Small stream fly fishing is the root of some fly fisherman, and a passion to many. Countless fishing trips have been made by anglers into the mountains catching wild trout native to the water. Some fishermen learned in their youth or as beginning anglers to fish these types of streams, others took it up later in life as a new fly fishing venture. Fly fishing small mountain streams is a rewarding experience, putting anglers up close and personal to the trout being pursued. Some of the fishing is easy and some is rather technical, never less it is enjoyable.
Learning to Catch the Larger Fish
Getting a feisty trout to take a fly is not a difficult task, and many trout have been pulled from the waters of small streams. Most of the fish caught however, are small to average in size. Most of the time, bigger fish are spooked from the hole and forced into hiding.
This generally happens because the angler is focused on catching fish and not on catching a fish. In order to catch the bigger fish, fisherman needs to focus on catching that particular fish within each pool. Proper tactics need to be executed to be successful.
Proper Fly Selection
First, the proper fly needs to be found to match what the fish are feeding on. If the average size fish are hitting consistently on a certain fly and size, go up one fly size of the same pattern. Next, before the hole is to be fished, spend a few moments studying the water. Think like a ‘big fish’ and look for feeding lanes near cover. Bigger fish like to feed close to where they can quickly hide from danger. Many larger fish have been caught in the fast flow of whitewater near the head of a pool.
How to Get in on Fish Without Spooking Them
Stealth is a must when approaching a pool. Remember, fish get big for a reason, they are smart and know how to survive. Set up to fish each hole, keep a low profile, locate your casting spot and lay the fly down as gently as possible. Try to make every cast count, casting accurately and maintaining a good dead drift with the fly. Use a good floatant to keep a dry fly floating high on the water. Dry the fly between casts if the fly submerges in the current. There is no consistency on how a large fish takes a fly, so be prepared at all times. Sometimes they gently come up and ‘sip’ the fly, slowly swimming away with it. Other times the strikes can be with vigor and almost startling to the angler.
Many streams harbor quality fish, considered large for the size of the stream. Experience in fishing streams, and a little preparation, will help anglers catch larger than average fish. Make it a goal, when small stream fly fishing, to try and catch one good fish instead of a bunch of fish. This will make you a more consistent angler.
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