For the past few days, I’ve looked out the window at the driving rain and had mixed emotions. I know we need the water, but at the same time, I get cabin fever pretty readily. Already, I’m anxious to get out there knee-deep in a trout stream, casting for giant trout.

About 30 years ago, I discovered how to catch giant trout in a small stream. Ordinarily, small streams hold small trout, but there are exceptions to every rule, and you can catch giant trout from a small stream if you know the trick.

My secret stream flows into one of the many reservoirs that dot the eastern edge of the Central Valley. My dad and I discovered it about 30 years ago, and every winter, I catch and release trout in the 24- to 26-inch range.

The largest fish I ever caught in that little stream was more than 26 inches long, which is really remarkable from a knee-deep creek. Interestingly, the next time we returned to the little creek, it was low and warm and all we caught were a couple of small bass.

Over the years, we figured out a pattern that told us when we could likely expect large trout in the creek. Generally, the stream will go completely dry in late summer. After the first good rain of the winter, the giant rainbows begin to move up into the creek to spawn. The trout will be in the creek for a few short months, as the eggs hatch and the baby fry grow a little larger.

By late spring, the trout migrate back down into the reservoir, as the water level drops and water temperatures begin to rise. That’s when the smallmouth bass begin to show up.

OK, so what does all this mean to you? Am I gonna tell you where my secret giant trout stream is? Heck no! But you can find your own secret stream with giant trout in crystal-clear water.

All you have to do is begin with one of the large reservoirs that line the eastern edges of the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys. Find a small- to medium-sized stream that flows into the reservoir. Then, wait for the first big storm of the winter and let about 10 days pass for the water to settle down.

Generally, the fish will be confined to a fairly short stretch of stream between the lake and the first sizeable waterfall. You’re usually only going to find a mile or less of such miracle water. I have found that another way to ensure bigger and better fishing is to walk into a canyon that has no road, or better still, not even a trail.

You’ll have to work for them, but it’s really worth it. When’s the last time you caught and released trout more than 2 feet long?

Just remember that these are spawners, the seed for our children’s future fishing. If you want to keep one for the taxidermist, great — but if you release them, you can always lie about their size later.

Until next week, tight lines.

• Don Moyer is president and CEO of a consulting firm and has more than 20 years’ experience working with the outdoor recreation community, including anglers, hunters, backpackers, environmental groups and the public. He can be reached at don.moyer@gmail.com.