NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/768942
track baitfish above them. Fly anglers have a natural advantage because flies sink slowly and can be suspended at a desired depth for extended periods. Additionally, flies glide through the water, just like natural forage species – nothing in nature crashes vertically through the water. Detecting strikes while the fly is dropping is easy; just watch the tip of your fly line for any movement. If it twitches, set the hook quickly. Once you have caught a few fish you should be able to pinpoint the exact depth in the water where fish are suspended. Crappie can be very color selective, so having a large variety of colors can sometimes be the key. Trout While you won't find trout in every body of water in Nebraska, they are closely associated with fly fishing for a reason. Trout are the number one species in the world pursued with a fly rod. Fly fishing was created with trout in mind, and originally evolved to meet the needs of the trout angler. Casting weightless dry flies like elk hair caddis or parachute adams that imitate hatching insects and float naturally on the current of a stream or river is the quintessential picture of fly fishing. On heavily pressured water, wild trout can be extremely picky and catching them is a feat of technical ability. In places trout are stocked, they can be extremely naïve and are easily caught. Most of the trout found in Nebraska are stocked, and your best bet at catching them is to check the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's stocking schedule. Doing so not only gives you a good location to try, but also provides a reliable window of time to pursue this otherwise elusive fish. Many people rush to arrive as fish are being dumped in the lake, and they do catch a few fish with this strategy. However, it is usually best to wait a day or two for the trout to acclimate to their new environment. Once they have settled in and begin to get hungry they are more easily caught. Stocked fish are conditioned to eating food pellets on the surface from their rearing in fish hatcheries, so big dry flies are usually the ticket. Try a stimulator or a royal wulff, and if the trout aren't willing to eat on the surface, tie on a flashy woolly bugger or a bright colored San Juan worm. Don't forget that trout make great table fare. Perhaps nothing is better than the smell of a freshly caught trout cooking over a campfire. Putting It All Together Not only is fly fishing fun, immersive and challenging, but it can also be more effective than conventional fishing in certain situations. Learning to fly fish will give you another trick up your sleeve when fishing conditions are tough. Keep this in mind, and know that learning to fly fish does not mean abandoning whatever form of fishing you previously enjoyed. Instead, it should enrich the fishing you already do. I constantly find myself using fly fishing tricks in my conventional fishing and vice versa. In the end, fly fishing is just another form of fishing – one that is infinitely enjoyable and can become a lifelong passion. ■ Ryan Sparks is a freelance writer and photographer who can be found trying to catch anything that swims with a fly rod or chasing after his pointer, Tippet. His writing and photography can be found at Flywatermedley.com. What starts as an inexpensive fly rod and reel combo quite often turns into a vehicle that looks like this – rods and reels for every situation, waders and wading boots, nets and a host of other gear. PHOTO BY DOUG STEINKE Cohen's baby bird JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2017 • NEBRASKAland 67