April Cold Water Fishing Tips

I am not a big fan of April. Any month that begins with a special day for fools should be a bit suspect from the get-go.

From an Aroostook outdoorsman’s aspect there are plenty of things to do concerning upcoming outdoor activities, but precious few outings to enjoy. Unlike southern Maine, where the folks are already mowing grass and working on flower gardens, we still have ice on the lakes, snow in the woods and spring fever in our hearts and minds.

Any veteran crown of Maine spring fisherman knows that April casting forays are more for the spirit and the soul than the fight and the frying pan. Cold water action is generally slow and conditions challenging, but after months of cabin fever any open water exposure offers rejuvenation. And an occasional trout or salmon will eventually cooperate, so let me offer some advice on how to tempt frigid fish to bite a bait.

Nymphs and streamers like the one in the rods cork grips are effective in high, cold water this month when fished deep and slow as this trio of trout prove. (Contributed photo/Bill Graves)

My first preparation is to rig two rods; I’m a devout fly fisherman but realize worms work best this month, so a medium weight, 7-foot spinning rod accompanies my 8.5-foot, 5-weight fly rod. In my fishing vest is also a small plastic lure box with six or eight small colorful lures that can also be used with the spinning outfit.

My proven favorites include an Al’s goldfish, red and white dardevle, silver super duper, Mepp’s spinner with orange beads and a little Cleo. I carry two fly reels, one with a sinking tip line and the other a floating line and my fly box features a full selection of streamer flies, wet flies and nymphs of various sizes, colors, and weights. To ensure any success at all with flies, it’s essential to match the line and fly to the current and depth of a pool to allow the feathered imitation to swim deep and slow right along the bottom.

Regardless if you’re casting flies or bottom-bouncing bait, the water’s cold, fish are set up in feeding lanes using current to bring food to them. They are not going to chase baits as they do in the summer, it’s crucial to put your fly, lure, or worm right near their nose to ensure a strike. It may take a dozen seemingly identical casts with a streamer to entice a strike but just the right speed, depth and swing arc in the current are a must.

Flies must ride just above the bottom structure, or if it’s a weighted nymph pattern it can bump off the bottom occasionally as if it’s hopping along. Cast into backwaters, bogans and eddies where water flow is light and slow and likely to be warmer than the deeper, faster runs of the main waterway. Remember, the offering needs to swing near their feeding run, they won’t chase, it may take a lot of casts to entice spring trout to strike.

Selecting a fly pattern can be tricky this time of year, worms have an enticing smell to go with their natural look, artificial baits depend solely on appearance to draw strikes. When streams are still murky, off-color and have debris floating everywhere, I usually opt for a brightly-colored attractor pattern to catch a trout’s eye. A Mickey Finn, red and white bucktail or Ouananiche Sunset really work for streamer patterns on a size 8 or 10, 2X or 3X long shank hook.  For wet flies I’d suggest size 10 or 12 hooks dressed as a Parmachene Belle, Silver doctor, hare’s ear, March brown or a light Cahill. As water clears I turn to baitfish imitations like a black nose dace, magog smelt, or black and white bucktail. About every 30 to 40 casts I change to a nymph and work the same pool again.

While the popular method of using a worm with a light sinker 6- to 8-inches above the bait and alternately lifting and lowering the rod tip to bounce the bait along bottom works, I like a spinner. A small-bladed silver or ivory spinner keeps the worm near bottom and adds enough flash to draw a trout’s eye to the approaching food, and then it’s up to the live bait and its aroma. As with flies, deep and slow movements are the keys to a modicum of success.  Be sure to use non-toxic sinkers, avoid lead, and splitshot styles get caught and hung up on bottom structure less often than torpedo shapes.

If you can find an eddy, deadwater below an island or a bogan where river water has formed a small pool along the main flowage, try a bait and bobber rig. I’ve had great luck in coves along the Prestile, Aroostook, and Meduxnekeag with bait and wait tactics. Trout avoid the faster flow of cold water and seek out coves and eddies to cruise away from the main stream. Sooner or later a fish will find your worm if you toss out a couple of bobber rigs and just lean the rod on a crotched stick and relax.

April fishing is a fairly sedentary sport done while standing in snow, mud or very chilly water so dress for warmth and comfort. I prefer long underwear, wool pants, two layers of socks and neoprene hip boots or chest waders. A wool hat, gloves, and a couple of chemical handwarmers fight any cold breeze blowing off the water and adjacent snow banks. I carry a five-gallon bucket with a removable padded top for lugging extra gear and a comfortable seat. Fishing Aroostook waterways is far from optimal this month, but it improves as each day passes, and being out and about quickly overcomes the winter blahs!