When the waters warm early in the season — we’re talking April and May — the trout begin to feed in a big way. There is little surface activity, but the bugs are stirring. Mayflies, stoneflies, midges and caddis are on the move. That’s when to employ a two- or even a three-fly rig. A number of presentations can work — tenkara, indicator or Czech-nymph — but the key is to dead-drift the bugs.

One of the bugs on the string could be a Copper Nymph. With a minimalist hackle, a flo-green tag and a bright head, this bug could represent any one of several trout foods. Smaller is better in early spring.

Tie the Copper Nymph with fluorescent red thread on a No. 8-16 grub hook. For the tag, use fluorescent green. Wrap the body with fine copper wire. Finish with a brown partridge hackle.

—Gary Lewis, For The Bulletin