Strategies for selective trout in clear water. New patterns designed for spring creeks and how to fish them. Simple explanations of the major hatches on spring creeks across the country

Spring creeks, those rare waters that flow right out of the earth–in whole or in part–are both a blessing and a curse for anglers. They are a blessing because the clear, cold, nutrient-rich waters grow abundant insects, which in turn grow and sustain large populations of healthy trout. They flow free of ice in the winter and run cool during the hottest parts of summer, providing year-round angling. In many ways, this bounty becomes a curse, because the abundance and steady supply of food can spoil the trout, making them less likely to take a piece of fluff and feathers. Many spring creeks are also small, their challenges enhanced by weed-choked runs and tricky currents.