Every year at about the beginning of March, I start to itch. Not in a medically concerning or weird way…but in a way that most other fly anglers can relate to. When the sun is trying to peek out, the water temps are trying to creep up, and you are obsessing to get out on the water and try some of the “home tie” flies that you brewed up over winter on the vice. The winter months can keep you locked in (especially during the crazy pandemic times), but spring always tries to find a way to get us all out there.

Since moving to Georgia, the itch to fly fish has especially heightened come spring time. Unlock growing up in the west where fly fishing for trout in the winter was a staple for me while my friends would ski, I’m a little more weather dependent nowadays. Especially for some of the nearby/freshwater species that can be accessed quickly and consistently. This year, I experienced some of the best early spring fishing I could have imagined, especially considering the fact that I made it a point to learn the water bodies around me that I had not yet explored.

The species this spring ranged wide and strong. Depending on what rain levels do in the winter, the rivers can really kick up and create good opportunities for a variety of fish in both still and moving water scenarios. I have found in Georgia that spring is obviously pretty consistent for some early season largemouth and crappie, but have also found that it can be pretty killer for other species such as white bass, rock bass, and other creek inhabiting species that are often overlooked. The major lakes can also be productive for spotted bass and striped bass, but the weather needs to cooperate (especially for paddle board scenarios) in order to reach these fish at times. The cold water also makes you have to brave it out when you are motivated enough! Below were some great fish from this early spring.

When it comes to the spring and fly fishing, I have consistently found the following three things to be of importance: patience, patterns, and persistence. In regards to patience, every year is a little bit different when it comes to the “lights turning on”. For example, this year I found the bass to be way more aggressive than years prior with the water still pretty cold. But like every other year, took me a week or two of getting on the water “too early” in a few of my go to spots to really figure out when they would show up. There isn’t always an exact calendar on which fish will arrive and be ready to eat a fly, so you need to be patient. In regards to patterns, the spring makes you change things up. Fish are still waking up at times, or you may be dealing with some more difficult water conditions, and you need to have different plans in place when it comes to techniques and fly selection. One example for me this year was fishing in more creeks than ever before with relatively large flies. Typically I will downsize flies in the colder months, but with water high this year and pushed up everywhere, I found that big flies in shallow water found some of the best fish. Some of my biggest spotted bass were caught this way. On the contrary, I ended up catching large bullhead catfish and rock bass on minnow patterns in deep trenches that I have not experienced before. As for persistence, it’s fishing. Need to keep getting out there to develop any sort of a sense for what the hell is going on. On many days you still won’t figure it out!

Unfortunately this spring, we had plans in place for two different Louisiana weekends to chase redfish that got cancelled due to weather. With that said, we made the most out of it with a variety of species. Many new to the fly rod for me! Hope to get back at ’em in LA this year, but makes you appreciate all of the local opportunities that much more!

Tight lines,

Joe