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The first fish for many anglers was likely caught on a small stream.
The small stream was just the right size for the small angler, was
probably safer for the parent or friend who took you there, and
the fish did not need to be big. As our angling passion grew so
did our need to catch bigger fish on bigger water, and the small
stream was forgotten.
That's unfortunate because small streams can teach you a lot about
fishing. A small stream is just a big stream in miniature. Trout
still have the same needs and comfort zones, but it is a lot easier
to find those spots in the small stream. Small streams teach you
to be aware of the tiniest details, and you must learn to wade slowly
and quietly, as the fish spook easily. You may even have to crawl
to the edge of the bank and cast on your knees to avoid alarming
the fish.
Lots of stream
Just a short drive from my house is one of those small streams.
It parallels a major highway for 80 kilometers, but there are only
a few places that the stream is visible from the road, and only
a few bridge crossings. That means there is a lot of stream that
doesn't get much traffic, except for the few anglers who take the
time to do some exploring and bushwhacking.
In places, the stream is not much more than a rod length wide,
and you can easily wade the water anywhere. The Rainbow trout are
not huge, 40 centimeters (16 inches) is about the biggest. There
are also lots of Rocky Mountain Whitefish, which make up around
75% of the population. Some anglers have disdain for the whitefish
and consider them trash fish, but I figure whitefish are better
than no fish at all. They rise to the dry readily, and put up a
decent fight. Sometimes, I will take a limit of the abundant and
under-fished whitefish to smoke - they are delicious.
Squawfish
There used to be a huge population of Squawfish (oops, must be
politically correct here, they are now called Northern Pike minnow,
absolutely no relation to pike). However, an optional program of
natural de-selection has whittled down the coarse fish, and the
numbers of rainbows have greatly improved.
(All previous issues are stored in the ARCHIVE
for your convenience)
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A little bushwhacking can easily place you in a section
of stream where you will seldom see another angler, and if you meet
someone, they are as surprised as you are, and as unlikely to spread
the word.
Secrecy
And that is as it should be, for small streams are
all about solitude and secrecy. In a few of the riffles and pools
close to the highway, you can be up to your knees in the water,
surrounded by rising fish, and the booming bass on some passing
car stereo will get your heart thumping. The best part is they don't
even know that there is a stream close by, and there is a perverse
delight in that feeling.
Light tackle
Small streams should be fished with light tackle; you have to keep
things in scale after all. A little ultralight spin rod with four-pound
test and 1/8 to 1/16 spinners or spoons work well. Fly rods throwing
a #3 or 4 weight, with a light tippet of 2-4 pound, and size 12
and smaller flies are hard to resist, especially an Adams. Is there
a better all-round fly than an Adams? Casts must be accurate as
the bush trout living here just love to eat tackle.
Colors
Small trout from small streams are jewels to be admired. Colors
tend to be intensified in the minute surroundings. The parr marks
make these fish even more beautiful. Sometimes we get so caught
up in big fish-itis that we forget how gorgeous these little beauties
are.
Unless the stream is so remote and it never gets fished more than
a couple of times a year the best way to take care of these fish
is "Love 'em and Leave 'em.
Where is this small stream? Sorry I can't tell you, but I bet there
is a small stream close to your home that you have not visited in
a spell. Perhaps you should plan a trip to small water this coming
year. You may not have realized what you have been missing.
Small stream tactics:
Wear clothing that blends in with the background. Use the lightest
tackle to land the average fish. Fish like a Great Blue Heron -
slow and quiet. Stay back from the water if possible. Cast to the
side of the fish. Casting directly over them can send the trout
running for cover. Please release the fish so you can return.
More of Bob's photos on the Photo
page
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