Thursday, May 6, 2021

Places to look, don't overlook them.....


 I just want to share some info on how I fish a small stream. All of the obvious places are a given, like pools and riffles leading to those pools. The tail outs and other places that we usually find a fish. But I'll show you the odd ball spots that you might not expect to find trout. I'll say this that over looking these places may not be in your best interest.

 

A swift current leading into this awful wood pileup. The sun is high and you might figure that no self respecting trout will be there. Well under that mess is a good sized cavern, the woody debris forms a undercut that, and I will say this with certainty will hold one if no three brookies. Make your cast so that it covers the entire length of the debris jam. Trout may not venture far to take your fly so be sure to cover each section.
 

As  you can see this looks simple. So a cast all along the log where it providing shade will most times get you a strike.
 

This is a perfect place to find a brookie. As you can see I'm fishing down stream, this is how I fish 96% of the time on small streams. The fly is allowed to drift down with the current.
 

Here is where the fish struck. In places like this the strike is hard.

 

This is the brookie that took the fly at the X.

 

 

18 comments:

  1. Nice tutorial Alan. I too often get lazy and just fish the pools. Going out tomorrow to one of those long drive places.

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    1. billp
      Thanks
      Bill those spots can be a challenge but the rewards will come. Back here we have lots of streams that feature such challenges, and I'm certain you have them there in NM.

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  2. Thanks for sharing! I look forward to testing some this advice on my next outing.

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    1. Shawn
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      Shawn I know of a few streams in your area that have places as such. And they have brookies in them.

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  3. The more I read here, the more I learn. Trout season is open out here, now all I have to do is get out there.

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    1. Mark Kautz
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      Mark buddy the school here is always open. I hope you get out and take advantage of the trout season. As Nike say's just do it.

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  4. Alan
    Sometimes we as fishermen wonder why fish are not in a place in the water column where we think they should be. In other words, the most obvious place isn't the hot spot. Many times I have witnessed this on the tailrace and in some of the nooks I fish on the lake. I'm sure all of us miss those hot spots at times where you could get a hit.
    A lot of my drifts are fishing downstream. I can see where the 10 ft. Tenkara would be perfect for downstream drifts, especially on narrow streams; no-fly line touching the water just the tippet. Great post--thanks for sharing

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    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks
      Bill you really nailed it with your comment. Anglers can be complacent. In the places where a tenkara rod can be used by all means use it. The simplicity of it is a pleasure.

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  5. I really do not understand how you can cast and drift the fly over that many fallen sticks Alan, ...you're a magician ...

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    1. Armando Milosevic
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      Armando it's love that makes me fish such places. I know you would be able to accomplish it.

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  6. Great advice Alan! I wish you would write more often about your technique. Brookies are notoriously spooky so how far you're standing from your target area when you cast downstream? What length leader do you prefer? As I live only a little to the north of you I often fish water that looks exactly like the water you fish.

    Thanks!

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    1. Dean F
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      Dean That depends on several factors. Sun vs Clouds, structure in stream and above. Water flow, fast riffles deep or shallow pools. Most times it's between 8 to twenty five feet. I fish a 3' furled leader and 3-4' tippet attached. Now these are not hard and fast rules and I will change as I need to.

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  7. Alan,
    This is fantastic! There are a bunch of "unexpected" places that I would not have tried or placed a fly! This is a real eye opener! Do it again soon on differing waters!
    Dougsden

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    1. Dougsden
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      Doug it's a great way to find fish because they like cover. It's also great that I tie flies because one of the hazards of this type of fishing is a few lost flies.

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  8. Great tutorial, Alan. Thank you. In the tight quarters of the stream I fish most often, I also fish downstream most of the time. Some of my best hits have come from the fly just holding steady downstream of me before I pick up for the next cast.

    Best Regards, Sam

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    1. Sam
      Thanks
      Sam your way of holding in position and then giving that movement does bring strikes. Some what similar to the Liesenring lift. You know the trout are in such places and you go after them.

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  9. Keep in mind that oftentimes these streams are too small and too brushy to make a cast. Dapping is the only technique to present a fly. Fishing downstream, rather than the classic upstream, facilitates the presentation. Sometimes six inches is considered a long drift. I often employ Sam's recommendation of holding your fly in place for a couple of seconds to attract a fish with the strike coming on the Liesenring lift. This technique works just as well for native cutthroat trout in tiny streams in North Idaho as they do in your brook trout streams.
    Bill Love
    Sandpoint,Idaho


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    1. Anonymous
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      Bill I agree with your point on six inches being a long drift. The hold for a few seconds is also a good choice. Here's another choice. Over the many years of fishing tight quarters I have also learned to move a fly in those tight areas, I mean a fast strip. Male brook trout like streamers presented this way. A wet fly fished with a slow drift will catch fish but a fast stripped streamer will move fish to it.

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