It won’t be long before I’ll be standing in the water up to my waist and waving an Orvis rod in the air, trying to land a #20 fly as softly as a butterfly with tender feet on the clear waters of the Firehole River in Yellowstone Park.  I start off my fly fishing season on this river each June because I can count on it being clear due to being a limestone stream and the water is  generated from springs, not runoff.

Among the great books about these types of rivers is book, Spring Creeks by Mike Lawson .  Here is a man who grew up fishing Henry’s Fork and the fine Idaho trout streams.  These clear creeks can be challenging and without some “more than basic knowledge” about mayflies, caddis, midges, terrestrials, and aquatic insects in general the fisherman will have on a fly that the fish observe closely, and then reject.  I have seen an entire stretch of river where the fishermen were changing flies every ten minutes much of the day – to no avail.

Spring creeks have given me some of the best days of my life.  The Firehole River in the park in particular.  Words like the Letort, Fall River, Hat Creek, Armstrong Spring Creek, and Silver Creek make men and women of the fly fishing fraternity  pause in reverence and look skyward to the “maker of all great rivers.”  In these rivers the trout often hold close to the surface so they expend the least amount of energy – and this so often means getting a chance to stalk a fish, fish to the rise, or at least to a visibly interesting trout.

This time of the year means cleaning rods, reels, oiling reels, checking fly lines for damage, checking waders for least, some “last minute fly tying, or last minute fly buying.”   Some good spring creek information can be found on the Internet:

“Dry fly fishing begins early  on the mountain freestone streams of the Blue Ridge,  here in Virginia. Wild brook trout abound in these waters  and streams are often fishing well by late-March.  The Central Shenandoah Valley  of Virginia holds a number of spring creeks. These cold, limestone-rich waters host tons of aquatic insects.  The hatches are reliable and the brown trout grow large.”

“DePuy Spring Creek is a world-class trout fishery nestled between the breathtaking vistas of the Absaroka and Gallatin mountain ranges in beautiful Paradise Valley south of Livingston, Montana. This exceptional fishery supports a wild population of brown, cutthroat and rainbow trout in its approximately 3 miles in length.   This is a classic western spring creek in every sense. The insect hatches are predictable, plentiful and offer the angler unparalleled fly fishing experiences. The mayflies, midges, caddis, terrestrials, and other aquatic insects are richly abundant in the gin clear waters of the creek. The healthy riparian zone abounds with birds and wildlife.” 

“Northern California's Hat is one of the West's

best spring creeks.  It is a short river with some

freestone areas mostly in its upper stretches.  The gin-clear water winds through farmland, is thick with insect life, and filled with fat, finicky trout averaging over 12 inches in most spots.  Do not fish this water unless you are extremely patient or skilled in drag-free presentation.  Another word of caution: you will have a tough time finding solitude here, since the creek is one of the most popular in the state.”

“The Coulee Region of Southwestern Wisconsin lies in the so-called "Driftless Area", untouched by the glaciers. Limestone bluffs overlook narrow valleys. Mixed hardwoods shade the creeks in the valley bottoms, cooling the water, and slowing runoff. The Wisconsin D.N.R. and local sports clubs have done habitat improvement work on hundreds of miles of streams, stabilizing banks and creating permanent cover. Fish populations have increased to levels rivaling the famous western streams. Public access is assured on these improved waters, which are an easy two hour drive from Madison, via U.S.14. 

 Snow melt and rain percolate through hundred's of feet of soil, emerging as cold, clear springs, rich in dissolved Calcium Carbonate. These streams are true limestone spring creeks, just like those found in England and Pennsylvania. The hard water promotes abundant weed growth, and supports incredible populations of aquatic insects and crustaceans; food and cover for the wild browns and brookies.” 

If statements like this don’t put a wishful look in your eyes, during the month of May, then you better stay with catfish fishing.  Slinging plugs and plastic worms at bass.  Bobbing crappie jigs.  But, if it stirs up your fly fishing instincts, read the fantastic book, Spring Creeks, by Mike Lawson, or do a search on the Internet under fly fishing + spring creeks, and that should carry you to opening day in June.

Happy Traveling and Tight Lines.