Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2022 - 61

Angler's Notebook
by Jerry Bush
There is no denying a Mop Fly attracts and catches
trout. To humans, a Mop Fly looks like a ¾- to
1-inch long nub of material cut from kitchen mops
or car wash mitts attached to a hook. However, to
the fish, the Mop Fly is believed to resemble several
types of high protein grubs or small baitfish. Tiers
begin by attaching a weighted bead head at the
eye of a size 14 or size 12 curved hook. Add a drop
of glue to the lead portion of the mop material to
stiffen the end fibers before attaching behind the
bead. The main body of material wiggles freely.
Flash marabou, glitter chenille, or peacock herl is
added over the material behind the bead for extra
attraction. The Mop Fly is easy to tie and use.
During the early stages of trout season, 2- to 3-inch
spinners quickly cover a lot of water to locate trout.
The color, flash, and vibration attract trout. Many of
these lures include the added attraction of a colored
marabou covering with trailing treble hooks. Some
anglers switch the treble hooks for single hooks
if they are experiencing too many entanglements.
Include similar spinners with red coloring to the
inventory. If a trout strikes a spinner but is not
landed, that same fish may bite again if the angler
replaces the original spinner with another one. A red
Fishin' from the Kitchen
Rainbow Trout Quesadillas
by Wayne Phillips
If you are cooking for youngsters who are picky eaters, a
Rainbow Trout quesadilla is an ideal meal.
Ingredients for four servings:
* 12-ounces cooked Rainbow
Trout pieces
* 1 Tbsp. canola oil
* 4 large tortillas
* 4-ounces cream cheese,
room temperature
* 1 lemon, zest and juice
* 1 small red onion,
thinly sliced
* 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
* Salt and black pepper
to taste
Procedure
Season Rainbow Trout with salt and black pepper. Sauté
trout in oil until cooked through. Cool and break trout
into smaller pieces. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to the
cream cheese and blend it together. Spread the cream cheese
mixture on the tortillas. Scatter the red onion slices, pieces
fishandboat.com
spinner may
convince the
gamefish that
it wounded its
prey during the
initial strike.
As exciting
as it is to catch
trout with dry flies, fly anglers will have the most
success during the early season by fishing nymphs,
streamers, and Woolly Buggers. Use dry flies later in
the season when bugs are in the air and on the water
surface. Even if some surface interruptions are noticed,
it will usually be an occasional stonefly or similar
critter caught up in the current. More likely, the early
season fly angler misinterprets a dorsal fin breaking
the surface as fish feeding.
As surface water temperatures approach 55 degrees F,
crappies leave the deepest holes and start toward shallower
ledges. As temperatures rise above 58 degrees F, fish
reach shallower haunts. Slow trolling is suddenly a viable
tactic to catch actively feeding crappies. Mark the spot
where crappies bite, so lures may be repeatedly trolled
through the exact location.
of trout, halved cherry
tomatoes, and lemon
zest on half of each
tortilla. Fold the
tortillas in half.
Bake in a 350
degree F oven
for 10 minutes or
until heated through.
Serve
Cut quesadillas into wedges. Serve with a variety of raw
vegetables like carrots, broccoli, radishes, and celery.
Tips
For children, keep toppings simple. For adults, consider
adding sliced mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
garlic, or fresh basil to the toppings.
If you are using strongly flavored fish, consider using
mozzarella or feta cheese. Lime zest and juice adds an extra
element of zing.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * March/April 2022
61
photo-Jerry Bush
photo-Wayne Phillips
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2022

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