Got Wood?

Fished this weekend and after the high water we have experienced over the past few months I was really anxious to see the end results of the flooding. Some sections seem to have had the muck and mud washed out of the main stream bed, there is more gravel and sand in these areas and the large gravel areas look as if they have been washed and cleaned resulting in a much better spawing substrate for the trout to take advantage of. The one result of the high water is the fact that wood is everwhere along the shores, this is one of the single greatest factors of juvenile trout recrutment over the winter, according to the studies by The Henry's Fork Foundation, wood along the shores of a stream offers the best possible safe haven for just hatched fry. The wood was everywhere and some of the old wood was still in the normal places, the adult trout are using the new wood for cover and feeding opportunities.
  The best combo was a size #18 tan caddis emerger and a copper john two rig nymph sets up. During the afternoon the trout looked up and stayed up all afernoon, a great approach and a good drift resulted in many landed fish, ants were the order of the day. Most all the fish were eating midges but at this time of year they seem to eat an ant if it comes by, never had to put a midge on. All morning the midges and caddis were everywhere but we watied till afternoon the look for rising fish. Left very happy because caught some nice fish and there was no one around!