EGG PATTERNS AND BEADS

Controversial but deadly during spawning season, eggs patterns can put more fish in the net during the winter months than any other fly. On some days and some river systems eggs are all that trout will eat, and will chase them down across the stream. On the Yakima we see egg patterns become effective through late October, with the whitefish spawn, and start to lose effectiveness in mid March, at the end of the trout spawn. 

When fishing eggs be mindful to avoid redds and not fish to actively spawning fish. Cast to fish in the slow water behind a fast run. These fish are not actively spawning and sitting below Redds in the fast water looking for falling eggs. Look for bare gravel or circular patches that are much lighter than the surrounding riverbed.