I’m looking for opinions regarding best way to fish small streams. I have had good success fishing upstream at different angles, but I’ve seen some fishers working it downstream. Small streams=spooky fish, right? Your opinions are appreciated.
See you in the hills
The best way is not to use any single method. Some spots call for upstream casts, some for across, and some spots for downstream. You’re best off to evaluate each spot for how you think the fish are holding, and how the current is running so you get a drag-free presentation. There’s probably a dozen other factors to consider, sun direction, vegetation cover, presence and behavior of a hatch, etc…
Fish and learn. Use your instincts and try new things.
Fishing either upstream or down,each have their rewards. Whichever you choose, Keep a Low Profile and walk softly. Jax
I’m a much better Fly fisher when talking fishing, than when I’m Actually Fly fishing!
Learn to read the river would be my advice, understand the eddies and hydraulics, wath the fish and discover a whole new way to fish. Get out there and enjoy.
DOH! whats a wath?
‘watch the fish’
Be flexible enough to cast upstream, across or downsteam. On some of the streams I fish around here, there is so much cover and obstructions that often times there is no was to actually cast to a certain lie and we’ll actually “float” the fly downstream to the fish.
Also, if you don’t know it,learn to “reach cast”. It’s a tremendous help when the current in the stream doesn’t want to agree with you.
Hope this helps.
I have found that stealth has proven to be the best thing I can do to catch fish in the smaller rivers and streams. The river will dictate which casting position is best, be it upstream or down. While using stealth, I have not caught more fish, just bigger ones! Drab color clothing, creeping in as close as I can while trying to stay out of sight, and walking way around a pool if I need to fish it from the other side. Alos, by getting closer, you can get a better drift in dificult situations where there are conflicting currents, or just a small pocket. The longer your casts are, the more line you have in the water to get caught in conflicting currents. I guess to put in simpler terms, Stealth!
Have fun, Jeff
Tis my time on the water, in the mountains, and in my driftboat where I can see things as they really are.
JC,
They may have also been swinging wets…or streamer fishing. As stated above, learning to read water and ply the nessasary tactics is great advise.
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
“Wish ya great fishing”
Bill
Old timer I talked to said he always started the morning off fishing up stream and his rule of thumb always was: fish dry flies up and wet flies down. Believe the previous advice given about stealth has a lot to do with success on any stream let alone the small ones.
JC, they might have even been fishing dries downstream (gasp!)
ultimately, there is no “set in stone” list of rules. the reason you have so many different people providing so many different answers is because…(drumroll please)…everyone is right.
each situation you find yourself in; on different sections, different streams, different conditions, etc. is independant than every previous situation.
my suggestion would be to sit and watch the fish. see where they are feeding, both above and below the surface. watch where they holding when not feeding. know how aggressive they are in their feeding. learn the eddies and currents of the stream.
most importantly, learn to mend. if you can mend your line and maintain a drag-free drift, upstream, downstream, cross stream…it all becomes moot. that and learning your limitations. sometimes, you cannot get a long drift. sometimes, no matter how skillfully you cast and mend, the water’s surface or under-currents will not permit a longer drift.
lastly–have fun. its only fishing. if it were easy, everyone would do it.
Everyone dies. Only the lucky ever truly Live. Take your time.
Chris-Bishop, CA, USA
Well i’m not suprised…as you are a self proclaimed Dry Fly “Only” guy…I love fishing them to…But knowing how effective wet flies are…I could never neglect them either…
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
“Wish ya great fishing”
Bill
Very carefully! And heed the advice by Taoski, et al. Its all in there ('cept the stuff I don’t know about) so re read all of the above!
Ol’ Bill
1932
Thanks for all the advice. I went out Sunday morning and caught a few browns using bead head Hares ear. Seemed to hook more fish casting at angles than directly up stream. Couldn’t seem to figure out the downstream casting just yet…fly didn’t act very natural when I’m shaking the rod tip trying to get more line out.
See you in the hills
fanweeeeee, RW here
I luv small streams above all other fishing. I generally start out by fishing my favorites upstream. Generally I fish about a 200 or 300 yard stretch slowly and
carefully and for years I used to stash a brewskie or three in the cold flow of the stream along the way where they couldn’t be seen.
Later in the day, when the sun got higher (and the day hotter), I fished downstream over the same stretch, working tiny streamers and wet flies among the rocks and other rip/rap trying for fish I missed, now knowing their location…periodically stopping along the way for a little rest and a cold one. Of course I’m gettin older now and have quit the beer drinking part so it’s usually another type of canned beverage. But I still find small streams the most relaxing kind of fishing. Folks I fish with will tell you that I’m always heading for the tribs and headwaters.
Crowds and Big Fish Suck!! All together now…CROWDS AND BIG FISH SUCK!!
Later, RW
“We fish for pleasure; I for mine, you for yours.” -James Leisenring on fishing the wet fly-