Small stream junkies in 2014

[TurbineBlade]

Hey, I can't sleep for whatever reason and was going to post a thread about how great small stream fishing really is in this region in case folks haven't experienced it.  We've (Beth and I) have logged more than 40 trips this year alone to streams in the SNP.  Back in January I posted something about a resolution to fish more small streams, and I believe I've met it in 2014.  Here are some great things about small stream fishing (with emphasis on the cold water streams):

1.  Brook trout are pretty.

2.  Same for surroundings.

3.  Hiking is great exercise. 

4.  Usually less pressure than on other streams in our experience.  The more you hike, the fewer people you see.  

5.  Combat fishing = predatory.

6.  Fly pattern usually matters little.

7.  Wading is minimal, and quite safe.  

8.  Small stream fly fishing, to me, is the most ideal use of fly tackle there is.  

9.  You see a LOT of wildlife.  

10.  If your spouse is also a wildlife biologist and/or enjoys fly fishing, you're pretty much set.  

Things learned:

1.  Dry fly leader construction!  I don't get too technical with this, but shorter overall leader length + fairly long tippet (usually 5x) works quite well.  This took a while to learn coming from "bluegill" leaders we were used to using.  

2.  Furled leaders work well treated with muilin (or gink, etc.), but my God do you have a mess if you get in the trees.  I no longer use them for this kind of fishing.  Maybe altogether.  

3.  I HATE fast action rods.  To test this, I've recently used a Ross Rx 5-weight (which is a good quality fast action rod that I acquired under mysterious conditions) and I couldn't get it back in the truck fast enough (no pun) to swap for my Finesse 389.  Unless you enjoy forcing a bend into a shovel handle to make a typical cast, don't bother.  

4.  Trent's 5-hole tail technique works like a charm (when possible).  Thanks buddy -- I use it a lot, and not just for tails of pools.  Somehow I never pieced something like this together until someone said it.  

5.  Foam terrestrials work from (at least) April - November.  I prefer Rob's style of beetle with rubber legs.  To be honest, I tie a lot of CDC dries, parachutes, etc. and as much as I perceive them to have more of a "natural" appearance, I have rarely found them to fish better than Rob's beetle.  It's also an ideal duo fly.   

6.  Fishing the duo *can result in you taking 2-3X as many fish out of a pool than just a dry fly alone.  

7.  Grizzly is right about knee pads.  I haven't used mine yet, but I routinely crawl around and you (without question) fool more fish this way.  

8.  The more you fumble around out there, the more and bigger fish you start catching.  

9. Bring food, water and TP.  

Anyway -- a lot of you may have already figured out and experienced most of this.  Be glad!  I didn't grow up in a hunting or fishing family, and have only been fly fishing for a little over 2 years.  I have an obsession with the idea that I have a lot of catching up to do ;).  We are going through boots and waders pretty quickly, and I started buying 5-6X in the "guide" spools.  We enjoy all kinds of fishing, but I think increasingly the small streams are our niche in the bigger picture.  

Beth developing her skill has been really enjoyable to watch as well.  Watching her surgeon-on a wingspan of tippet onto a leader, tie on a dropper, reach across current to keep the line off the water, make a pile cast across/down and catch fish, etc. is awesome.  

Okay -- I'm just rambling.  If you haven't done it and decide to try it, just remember the toilet paper (2-ply).

Gene

[namfos]

Gene:

You better start saving this stuff, if you haven't already, as I think you might find yourself a sideline as a fishing writer.

Mark

[TurbineBlade]

Stupid phone thing.......a few wee fish. 

[namfos]

Beauties in their spawning splendor.

Mark