3 Days of INCREDIBLE FLY FISHING! (BIG Brown, brook, and Rainbow Trout!)

I spent 3 days fly fishing for big brown trout! It ended up being the most insane 3 days of fishing I've had in a long time!
It’s finally spring, or I should say it finally feels like spring… and that’s my favorite time to start looking for big brown trout. Between the hatches starting to pop, the suckers and chubs running up rivers and creeks to spawn, and the water warming up there is no better time to be fishing. What you’re about to watch is 3 of the best days of fishing I’ve had in a long time. Welcome back to another episode of Hardman fishing adventures.
Yep, I lost a big one. Which happens from time to time… especially when you don’t retie after catching a different big fish less than 45 minutes prior. But after that, the last hour of fishing went by pretty much uneventfully. I mean I caught probably 5 or 6 other fish, but all of them were rainbows. I think a catch and cook is on the list of videos I need to do next month.
So this video was shot over the course of 3 weeks, So I’m not sure if this next day I went out was the next week or a few days later because I didn’t keep track of the actual days. But as you’re about to see, it was just as incredible as the last.
Somehow I was able to actually land all of the big fish I hooked on this particular day, something I had failed to do on day 1. It’s amazing what happens when you learn from your mistakes… and when you use 4x instead of 5x tippet.
Day 3 of fishing was the warmest day I had fished. The sun was high in the sky but so was the water was also high. I don’t usually like to target brown trout in these conditions but I figured since the fishing had been so good I’d still be able to find one. Luckily I was able to catch one big brown trout and even lucked into a golden trout!
I hope you guys enjoyed this longer form video. It was a lot of fun to put together and I caught a ton of trout from brook trout, to brown trout, to rainbow trout, and even found a golden trout. Thanks for watching!!
#troutfishing #outdoors #flyfishing #fishing #relaxing

[@saichi.0120]

I'm Japanese and your wonderful video inspired me to start fly fishing. I would like to try it in America someday.❤

[@UrMom_says]

I would like to try snowboarding in Japan 🏂 I hear it's amazing

[@johnrieger949]

I cannot fish anymore, but your videos remind me of the pleasure that I experienced while fishing in beautiful Nature. Thank you.

[@hardmanfishing]

That's awesome! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@lukevass504]

Another nice video as always. Loved you stressing for fishermen to help keep the rivers clean and healthy at the end of the video.

[@hardmanfishing]

It's important! And I've talked to people who live around there and they say the most annoying thing about fisherman is the trash they leave. Which is just embarrassing... anyway thanks for watching!

[@davidleimeister5027]

What a great video. I just love your play-by-play on the river, it's as entertaining as the great fish you caught and chased. Beautiful golden trout. Thanks!

[@sethdunlea9156]

Your videos have inspired me to fish dry dropper rigs at the very same stream my dad and his brothers used to fish when they were kids. Love catching the wild browns and native brookies!

[@hardmanfishing]

That’s awesome!!

[@el_bouboulios800]

I followed your tips from all your video and managed to catch a 25 inches brown trout thank you so much

[@SCYCOFISHINGHUNTING]

Dang bro that’s a tank! Congrats

[@hardmanfishing]

That's incredible! Congrats!

[@zumalot]

Incredible water. Cartwheeling trout. This was really entertaining to watch.

[@paulbmurphy]

Great fishing. Watching from northern England where the rivers are very similar. Love your nymphing technique, it's uncomplicated. You are 100% correct about nymph depth being the only thing that really matters. Good that you've prompted some comments about wild/stocked; it gets people thinking about ecosystems and the longer term future of our rivers. Tight lines Jon.

[@hardmanfishing]

Nymph depth is key, fly choice is secondary for sure! Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the video

[@philiprhoades7461]

Jon, you are making the best videos on youtube! Love watching every one of them.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much!! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@wilbertolugo8700]

awesome videoooo that golden trout was incredible. so beautiful. many blessings tight lines always

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@DndCfishnexplore]

Man what a great river!! The stockers do get old but a fish is a fish. Those browns though, amazing!! Great video, thank you.

[@hardmanfishing]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching

[@johncalabrese6467]

Jon, fun video to watch, keep it up BUDDY!!

[@Mr_flyfisher]

Love your vid man. They’re always entertaining to watch.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you man!!

[@user-xy3dt3cq6c]

I really enjoy the videos that you do!!! You and Davie mcphail are my favorites 💯

[@hardmanfishing]

Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@user-wh2ho1vh8l]

Are you able to show your flies and how you’re fishing them? As a beginner I’m very interested in seeing set ups and how they’re fished. Thanks!

[@charliesutphin3808]

Right on🙌

[@jasongreen5470]

Another great video Jon

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!

[@jeromedwojak918]

Nice video, enjoyed the action! Those were very nice size fish you caught.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!

[@TreyTheFisherman]

Wow what a solid couple of days!

[@hardmanfishing]

Doesn't get too much better! Thanks for watching man

[@Obadiah50]

Dear Sir, there are NO UGLY TROUT!! I fish the ADIRODACKS. All are a blessing. PS, trout live in beautiful places - it gets me every time. Also, I love your site. Thank you.

[@hardmanfishing]

Ugliness can be debated I guess! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@otterlover2397]

Great video! I’m taking my fly rod out for the first time ever this Saturday.

[@hardmanfishing]

That's awesome!! Good luck!

[@landonedwards7504]

Great vid & fantastic action! If you're gonna catch stockers, at least hooking that golden makes it interesting. Gorgeous fish! Thanks for the detail on your rig. Agree about getting near the bottom, and overcoming the difficulties presented in heavy water. When you do that successfully, I think fish will eat almost anything. Also appreciate your reminders on the environment. Too many streams continue to get trashed.

[@hardmanfishing]

That's true! The golden trout can be a treat every now and then. But thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed the detail on the rig I was using!

[@emanuellarsson2983]

I Love your video. Keep upp the good work.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!!

[@billmccroskey9014]

Love your “leave the river nicer than when you got there”. Pick up some trash, empty beer cans and the like, goodonya!

[@scotthamilton9581]

One of my favorite videos you've posted. Being originally from the same town as you are I enjoy your videos so much. I understand not letting people know where you are when you fish native streams, but I do wish you would tell us when you're on a stocked stream.

[@hardmanfishing]

It's just more out of respect for the people who live on this river and already have to deal with stocked trout chasers who leave trash and everything else. I also just have a thing where I never mention where I'm fishing just to keep it consistent. But thanks for watching!

[@bryanmoore5573]

@@hardmanfishing Trash on this river is terrible. Almost "sewer" like in area's. Spent the day there yesterday nonetheless! Thanks for your message at the end.

[@marisamontgomery7340]

The coolest!

[@michaelgellenoncourt2876]

Dude .... What an insane video as always ..... Juste insane I don't have words anymore ... Just keep on doing videos ! Your no music videos are awsome and relaxing, you really feel like fishing while watching those ! And then you have the full on video where its just a roller coster of emotions ! Your intros are always stop on... Just well done ... You really got the YT thing man ! Keep on the good work !

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much man!! It means a ton! Glad you enjoyed the video

[@piclesonplayz2890]

such a sick vid! Did anyone else see the badger or something crawl into the river at 16:52

[@henryleslievermont6004]

Love catching and watching wild trout. Enjoyed 👍👍🎣🎣No Golden Trout here, very cool to see

[@flyguy2021]

I hate when people call those golden trout…

[@henryleslievermont6004]

@flyguy2021 Foreign to me, what is the best name 🤔

[@flyguy2021]

@@henryleslievermont6004 these abominations are golden rainbows or palomino trout, engineered in a hatchery. Golden trout are native only to the southern Sierra Nevada in California.

[@jackinthewoodsii8653]

@@flyguy2021 Golden Rainbows and Palomino's are 2 different strains. The more popular breed is the Golden Rainbow.

[@flyguy2021]

@@jackinthewoodsii8653 either way they are mutations of a rainbow inbred over many generations to create a Frankentrout. There’s a reason these don’t occur in the wild. They would never survive predation with that coloring. Of course the rainbows you have back east aren’t much better, all just descendants of McCloud River trout bred in hatcheries.

[@marisamontgomery7340]

you got some giants

[@scottnock5241]

Jon I think this was the most genuine video you have put out, this probably my favorite.. Great looking water and great browns!!! It amazes me the states will stock over wilds??? Don’t get it???

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!! And I have no idea… they’ve always done it and it would take a major culture change for it to ever be stopped.

[@dianabowen297]

Love your videos, especially as a fellow West Virginian! Is this Williams River?

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you! And no sir! Although the Williams is an awesome river

[@McLarty71]

I may be relocating to a state where I can fly fish for trout for the first time and came across your videos and love the channel. What state are you located in?

[@themidnightrider6805]

What line are you using? I love your channel by the way, I love how you mix it up. Every fishing trip doesn’t need to be a trophy

[@matteorottigni1744]

Well done mate beautiful trouts, and well done for released them back. Is euro ninphing the technique? Sorry I'm a beginner

[@hardmanfishing]

Yessir! I go over it a little bit at the very end of the video

[@tonycamplin8607]

Loved this video and what beautiful scenery, living in the UK looking at it is something that I really enjoy. That large powerful river was quite unlike the usual small streams that you fish, what fantastic fish it holds including the stocked ones. I don't share you opinion of them, a lot of trout fishing over here is on reservoirs and the fish there are all stockies. Don't think I'll ever get used to describing fish size by length and not weight. Looking forward to the next episode, by the way I'm glad that you dont follow a lot of peoples obsession with redicously weak tackle.

[@hardmanfishing]

Yeah I'd rather use heavier tackle and land all of my fish then make some ridiculous challenge and injure the fish in the process. The challenge is getting the fish to eat, past that I want the fish in the net! But thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@the304outdoorsman7]

Man I hope to land a big brown one of these days!

[@eliasless]

Hi.. awesome video.. please share the spec of your set up.

[@davidwilson1273]

Gosh darn it. Damn so hate cussing !!!😂😂😂

[@billcrazwell7518]

Another great video. I commented a few videos ago that I was looking to visit West VA from my state of PA. Do you have any recommendations as to what area(s) I should look into? I am looking to fish smaller mountain streams. Keep up the good work, thanks!

[@TroutCrazy570]

Nice fish! What flies do you use? There aren't very many hatches where I fish, and I don't know what to use.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you! And I put it at the end of the video

[@TroutCrazy570]

@@hardmanfishing Ok! Thanks!

[@evgrin1507]

These guys get high on G.O.D.

[@daletowler1354]

Hardman nice video, If you are off work in June, I;am going up to Cherokee, NC again. I want to show you my 5ft fly rod that I fish small streams, the told you you about those wild trout streams in NJ I fish , date in June 9th-14th have to see the weather is..

[@abdulmousa]

@hardman fishing adventures, can we please get a rod set up for this video and maybe a tip on how to you set up rod when targeting didn't species (new to fly fishing )

[@Handyhandleforthetracking]

Hey brotha. What’s your setup on the first hole? Are you nymphing with a sink tip?

[@hardmanfishing]

Nope! It’s a mono rig of sorts

[@1790jman]

I’d like to see like a rod and reel collection and what u use like line flies tippet stuff like that

[@tenkarapondfishing4611]

Jon. That first brown you land. What type of fly line/leader are you using? Because it looks like you have a long length of sighter leader attached to sinking line....??? Another great video!

[@hardmanfishing]

I go over my setup at the end! That's pretty much what I was using the entire time. I don't even use conventional fly line when I nymph.

[@tenkarapondfishing4611]

I watched your video to the end, but im still confused. You showed the Cortland 20' 10.5 sighter leader, but clearly you have some other line on your reel...?? Is the sighter leader simply attached to the backing?

[@hardmanfishing]

@@tenkarapondfishing4611 Ohhh yeah I got you! I just have cortland's mono core euro line on the reel. It never comes off the reel when I fish honestly so I don't pay much attention to it

[@ginsbergcooking]

incredible stuff. mono rig?

[@SCYCOFISHINGHUNTING]

I’ve asked him before, I think he uses both but I think he said he prefers the mono rig. I like the mono rig way more

[@DexterDerksen]

Yoooo first comment sick video spring brook trout and rainbows are the best great video👍🏼

[@Coopers-bow-hunting]

I’m not shur what state you live in but it seems like you always find the native trout and I would love to native fish I live in pa so if you know any native spots here I would really appreciate it

[@aronneeme9055]

hey , quick question where do you find you're fishing spots?

[@hardmanfishing]

Most of the spots near where I live I’ve known about for years. I don’t remember how I first found them tbh 😂

[@aronneeme9055]

@@hardmanfishing 😂 okey thanks

[@briljantje9583]

Hi John, why did you not consider to switch to a streamer when you saw that big brown chasing your prey? I definitely would have done that.

[@briljantje9583]

But what an excellent brownie at 12:30. Gosh.

[@hardmanfishing]

I probably should have but for some reason I don't think I had my streamers with me at the time. But thanks for watching!

[@kunaiwithchain5278]

What even is the policy on browns now? Are they just naturalized and stocked ever since we realized we can’t get rid of them? Cuz I heard they’re pretty bad for native brook and rainbow trout larva

[@Maxterx29x]

What rod setup do you have?

[@hardmanfishing]

In this video I was using a Cortland Competition series MK II nymph rod!

[@barryloy5772]

Seems like I hardly ever see your fly line, generally speaking how long are your leaders? Thank you

[@barryloy5772]

Or it might just look different in the video.

[@hardmanfishing]

That's because I euro nymph! So I quite literally don't use the fly line on the reel.

[@Freddie14]

did u see that beaver or something jump off the bank 16:48

[@hardmanfishing]

I did not!

[@cdawgg7348]

How often do you fish in the eastern part of WV? I know some of the best around Edit: i also fly fish and tie my own flies. Just havent been at it for a while due to work

[@hardmanfishing]

I mean define eastern 😂 if you mean eastern panhandle then I do for brookies but that’s about it. If you just mean like east of I79 then that’s all I fish just about

[@twinairplane1469]

Where were you fishing at

[@umpa2235]

are you fishing barbless flys?

[@hardmanfishing]

Correct!

[@David-gld]

Here is the fly that I did NOT use for the past 3 weeks, to make this video. Lol

[@hardmanfishing]

I didn’t have anymore of them to show 😂 the fly I did show was very similar though

[@pizza3_143]

anyone notice the beaver or otter come out of the tree at 16:50

[@GaryYoung-kw3hu]

pleas talk about the flys you are using thanks

[@hardmanfishing]

Check the end of the video!

[@boxingstarcmbballer8797]

I can always tell the stocked brooks from native brooks by the feeling of their skin . You ever notice that ?

[@hardmanfishing]

I've never paid that much attention I'll be honest! I just look at the color patterns and the head and that's usually enough LOL

[@_nvrx_]

Hello wheres your hat from

[@singlegirlfishing]

hello i am viet nam

[@samxsam41]

Can you talk about your setup more?

[@hardmanfishing]

Check the end of the video!

[@gmt1984]

What state is this in?

[@jmebig3044]

Man, the stock trout hate is real with Mr. Hardman. Someone has watched too many Patagonia videos 😂. I assure you, natives and wild trout aren’t that cool.

[@hardmanfishing]

Listen I don't hate stocked trout UNLESS I'm fishing for wild trout in a river filled with wild trout 😂 Let the wild fish do their thing. I'm just not a big fan of stockies in wild water. If I want a stocky I'll go down to the local stocked river and have a day!

[@serhiymatviychuk6186]

Thank you for incredible video! Hello, I’m a new for the fly fishing. I’m musician, play violin and viola. I’m originally from Ukraine. In Ukraine fly fishing is not popular, I would like to introduce fly fishing for the Ukrainians and I need a support. I will be very appreciated for any help and support in this. I just got my orvis combo, I’m very low on the budget, and don’t know what kind of flys I need to have. Will be very appreciated for any suggestions! Thank you so much for your understanding.

[@briljantje9583]

I fish the way you do: no indicators or whatsoever. Just feel Best way to do it.

[@tonyb6086]

80 percent of these fish are stocked. Similar to the delayed harvest streams that all of us are fishing. Look closely at the mid sized browns definitely not wild. Cocky attitude toward the stocked fish ruined the video

[@davemoranino]

The browns besides one was wild idk what your seeing. Dont watch the videos if your offended

[@tonyb6086]

Interesting to read the comment from the guy who actually stocks the stream, all fish were stocked

[@davemoranino]

@@tonyb6086 doesnt mean they are all stocked. Impossible to know the difference between wild and stocked when some of the browns were stocked as fingerlings. Would need to send a sample to a lab to know for sure if its stream born. Just because some guy stocks it doesn’t mean wilds don’t exist. At that point ill call it a wild

[@hardmanfishing]

Relax buddy, I said lots of these fish were stocked. But I've also watched the browns spawn in there and I catch young of the year fish (not fingerlings). So just take a deep breath and go leave comments on a video where you have knowledge of the fishery. It's not that serious. I love reading comments because of people like you, gives me a good laugh!!

[@user-mw4pj6fb7m]

You young guys all think that they are catching wild browns in this river it’s entertaining. I work for the club/crew of the state that stock this river. You indeed are not catching wild browns thought I’d just shed some light on the misleading information. Still fun fishing though there keep it up.

[@hardmanfishing]

I know the river is stocked, I'm not an idiot. I clearly talked about this in the video. I also know for a fact that there are wild reproducing brown trout in there AND native brook trout. And by the way this is coming from biologist buddies and friends who know more than me... that and I've literally watched them spawn and caught young of the year fish. This isn't even up for debate. I can't stand older guys/gals who pretend like the "young guys" don't know what they're doing. Thanks for watching though!

[@randybryson8161]

I love your videos, especially the wild brown, but I stocked this one short because of the cursing. I just don’t understand why you can’t make a video without profanity. It’s really sad.

[@amnoobb]

cmon now 😂

[@daveofthewoods3133]

You know you don't have to use the internet right? It's also just some letters put together that people said we're bad at some point.

[@nikkilevi12]

Not sure what you were watching but I didn’t hear a single curse word…

[@ccmusic2249]

I'm sorry you missed the last few giants. A friendly suggestion for next time, try muting the audio and watching silently, or with subtitlesif you want. The Hardmans are guys worth watching, even if you aren't a fan of their vernacular. Additionally, he's got some incredible footage of some beautiful fish and watching without the audio still counts as a view for him. Hope you have a great day.

[@Pragwo1f]

Not too sure how Jon's language could offend anyone, tbh. Those profanities are not very profane...