September 17, 2016

Exploring New Waters

I had the chance to get out on the stream yesterday, but I decided I'd go explore a new creek. I found some information regarding this creek a few years ago but I never yet visited it. It's small, and it takes a drive for me to get there, but I wanted to fish it because of the reports of native cutthroats being in the water.

I got to the trailhead a little after 11 AM. The gate was locked but it allowed access for fishing. I was the only one there. I walked up the dirt road for a bit watching the creek and trying to size it up. I had brought with me my Nissin Pro Spec 360 7:3, which is my goto rod for smaller creeks that I'm unfamiliar with. I could see that it might be a little long in spots, but not long enough in others. The typical issue.



After passing a few beaver ponds (I don't usually fish beaver ponds except for the head of the pond where the water is still moving) I came to a picnic area, now closed for the season. I started there.

The creek was small, 6-8 feet wide mostly. I was pleased with the water flows for this time of year. I readily caught 3-4 small cutthroats and one small brown. That's about what I suspected would be in this water.



But minutes later I took a 12 inch brown out of very shallow water. Nice fish! I then took a 13 inch cutthroat. What a beauty! And finally, just upstream from the last fish, I took a 14 inch cutthroat! Really nice fish! On that last fish I couldn't see my line, but I could see the fish come out of the shadows towards the place where the fly should have been. I timed the set to when the fish stopped its forward motion. Got him!

I did bring my camera, so here's the video of the creek and a few of the fish.











4 comments:

  1. Great post. That last nice trout is the Suprised I love on these types of streams. Pretty amazing how a small stream can produce really nice "native" trout. So what would you say your all around favorite rod is? meaning which one do you inevitably grab when in doubt?

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    1. The rod I grab when exploring new waters: If it's smaller water that's not flowing fast I take the Nissin ProSpec 360 7:3. If it's faster current or the possibility of larger fish I use the Suntech Suikei 39 medium. My favorite rod? I'm still working on that one!

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  2. Usually a good sign when you arrive at the trailhead and you're the only one there. Some really nice fish in that video. Curious, why don't you fish beaver ponds?

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    1. No real reason. There can be some really nice fish in beaver ponds. I just prefer moving water.

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