m&M: - Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

EARLY SEASON TROUT AND THE PHANTOM WOOLY WORM
IT1ANY a fly fisherman looks forward to opening day of
trout season with a secret hope for warm weather, normal
water level and fly hatches to make the trout surfaceminder.
But he knows it is a nearly futile hope for
generally conditions are just the opposite. Particularly
in the mountains the ground is often snow-covered and
the streams are filled with snow water. It is commonplace
to see two or three fishermen huddled around a fire to
thaw out numbed fingers. A hunting jacket is more
appropriate than a fishing vest and an extra supply of
scalding coffee is essential to keep the blood coursing
through the veins. But between thawing-out sessions, the
fisherman knocks the ice from his guides, blows on his
hands and gets down to the business of catching trout.
Trout know how to find comfort in high, cold water.
They stick close to the bottom, away from the heavy
current and often congregate in backwater eddies where
they don't have to exert themselves. To be successful the
fisherman must use a fly that is visible to trout in murky
water and he must fish it slow and deep. Trout aren't
By CHAUNCY K. LIVELY
Phantom Wooly Worm—completed. Trout like it—and so do bass.
inclined to move much out of their way to take a fly '
opening day water.
Building a little weight into the fly helps it sink prope
and permits easier casting than weighting the leader abo v
the fly. A sinking line helps, too, but only where enou£'
line can be extended to pull the fly deep. On small streak
where little more than the leader is cast, the sinking ''"
has a minimal effect on the fly's depth. .1
One of our early season favorites is a wet fly we c "
the Phantom Wooly Worm, a variation of the pop u ' J
western pattern. The fly utilizes a palmered bat e
appear to be detached from the fly. This creates a gh° s ''
halo effect in the water, inspiring the fly's name. * I
fly shows up well in off-color water and the trout &
fond of it.
The Phantom Wooly is a fly even beginners can
easily. Try a few for your kit, using the photo-instruct' 0
as your guide.
18 PENNSYLVANIA AN0»
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