Small Streams, Nymphs, Tenkara And "Monsters"

"Many are hooked here, but few are landed" I can't remember who said that, or where I read it but it sure applies to places like this. I did manage to take one brookie in this spot and although it did not seem overly hard to do at the time. Looking back at it now I feel a little different. I started fishing a dry fly, a foam black ant. I figured it was easy to see and it's been working well for the last few weeks and it just might be the easiest fly to work through the changing currents in this section of stream. Well common logic doesn't always work...one then two ants found their way into the wrong places. A very sparse soft-hackle was called upon and it fared better then the ants, but it did not work. It was at this time I pulled out a fly I don't often fish, a beadhead nymph. To be exact a beadhead hares ear nymph.

Fast water, changing currents and somewhat shallow water are problems when fishing nymphs. And to add to it I was fishing a 5' Tiny Tenkara rod. On the third drift a substantial strike took place, but no hookup. Several more drifts and a hookup.

Man what a beautiful wild brookie...Now I grant you this is not a "monster"...and I'm happy about that. A "monster"..defined as "an imaginary creature that is typically large, ugly and frightening"...none of that applies to this wild jewel.

I learned that nymph fishing with a Tenkara rod may be easier then fishing it with a conventional fly rod in small streams.

"Carots" And Brown Trout

A slight change over the last week or so brought me to a couple of different streams in search of a few naturalized species of trout. The brown has been here for over a century and has proven itself to be quite a challenge for the fly angler. I love them for the variations and downright toughness when hooked. I chose to tackle them for the first time with my Tiny Tenkara, a real experience for sure. It has been a dry and hot spell of late, the exceptions being some pretty impressive thunderstorms that dumped between 2-4" of rain each time they set up. This has kept the streams in decent condition. Water temps have been good with readings in the high 50's to low 60's. Mornings have bee crazy with fog and clouds that break into sunshine, the latter brings the heat and a quick departure from me.

Brown trout at this time of year like moving water. Those quiet slow moving pools don't seem to hold them. Any way ant and bomber patterns will really draw strikes in those riffled areas. Tailouts and the heads of pools will also produce action.

Diverse...this is an example of what I like in brown trout...a lack of spots, almost salmon looking.

Company on the stream.

You see that log in the water, a likely holding spot. It has the capability of snagging a few lies too. But when all things come together rewards and a first take place.

This hooked snout male wild brown crushed a small "carot" fly as it neared the log. The fish was strong and really tested the Tiny Tenkara...eventually it realized that I was going to win this battle and settled in at my hand.

The 4th Of July 2020

Happy Birthday America

Hope all of you have a Happy and safe 4th

Tenkara....

If you have followed this blog for any length of time you have seen me post many a Tenkara fly. I have always liked the simple style of tying and the use of a very few materials to create fish catchers. My method of presenting Tenkara flies has been with conventional fly fishing gear. I have from time to time thought about purchasing a Tenkara rod but I just thought it may be a bit costly and you all know that once bitten the costs only rise.

I had an encounter on a small stream with a little lady and her dad that finally showed me that taking up Tenkara need not be costly. They introduced me to the "Tiny Tenkara" rod. I went home that day that this was the time to purchase, and the Tiny Tenkara rod was the one. A few days later the rod was at my door. As you can see from the photo it is quite small. Opening it up and extending it to it's 5' length I felt like I had a perfect tool for my little streams. I configured a line, it was a piece of an old floating line I had, a length of tippet and off I went.

It took but a few casts to get the feel of the rod, which I might add is very sensitive and responsive. After a couple of dropped fish I finally hooked my first brookie and brought it to hand.

This has been a very good fly for me. Pretty simple would you agree?

A 5' rod, a section of line, and a fly...wow you talk about simplicity. By the way the rod cost 52.00.

Thanks Nate and "Nattie"