Small Stream Fly FishingI believe there are more fish lost before an angler makes his first cast than at any other time when fly fishing
small stream. Picture this; you've spent some time hiking into a small stream in back country.
It's early morning, mist is rising and midges that have been swarming around you are breakfast for small browns you have come to catch. You quietly walk up to stream, watching swirls of rising fish. You tie a nymph onto your leader and step into water.
A trout skids away from under your feet, its flight sending out warning signals as bright as any neon light. The feeding fish flee in response and you are left with a section of river devoid of all but midges. Welcome to fly fishing small stream.
Stop and look before fly fishing small stream
Before you get into water stop and look at what is in front of you. This is especially true when approaching small stream. Trout are well camouflaged, especially when you are looking down into water. (A good pair of Polaroid glasses helps here.)
I like to make my first cast well back from waters edge. If there is little cover then I tend to use a long leader and lay line on riverbank, allowing only leader to enter water, as close to near bank as possible. That way, if there are any fish lying close under bank, I will have given them first look at my fly.
Reading water of small stream
The waters of small stream are like those of any river, just on a smaller scale. The fish will be in same types of water that they would be in if you were fishing any trout stream. When you are fly fishing small stream, look for those areas that provide fish with their need for protection from predators, relief from fast flowing currents, and access to food.
