Getting cold outside? Its trout time

[Hawnjigs]

Boats are winterized and still water ice caps are forming. While others are resigned to be stuck indoors till Spring I look forward to the cold season for ruff country river treks when the ground snow melts enuf to allow passage & temp is above line freezing. Altho most of the river monsters of yore have been rudely dispatched a few still remain along with fresh dropdowns from a reservoir outflow. The 8-10" Spring stockers are now a decent fun size 14-17" & I'm getting a fair share.

As usual, 1/16 #6 dark mink fur jigs have been the ticket, this year tho water is cleaner with minimal broken weed drift so been able to deploy Boolie versions of the mink jig. Learned to use a bit of super glue to keep the thread wrap secured to the hook shank with the bonus of reducing the # of thread under wraps by 50%. Also a drop of glue to fasten the mink fur hide to the under wrap makes a neat tie quicker & EZer.

 

[Hawnjigs]

The BooHu jig as posted a dozen years ago remains effective. Same black 1/14 oz tin head with bent to fit Gami 604 #2 hook tho original rabbit fur has been replaced with shorter fibered mink and dispensed with the gold Flashabou tail. Because I don't lose very many jigs trout fishing still have a decent supply of the excellent painted heads from the previous owner of the Jigcraft website. Thanks again Russ !

 

[Hawnjigs]

Last chance in the public access area yesterday as most of the slower current water is ice capped and meathead harvest has pretty much wiped out the trout. For example the reduced for Winter 47 cfps inflow into the river below the dam which formerly yielded a fish on nearly every cast got nuthin after a guy kept 4 of the few trout remaining. He mentioned those 10-12"ers are good eating baked wrapped in foil with onions & lemon juice.

Covered a lot of water for hours to get seven 12-15" which ain't bad considering the over a month long bucket brigade rampage. Was a bit breezy so upweighted to 1/11 oz bead collar black Hooksup BooHu #1 gold propeller head pinned with a cut down from 2" to 1-1/2" black back gold glitter Berkley Powerbait Ripple Shad which seems to get bit well especially by larger fish.