Make the most of the best time of day. Typically early season hatches are centred around the warmest part of the
day, lunchtime. Don’t waste it by eating lunch!
Find the hatch, find the fish. My northern freestone rivers are driven by fly hatch’s and finding these are key
to finding large early season fish feeding at the surface.
Don’t fish too light. The fish have been well rested over the winter and often are not that tippet shy in the
early weeks of the season. There’s often a chance of the largest fish of the year on the rivers I fish so an extra
margin of error on tippet strength is a good idea.
Fish nymphs or wets before or after the main hatch activity to increase your fishing hours and pick up the odd
extra fish.
Hope for the best, dress for the worst. Early season can be like summer one day, winter the next.
Check and clean your gear including any line –leader connections. Don’t lose the fish of the season to bad
planning.
Finally, remember if you’re lucky enough to catch a large wild Trout in the early weeks of the season release
him to become next year’s trophy or produce sport for another angler.