Fishing the Egg Pattern

Fall is upon us, and that means spawning season for brown trout and kokanee salmon. Because eggs have a high nutritional value and are an easy target, they become a large portion of the diet of many species here in Colorado. Kokanee will naturally go after any eggs other than their own as a protective measure to minimize competition with their own eggs. Rainbow trout will position themselves downstream from the spawning browns for an easy meal. As a result, egg fly patterns or beads are a great way to catch fish in the fall in Colorado. However, you should also expect to hang up more flies using egg fly patterns and lose more flies because the best presentation is often bouncing off the bottom. This can also make strike detection more difficult as it can be hard to tell if the fly is hitting the bottom or if a fish is gingerly taking the fly. This makes indicators crucial when fishing these patterns. These should be easy to see on the water while also not being flashy enough to spook fish. White indicators, that are easy to see on the water, are a good option. Make sure to set the hook quickly when a bite is felt as trout can often times swallow the eggs quickly, deep in their throats, which can result in morality of the fish. If this occurs, it is best to clip the line because removing the hook can cause more damage and stress on the fish. An egg pattern below a REDD for scavengers works well but be sure you cast low enough below the REDD so you do not accidentally hook or harass one of the spawning fish. While most fly anglers prefer not to use plastic, beads (plastic egg replications) can have advantages and are another great option for catching fish in the fall. Beads come in a variety of colors and sizes and it is important to base the types you use on the body of water you are fishing and the time of the season. Beads are usually much cheaper than egg fly patterns and the glossiness of them gives them a more realistic look than the fabric used in egg fly patters. The buoyancy of the plastics also give them a more realistic presentation than most egg fly patterns. Everyone has their own preference but when it comes to using egg fly patterns or beads you should find success! Bright and florescent colors will be the best as the spawn begins and more mute/natural colors will be better as fall continues.

From Colorado Parks and Wildlife