In the first installment of our three-part series on stream fishing, we took a look at how trout in a creek behave, and where to find them. This time we’re going to talk about what tackle you’ll need to catch them.
Most important is your choice of fishing rod. You don’t want a rod that’s too long or too heavy-duty when you’re fishing a stream, for a couple of reasons. First, the fish here don’t get as big as they would in a lake or pond. You’ll be fishing mostly for pan-sized trout, with a few big ones thrown in. A heavy rod not only takes a lot of the fun out of it, it makes it difficult to feel when one of these little guys takes your bait. Also, many areas along the bank of a creek or stream are brushy, with overhanging tree limbs and other potential snags. A long rod will just get hung up on everything and keep you from having a good time. You’ll be dealing with short distances, as well. Being able to make long casts isn’t necessary; being able to make short casts with precision and accuracy is.
With all this in mind, my recommendation for the perfect stream fishing rod is a 5- to 5 1/2-foot ultralight spinning rod with a well-matched reel. You could push it to six feet if you wanted to, and I know one guy at the other extreme who fishes the creek with an ice fishing pole. Although I don’t fly fish, I’m pretty reliably informed that a 5- to 6-weight fly rod is about right for trout under these types of conditions. You’ll want to use the lightest line you can get away with, for reasons that will become clear when we discuss technique. I like 4-lb test. It’s thin enough that it won’t interfere with proper presentation, but you can still bring in a decent-sized fish on it. For most stream fishing applications I use Stren Hi-Vis Gold monofilament, because it makes it easy to see where your line is going. The fish don’t seem to notice the bright yellow line. If you’re worried that the line color might spook the fish, there are also red fishing lines out there now that people tell me are highly visible above water but disappear from view below. Hooks should be pretty small – I prefer #14 treble hooks for fishing with salmon eggs, or a slightly larger single hook for worms or crickets.
Since a stream fisherman tends to cover a lot of ground, a fishing vest is probably the most convenient way to carry your stuff. You can find some relatively inexpensive ones if you look around. Organize your hooks, weights, lures, etc. in small plastic tackle boxes and stash them in the vest’s pockets, and away you go. It beats trying to lug a traditional tackle box with you as you move up and down the stream. A net is another must-have, since picking your fish up out of the water with an ultralight pole like I discussed above is a really good way to break the rod tip off. Get a short-handled net so you can net easily with one hand and handle the pole with the other. Make sure your pliers, hook remover, knife, and stuff like that are also located someplace where you can get to them easily with one hand.
An optional item, but one that definitely makes your life easier when fishing streams, is a good pair of waders. These will allow you to get into those secluded pockets that you just can’t reach from the bank, and will also allow you to move out into the water to cast into areas that would otherwise be inconvenient to fish. Waders come in a few different styles. I’ve found that the so-called “Guide Pants” work best for me; of course this is very much a matter of personal preference. Whatever style of waders you decide to get, try to find a pair with felt-soled boots. The felt soles give a far better purchase on slippery underwater rocks than lug soles.
That’s my take on tackle. In the next (and last) installment of our stream fishing series, we’ll look at actual fishing technique.
May 11, 2008 at 12:28 am |
nice blog mike, i get a lot info here, look like you are a pro fisher