My Passion.. Natives in tight confines.

[Don Strandberg]

I was just wondering if anybody liked fishing the tunnels. Very small mountain streams for natives, and wild brown trout. I havent seen much posted on this subject.
What are your favorite rods, and leaders for this situation.
Thanks in advance.
Don//

[Todd Oishi]

I imagine your area is very different, but I fish the streams in the coastal mountains in my area with a 2-weight fly rod that is lined with a double-tapered floating line and a nine foot level leader (5X). I primarily nymph and fish soft-hackle with this setup, which can also toss dries quite well. I do carry one spool with a nine-foot tapered leader for times when I toss real fine dries into the wind.

It's all good - no matter the choice of setups or flies, as I absolutely love exploring the higher gradient streams, where catching a fish somewhere along the journey is purely a bonus, but not the sole purpose of my time spent on the water...

[Reid Bacon]

I too like little mountain creeks.  Most of the bigger rivers that I fish show the tell tale signs of man, but with the hidden gems its less obvious. Making accurate little casts to under cut banks and over hanging bushes is super fun.  I use a 6'6" 3wt. Loomis with a dt rio.  I typically keep my leader around 6-7 foot. On creeks that have a bit less canopy I use a 7'6" loomis 4 wt. The 7'6" throws small streamers with ease.  These little creeks are full of surprises at times. 

[Dejon Hamann]

I used to love fishing the small mountain streams with my little 7' 3wt Loomis.  I used to love playing chess too.  And a bit of hunting - all though I never did anything but sit under a tree for hours.  For some reason I've lost my patience for all 3.  Now I enjoy fishing big wide open spaces and walking endlessly for Pheasants in the open range.  This transition has always confused me. Aren't you supposed to get more patient with time? 

[Mark Hanes]

Don,

I really enjoy fishing for natives myself.  My highlight of this season was catching a 15' Brown that was only 3 feet wide.  Here is a post on one of my more memorable days out that I am sure you will enjoy.

http://troutlegend.com/fromtheforum/fromtheforum-flyfisherpas-keystone-gold/

[Nick Naclerio]

I love little creeks. I enjoy them most in April when everything is crowded everywhere else. I use a 7'6'' 3wt and mostly nymph but little brookies are suckers for dry flies.

[Daniel Ansbach]

I consider the small stream my little escape...Forget about work, No pressure from other anglers, its like a walk in the woods with rod in hand....Nothing like exploring little streams, you never know what lies just upstream...A deep pool, a grazing deer or the ultimate, a glistening Beaver Pond...My 7' 9"  2 wt Orvis Superfine, a handful of Ausable Wulffs and Grey Ghosts, and some sunken Pilsners makes for the perfect escape.

[Jordan Ewing]

I love small streams. I enjoy the legendary rivers with huge stockers, but there's something very special about pulling tiny brookies out of a 3' wide stream. I use a cheap Cabelas 3wt 7'6" kit (cost me like $80) and is a perfect little creek kit (nice moderate/fast action for nymphing too, but can sling dries.) It's also nice that you can beat through the trees/rocks/stumps without being as gentle as you would on your main rod/reels. I don't do many dries on these streams, though this coming season I hope to do them more.

[Nick Naclerio]

You don't know what your missing Jordan. I went last year to our little brookie stream and fished dries in the same pool (you know the one) for 2 hours and lost count of the number of fish! Those brookies are suckers for dry flies.

[John Killinger]

I just recently bought an outfit just for the same purpose, 6' 3/4 wt. It's a bit different to cast any distance but I can manage 40', not that ever will need to on tiny streams. I just need to find some that are acessable...

[Don Strandberg]

Nick. Your right. The whole fun of this game is the dry fly. It really is all about that. Making cast thru a snuff can size opening. Getting the dry way back in under brush. Sometimes, simply getting the fly on the water. Deserves a pat on the back. In the jungle.

I have spools of differant mono. I have spools of running lines. I have leaders longer then most fly lines.
 About 10 years ago. I went full circle. And wanted to make tough casts with a dry fly. Its so rewarding. To make a perfect cast and hook a fish. And the small stream brookies, and browns are just lovely. And not very picky to fly selection. But make the wrong cast. Or even blink, and there gone.
Also, untill then. I did not know what a bad caster I was. My fishing buddy allways said if you can fish the brush streams. The rest is easy.

I prefer a rod 6 ft to 7 1/2 ft. Mostly 5 and 6 wts. Shorter rods are hard to find with such a heavy line rating. But I feel I need the punch of the heavier line wt to load the rod in tight corners. My leaders are 6 1/2 ft. And 7 1/2 ft. If anybody wants the recipe I would be glad to give it out. I also rarely go below a size 10 dry. All you need are some Wulff patterns. Humpys, and. Stimulators.
Its a hell of a lot of fun. And very challenging casting wise.

[Todd Oishi]

Great reply Don! You cast a vivid image. I'd also love to hear about the formula that you use for your leader construction.

Cheers,
Todd

[Mark Hanes]

well put Don! 

I know I would like that leader formula. I actually really like the store bought 7.5 foot leaders in 4X and 3X. i have noticed that the brookies I fish for really are not leader shy.

I also found out this year that I was able to pick up some bigger wild brown trout by fishing nymphs more that I used to.  The brown trout seem a little less dry fly happy in the smaller streams.

[Nick Naclerio]

Out here in NJ I have three wild trout streams all within about 10 mins of each other. Stream A has wild browns, stream B has wild rainbows and stream C has native brookies. The browns are by far the hardest to catch and for the most part eat dries only when there is a hatch but respond to nymphs all year very well. Stream B with the wild bows is by far the easiest, these fish eat dries and nymphs very aggressively. Stream C with the brookies is also quite easy and these fish respond to nymphs very well but also slam dry flies but not like the bows.

Now this is just comparing three different streams and I think the actual stream has more to do with the fish's behavior than the fish its self but browns are known for being more picky.

The cool part about these streams is that they are within 30 mins of NYC.

[Chris Smorul]

A friend and I were scouting a small stream in PA last week and he let me try out his 6' 6" 2 wt.  I may just for go the 10 ft Greys for now and purchased on of those instead.  I would love to throw some elk hair caddis with that rod into some of the little streams here in NJ.

[Don Strandberg]

The deeper runs were there are browns mixed with brooks. I will hang a tungsten beadhead off the dry. I agree even small stream wild browns are reluctent to rise to the dry. I dont think you really have to go that deep. Maybe 18" or so. Its a bear to cast short in tight confines. The shorter dropper makes it a little easier.
I do not use this all day.. Only in the deeper runs were I think a nicer fish may lay. Then its back to the dry only. Also a lot of even the smallest streams will have sections were they open up a tad. I will add more tippet or in most cases change my leader to my 9 ft recipe. In short use the longest leader you can get away with. Sometimes it may be only 5 ft. I will add some leader recipes. In another post. I am getting to the point were I cant see my typing ...LOL

[Jay Lajoie]

I love little creeks. I enjoy them most in April when everything is crowded everywhere else. I use a 7'6'' 3wt and mostly nymph but little brookies are suckers for dry flies.

Hell yes.  I just picked up a 3 wt. over the winter...can't wait for spring!

[Corey Sullivan]

I prefer this type of fishing and seek out smaller waters during prime months on stocked waters as well. A rod in the 7’-8’ range is ideal for pitching dries under cover as mentioned. I like a medium action rod with a softer tip that will load with a short amount of line or (furled) leader.

On smaller waters in the region I have been to it is a mix of bows and browns, with brookies in the headwaters. Wild bows are less than 10” with a few exceptions with some browns getting larger, no need for a heavy rod. Spring is great and I can’t wait for heavy BWO action in the near future and all but... I really like late summer and fall for dry fly action on these waters, flows can be low and fish can be a bit weary to a sloppy cast but, - there are all kind of bugs on in sparse numbers, especially Yellow Sally’s and Sulphurs and plenty of Terrestrials, which can make fish silly. Yellow attractors, Beetles, and Hoppers and Winged Ants usually account for my best small stream fish that time of year.




A typical Rhodo lined stream in the area.


Most days bows like this are as good as it gets and that is fine by me.


Sometimes you get lucky and get a nice brown, this one came on a Beetle. I am sure the stream can produce bigger.


A Fav. 7' Yellow Glass rod with a simple click/pawl reel and DT line. Great for smaller waters.

[Dejon Hamann]

Nice post Corey.  As if I wasn't jonesing for Spring all ready!

[Chris Smorul]

NJ native brookie----these fish have been found to have genetic markers in their DNA that go back to the last ice age.  This particular fish would be considered to be a beast for this creek.

More details...

Here's where I got him

More details...

I don't think too many people know about this place.  Hope it stays that way.   8

[Nick Naclerio]

Great post Corey!

Don't worry Chris most people just don't care about fishing a stream here in NJ unless its stocked.