Cold weather has finally arrived in Pennsylvania. The remnants of Hurricane Nichole provided a much-needed bump to water levels in mid-November. Currently, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, our wild brown trout have realized the seemingly endless summer of 2022 is over. The spawning season is in full force, and with that, a new food source is readily available–EGGS! It’s time to start tying on my most reliable winter euro nymphing pattern, the Eggstacy Egg.
Egg Eaters
It seems counterproductive, but trout will eat their own eggs during the spawn. And they certainly don’t have any qualms about eating the eggs of other spawning trout. Trout can’t resist the appearance, texture, and scent of these little gobs of protein that get caught in the current. Unlike baitfish or other natural prey, eggs don’t try to swim away. In colder water temperatures, when metabolisms begin to slow, and trout seek deep, slow moving water, eggs become an easy target and tasty treat.
Eggs are Like Beer for Trout
If trout are anything like me, the “egg bite” is all based on a conditioned response. When I sense falling air temperatures and football games start appearing on my television screen, I, too, become lethargic and start to crave the taste of finely crafted, hazy IPAs. Just like trout are with eggs, I can’t resist the appearance, texture, and scent of a Heady Topper.
As my winter metabolism slows, I seek comfort and safety within the depths of my basement. Because they are readily available, and I don’t have to move far to get one, I often find myself slowly moving toward the beer fridge to consume another tasty treat. These juicy, caloric rich delicacies add a layer of fat to my body. This added weight helps me survive the long, cold winter. Eggs do the same for trout.
Hard to Forget
Throughout the winter, even after eggs are not as prevalent a food source, they seem to leave an indelible image in the memory bank of a trout. Sure, my beer fridge is at its fullest during football season, but that doesn’t mean I’ll turn down an IPA in the weeks and months after the Super Bowl. I’m not able to control my reflexive response system. Trout aren’t either. To a trout, a dead drifted Eggstacy Egg in March must look like a forgotten Heady Topper I hid in the crisper a few months back to keep my friends from drinking it. So, I fish them all through the winter and well into the early spring until the hatch season begins.
Tying an Eggstacy Egg
Thankfully, filling your fly box with Eggstacy Eggs is much easier than filling your fridge with Heady Toppers, which are brewed and distributed exclusively in Vermont. I have made many trips to Vermont in search of some of the finest New England style IPAs ever created. It’s a good thing that I like to ski, as this gives me another reason to make the eight-hour drive to Stowe, Vermont each year.
The Eggstacy Egg is the easiest thing I tie. Like with most of my euro nymphing flies, I pair a jig style hook (size 14) with either a 2.4 mm, 2.8, mm, or 3.2 mm slotted tungsten bead. I like to have these in a variety of weights. Starting behind the bead, I make several thread wraps down to the bend of the hook. From there I tie in a piece of Eggstacy Yarn and begin wrapping that up to the bead. I secure it with a few whip finishes, and it’s done.
Fishing an Eggstacy Egg
I prefer to use my euro nymphing set up in the winter. This consists of a 10 foot, 3-weight rod paired with an oversized reel and euro nymphing line. I prefer this over a mono-rig set up in colder temperatures. I like the feel of the euro line in my hand on cold days. Also, I don’t need the versatility a mono-rig provides during the winter months because I am not as likely to have the opportunity to fish dry flies. Midge hatches happen occasionally, but it is rare I feel the need to switch over to a traditional fly line to exclusively cast dry files.
Slower and Deeper Water Types
The euro nymphing set up allows me to fish the eggs on a tight line system and focus on getting a dead drift in slower moving currents. When fishing with an Eggstacy Egg, I target slower and deeper water types. I will often fish an Eggstacy Egg as a single fly. If I do fish one in a tandem, it is almost always at the point. I fish Eggstacy Eggs slowly and try to let them bounce off the bottom of the streambed. This is where trout are used to seeing natural eggs most often. The Eggstacy Yarn absorbs a lot of water. This is helpful because that added water weight makes them easier to cast and sink into the strike zone. The Eggstacy Yarn also serves as a shock absorber as it the fly bounces off the bottom of the stream bed. I find that Eggstacy Eggs are a great choice for anglers learning to euro or tight line nymph.
Focus on the Sighter
Sometimes, takes will be aggressive, but more often they will be subtle. Trout know they don’t have to chase an egg. Unless they are competing with another fish for the egg, they will casually eat it. Therefore, it’s important to stay focused on your sighter. Look for any pause or hesitation, and don’t be shy about setting the hook.
Fish Them with Confidence
Just like I can’t turn down a Heady Topper, trout find it difficult to resist a well drifted Eggstacy Egg. When fishing them, focus on crisp, accurate casting and getting natural looking dead drifts. You can feel confident that you are using a pattern that will likely entice a trout if the presentation is good. You may find different colors to be more effective than others on any given river or stream. In my experience, trout will eat them in whatever colors we can dream of. My personal favorite is orange, but I honestly don’t think it matters nearly as much as the drift.
The “egg bite” is on and will remain on until hatch season!
Thanks for reading! Spend more time on the water!
*Make sure to leave a comment below!
Have a great day!
Jeff Smecker
