Hi cb,

When the water is cold I like to fish more in the mid-day so the water might
be warming some. This can make the fish a little more active. Early and late
is not usually good because of the cold water. Sunny afternoons can be good.

When the water is higher, faster, I like to fish more just off the current
in the little slower edge water.

Unless there is a hatch going on, I would be nymphing with something a bit
lager in the off color water like a #10/12 Bead Head Prince nymph.

Takes will be more subtle too. Use larger tippet (3x wet/4x dry) early on
big flies because you can.

In the afternoon you can use a larger #6/8 orange or yellow Stimulator dry
fly on the long smooth runs in case there are some large stone flies active.

Don't be to hard on your self as this is not an easy time to catch fish for
many of us.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"cb" wrote in message ...

I started fly-fishing last summer and really started to enjoy it.
However,
nearly all of my fishing was done on the surface with drys, or in very
clear
spring creeks (I live in WI) with wooly buggers, etc. In my first
early-season trip last weekend, I didn't see or catch a single fish.
While
I don't mind not catching anything, I really felt like I was just flailing
about without direction. Could anyone offer some advice, or references,
on
good early-season tactics? I don't have anyone locally to learn from
(hence
the post here), but I feel it is a matter of overcoming a few obstacles:
higher, cloudier water (fast water) and knowing how far upstream the fish
have moved. How do I solve these problems?

Thanks.