So, you’ve built a stream screen. Now what? Well, it’s time to go down to your local stream and see what’s in the water. My two boys are always looking for an excuse to get into the water so it was no problem finding a couple of helpers. You can do this on your own. Helpers are not necessary.

Approach the stream quietly and see if any trout are rising. If so, enter the water downstream from where the trout are rising. Open the screen and place it a few inches below the waters surface. The idea is to “skim” the surface film so you catch what’s hatching or falling onto the surface.

If no trout are rising, with the screen open put both dowels into the stream bed. You should be standing upstream of the screen. Now while holding onto the top of the dowels, turn over a few rocks with your feet and kick up the stream bottom. A cloud of mud/silt will filter through the screen. Pick up the screen being careful not to drop anything.

Typically you will find nymphs, larvae, scuds, case caddis and sometimes even sculpins. This will give you a good idea of what is most prevalent in your stream and what the trout may be feeding on. You should also carry a water tight specimen bottle to take a few samples back to your tying bench.

In my next post on this subject we’ll take a closer look at what is in the screen and how to match it to a respectable imitation for the trout.