SPRING CREEKS ARE LIKE CRACK TO US HARD CORE DRY FLY FISHERMEN. WE JUST CAN’T GET enough of their crystal clear waters, their fat and healthy trout, or their prolific insect hatches that seem to bring trout to the surface- no matter what time of year it is. Indeed, they are a magnet for just about any trout fisherman. Unlike most streams and rivers, which are fed by rain and snow melt, spring creeks issue from underground aquifers. This ground water tends to be more stable in flow and temperature than runoff water, and richer in nutrients. This fact tends to increase the length and quality of the growing season for trout and the insects they feed on. It also increases our opportunities to catch them.

They also figure large in the history of our sport, serving as laboratories for some of the great fly fisherman of our time. People like Vince Marinaro, Charlie Fox, Rene Harrop and Mike Lawson have all used spring creeks as test beds. These are the people that a lot of us consider the “Rock Stars” of our sport.  They have developed flies and tackle, and authored books that have changed our sport forever- and in a very positive manner.

Although brown trout are the most common, just about all the trout species can be caught in spring creeks.

The sulpher dun and its spinner are a staple on most spring creeks, where on some, emergence periods can can last more than a month.

Trout are not the only denizens of spring creeks. Insect eating birds like this swallow are common sites.

Spring creeks are indeed lush places full of life.

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If Charlie Dickson isn’t fishing for anadromous fish right now- and maybe even if he is- he’s probably daydreaming about fishing spring creeks.