approach is to minimize noise, movement, and go light.
There’s no middle ground when it comes to fishing Alberta’s west-central spring creek brown trout streams - you either love them, or you hate them. Unlike most of our freestone streams...
I have to say, many of my fishing trips for Brookies turn out to be adventures. I often find myself searching for that out of the way lake that requires a hike in and possibly the aid of ...
Every year around early to mid November I make my pilgrimage to a couple chosen lakes for some of the best brook trout fishing of the year. At first ice, brookies will be spawning, normally in shallow water over gravel beds if available. Barring that, they will pick any suitable shoreline, set up shop in two to six feet of water and have at it. This is great for fishing because we can drill a bunch of shallow holes and if they’re around we’ll see them swimming under our toes.
It’s fall and this is the one time of year I’ll specifically go out looking for brookies. They’re preparing to spawn in the lakes and there will generally be very few people on the water even though fishing should be very good.
As I look out to snow covered fields, frozen puddles and the distinct quiet that winter brings; I look forward to the coming of ice fishing. It’s always anticipated, if for no other reason than change.
It's no secret that first ice is the time to go hunt brookies. It's something I do each and every season. But what isn't so obvious is the fact that because of the approaching spawn all these brookies are in shallow and present some truly outstanding fishing before freeze up.
