Big Springs Stream Summary
This stream is located directly below a fish hatchery, and these well fed fish are huge, and numerous. The water is crystal clear, and for several hundred yards below the water pipes above the parking lot, it is possible to perfectly see hundreds of trout, ranging from about a foot long up to well over two feet. These fish are not people-shy, as the fish receive constant fishing pressure. They are, though, incredibly difficult to catch. Without the right flies, it is close to impossible to catch fish.
The best place to fish is right at the water pipes, through which water enters the stream, and through which pours the oxygen the fish need. Circled around the water outlet are literally dozens of trout, browns, rainbows, and the odd brookie. Fishing here is your best bet, as the water is very turbulent, and the fish don't get a very good look at the fly before they have to strike, or let a meal float by. A drag-free drift is not necessary here, but the fly must be a few feet under the waters surface. Also, as you will not be able to see the fly, try to follow its progress with the rod tip, and watch the fish.
At the outlet, the only way to know that a fish has taken the fly is to see a fish move and strike an invisible piece of food near where you believe your fly to by, or when your rod almost snaps in half as a 20-some inch rainbow trout takes a liking to your fly. A very small tippet is necessary here, which means that it is also very easy to break fish off, so be careful exerting pressure on a running trout.
For the rest of the stream, there is little advice that can be given. It is a blatant fact that 99.9% of the time, only a perfect presentation with the perfect fly will deliver, as the fish can see you perfectly, have a long time to watch the fly drift by in the almost nonexistant current, and have so much other food available to them that missing your fly won't make them go hungry. My suggestion, if you can, fish at the water pipes, where the fish are easier to catch.
An interesting thing I noticed: every time I switched flies to a different color, I got a strike on the first cast, so variation in presentation is important.

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