Spawning Sucker “Hatch”

Some fly anglers look down at fishing egg patterns.  I look at it this way, if it is unfair to a trout to present it an egg pattern while eggs are present in our rivers then it is unfair to present a sulphur imitation during the sulphur hatch.  I had the pleasure of experiencing some great sucker spawn fishing on Spring Creek and Penns Creek this weekend.  I do realize that spawning sucker activity is not a real “hatch” but the ferocity at which the trout feed with on the sucker eggs rivals feeding activity during the primary hatches.

While fishing through the water on Penns Creek I stumbled upon a pod of suckers actively spawning in a shallow glide at the tail-out of a very productive run.  In streams like Spring Creek you can often see the Brown Trout sitting behind the suckers looking for an easy meal, which presents an exciting sight fishing opportunity.  I could not see the Browns in the run because the water was still slightly stained but I knew there had to be a few trout actively eating eggs.  I changed my flies to an orange and a white sucker spawn.  I chose an orange sucker spawn because most fish eggs are orange, and I chose a white sucker spawn because I have confidence in it as a fish producer.  Anglers often argue about egg pattern colors but the bottom line is they all work.  It is all about confidence in the flies and yourself.  I then began to long line nymph the glide.  On about the third cast I felt my line go tight, on the other end was a nicely colored mid-high teen Brown Trout.  I continued to fish through the spawning suckers picking up a trout every few casts.  The flow on Penns Creek was right around 800 cfs  with a water temperature of 42 degrees, the best part was there were no other anglers in sight other than my two friends I was fishing with.  Spring Creek was running at 180 cfs with a water temperature of 43 degrees.  The water was dropping quickly and clear before the rain we received this week.  Although streams are above their averages flows for this time of year, they should come down to prime flows by the beginning of the weekend.  Contact Tracey to book any last minute trips to have an opportunity to fish a different type of “hatch”.

Tight Lines,

Bill Steudler

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