Early Season Spring Creeks

I just wrote this blog for Fish Explorer and thought I would share it here too. 

It?s getting closer, Spring that is? My usual first taste of the high country is fishing the smaller spring creeks as they are opening up.  It?s the right before runoff fishing.  The water is very clear and cold and the fish usual only feed during mid-day.  These little creeks in the canyons close to my house have open pocket water holding fish. Conditions along the banks are snow or ice, studded soles or a pair of yaktrax is advised.
Fish are spooked easy and weather here is still cool so dress warm and prepare to stalk the fish with low angles, possibly from your knees.
I don?t use spinners this time of the year because the fish are so sluggish, so if you are not a fly fisherman, dragging a small worm with the current would be the best approach.  Use very little weight, cast upstream, and slowly reel it back matching the current? this approach works year round on any river and will keep most fish from getting gut hooked. 
Fly fishing I use a 2wt or less with a short leader usually the length of the fly rod or a foot shorter, 6x or 7x tippet is fine since the fish will be small and so will your flies.  This is the only time of the year I will fish a dual wet fly rig on a spring creek.  Small midges work best, #20-24?s Zebra midges, Blood midges, or JuJubee?s are my go too flies.
Get out there and enjoy the solitude these spring creeks have to offer.  Teach yourself how to stalk these wary trout and improve your chances on those trophy trout.