By keen angler and fly fishing instructor John Machin
I came into Fly Fishing the same way as most other people. Starting off bait fishing, then seeing fish take food from the surface, and wondering how I could catch them. This passion for me started off on the River Blythe in Staffordshire. The subject river of Alfred Ronalds “A Fly Fisher’s Entomology” My world has gone full circle, and now I love to fish that river again with my better appreciation of the skills and techniques required for a small stream.
Fly fishing a small stream or brook can be a daunting prospect if you have never fished one before. It can be a difficult challenge at times, but by keeping things simple you can catch lots of fish and really enjoy yourself!
1. SCALE DOWN – there is no point heading down to a small stream 15 feet wide with a 10-foot 8 weight reservoir rod. Let’s face it you need to scale down to suit your water. I would say a perfect all-round length for a smaller brook would be a 7’6 3/4 weight fly rod. Short enough to get under dense overhead tree cover, but with enough power to stop a bigger trout and push a fly into a breeze.
2. WATCH YOUR BACKCAST – with small stream fishing the back cast is just as important as the front. Get into position and plan the path of both your forward and back casts. Consider your position in the river and anything that may get in the way, overhanging foliage, brambles etc.
3. MOVE WITH STEALTH – Small stream trout get to a catchable size by being cautious. These fish are ultra-sensitive. A clumsy footfall or bow wave from entering the water clumsily is sure to put all the fish down in each pool. So enter the water as quietly and softly as the terrain allows. Also don’t walk up to a pool along a high bank – plan your entry spot with the knowledge that trout face upstream.
4. MAKE YOUR FISRT CAST COUNT - If you get your first cast right, if there is a fish in there the chances are it will nail the fly first chuck. So be ready for action. By the same measure don’t spend too much time in one pool – if nothing happens within 3/4 well-presented casts then move on.
5. FISH YOUR WAY UPSTREAM NOT DOWN - If you try to walk down stream and fish for trout, you will stir up the water and greatly affect your success. One step into a muddy bank or mucky sediment and you could all but ruin your chances of catching a fish for a while. Approaching a fish upstream means you are approaching it from behind and it is less likely to spot you.
6. USE A SHORT LEADER - I usually tie up a small 6′ leader with 4-5x tippet and leave it at that. The longer your leader is the more ‘tree-fish’ it can catch on back casts, not to mention it will give you less control and accuracy when casting around tight obstacles.
7. ROLL CAST - Sometimes, even smaller leaders don’t help. Learn to roll cast. Roll casting is pretty basic and you can get good at it with very little practice. Once you master this cast you will find that 90% of the time it will be your go-to option while fishing in small rivers.
8. LOOK FOR POCKET WATER - In small streams, pocket water is king. Contrary to the large, flowing runs of larger rivers, tiny creeks are often made up of pockets of slow water separated by obstacles. These pockets are perfect for holding resting trout. As insects and other food bits wash over falls or around rocks, trout can easily snatch them up in the slow water without wasting energy. Pockets consistently hold trout because they’re the most efficient places for them to feed. Pockets are easy to find, even for beginners. They most often form between riffles, behind large rocks, and along uneven shorelines. You can spot them by looking for clear, glassy water surrounded by rougher and faster water. It’ll be easier to see them with polarized sunglasses, as they will cut the glare and make smooth areas of water extremely visible.
9. STAY MOBILE - Unlike large rivers where you may be able to stay in a spot for an hour and consistently haul in fish, small streams are designed for those willing to trek. Staying mobile can make every cast valuable. If you’re constantly fishing untouched spots, the fish can’t wise up to what you’re up to.
10. PRACTICE PRECISION - Let’s face it, fishing large rivers doesn’t require much accuracy. Chucking a fly out and hoping for the best often produces great results. Not the case with small streams. Precision is absolutely necessary. Much of the time, you’ll be surrounded by trees on all sides. If not trees, bushes or tall grass are likely. Without a conscious effort to avoid them, your fly is sure to get caught up every few casts. Apart from the risk of getting snagged on undergrowth, you’ll need to have a solid aim to hit the tiny spots that hold fish in small water. If you can’t land your fly in an area the size of a basketball, you’re going to have trouble placing it where you want on the water on your first cast. If it takes you three or four splashy casts to hit your mark, the trout will likely be gone before you nail it. Obviously, practicing on the water is the best way to get better at precision. Find a pocket water stream and fish every pocket you see. You may botch the first couple holes, but eventually you’ll catch on and will still have plenty of pockets to fish. Build your own practice arena. If you don’t often get time on the water, practicing in a backyard is just fine, too (avoid tarmac, as this can damage your fly line). Build makeshift targets from things in your house. A hula hoop works great, but you could really use anything that’s small enough to challenge you. Empty milk jugs, dog toys, or kitchen bowls will all do the trick. Stand as far away as you want, and practice hitting these targets with your casts. Once you can consistently hit them cast after cast, you can try moving back farther. It’s unlikely you’ll need to make 60 ft casts for small streams, so if you are able to consistently hit 20-30 ft casts, you should be golden. One extra tip for practicing in the back yard: tie a small piece of bright yarn to the end of your leader. This will make it much more obvious where your cast landed. Fish in narrow creeks are always on high alert. Without the protection of deep runs and fast water, trout are left much more vulnerable.
11. OVERLINING - Using a line 1 weight above the rods rating will allow the rod to load more effectively on short casts, improving accuracy, the need for excessive false casts, and better presentation.
12. LEARN NEW CASTS - Cast Overhead on LHS of body and Roll Cast over LHS Shoulder. Learn to cast from both sides of the body. Side Cast both LHS and RHS. Understand a Bow and Arrow Cast if only to have a one-shot deal in your trick bag
13. MINIMISE THE NUMBER OF FALSE BACK CASTS - Only one is best, 2 if necessary, 3 as a last resort. The more back casts you take, the more chance of getting hooked up on foliage, and more chance of spooking the fish. Truncate the back cast. Bad practice but effective.
14. INCREASE LINE SPEED AND TIGHTEN LOOPS - Better trajectory for avoiding overhangs.
I hope this gives you an insight to small stream techniques. Most of my tips and trick have been hard won by being on the stream and not wanting to be beaten by the elements and conditions. Find humour in your hook ups and don’t be despondent. Take satisfaction in winkling out that trout from a tight corner knowing that you have made it happen.
Best of luck. Go forth and enjoy that small stream.
John Machin.
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