Yesterday I fished a creek that is one of the toughest in my circuit. Without a doubt it challenges my casting as well as my fish fighting. It's small, 3-4 feet across and pretty low this time of year. I generally only fish it in late autumn or early spring. In fact, October is still a little early for me.
The creek has browns in it. They are from 6-12 inches. The holes are usually under low handing tree branches and fighting the fish, let alone placing the fly, is a real challenge. There are a few more open areas but open is a relative term.
I crawled up the creek, working my way up through wild rose bushes and worked the obvious spots. I'm still not overly happy with rod choices, but I'm getting to a point where I'm not sure there is a perfect rod for these little creeks. In most spots 270 cm is just too long. Yet in the rare more open reaches it's nice to have a 310 cm rod. The rod can't be too stiff, or it doesn't load and cast properly with a 7 foot #3 line. But too soft doesn't allow you to fight the fish and keep it out of the snags. My modified Suzume is what I used, but I'm still looking for a better alternative.
Here are some pictures of a few of the trout I took.
I'm still trying to hone my skills in this most difficult of creeks. I really enjoy fishing it, even tough it challenges me to the core.
The creek has browns in it. They are from 6-12 inches. The holes are usually under low handing tree branches and fighting the fish, let alone placing the fly, is a real challenge. There are a few more open areas but open is a relative term.
I crawled up the creek, working my way up through wild rose bushes and worked the obvious spots. I'm still not overly happy with rod choices, but I'm getting to a point where I'm not sure there is a perfect rod for these little creeks. In most spots 270 cm is just too long. Yet in the rare more open reaches it's nice to have a 310 cm rod. The rod can't be too stiff, or it doesn't load and cast properly with a 7 foot #3 line. But too soft doesn't allow you to fight the fish and keep it out of the snags. My modified Suzume is what I used, but I'm still looking for a better alternative.
Here are some pictures of a few of the trout I took.
I'm still trying to hone my skills in this most difficult of creeks. I really enjoy fishing it, even tough it challenges me to the core.
Very nice creek and pics, Tom. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've a theory bout perfect tenkara rods:
Manufacturers know exactly how to build one. The reason they don't is such a rod would implode the industry since there would be no need to build and release other models cause pepople would stop fillilg their closet with useles fishing gear... Is a tenkara conspiracy ;-)
Be fine my friend!
Hi Tom, I got one of these for fishing exactly the same kinds of streams you showed and talked about in the above post. Here, take a look: https://esoterictackle.co.uk/en/home/117-tenkara-zoom-rod-245-206cm-0700729930823.html
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karl. I have looked at that rod in the past. I'm still not sure about it. What's it's penny rating?
DeleteI do not know what the Penny rating is. But if you watch the Independent video rod review on the link, where the angler is playing a couple of what appear to be 18" or better trout, it appears to have more than ample backbone. And it casts Rigs 12 foot floating fly line like it was designed for doing that. And I have also done fine with an 8 foot #3, level FC line as well but I believe a little heavier line loads it better.
ReplyDeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteHave you measured the index of the Kiyotaki 180 cm? The dynamics of small streams - speed of current and size of fish VS room to cast and play has so many variables. Most of my east coast tiny streams (3-4 feet wide) don't have many big fish or current but do have tight casting room. I have relied on two rods mostly...Watershed 330 which can cast BH flies nicely and is softer to enjoy small fish a bit...and...Kiyotaki 18...which is much shorter and really stiff (great for sling shot casts but not much else). I have on occasion caught the 8 incher with it and the stiffer aspect helps there for sure. Such a balancing act...not sure what the answer is and curious to see what you (way more experience) and rod manufacturers do in the coming years. I think the small stream rod will be an area that manufacturers dig into more in the coming years.
Adam, I have a Kiyotaki 20 and a Soyokaze 20 that I use on really tight streams and both do OK. I also have a Watershed 330 that I enjoy, but it is generally too soft for my waters. It is a wonder small fish/small creek rod if you don't have to battle 10-12 inch trout in fast water. I'm experimenting with some other rods -- trying to find that balance of ease of loading/casting (level line), accuracy and fightability in a rod that can be fished at 240 cm yet extended to about 300 cm (for those occasional more open areas). Pipe dream, I know.
DeleteHave you tried a Suntech-kurenai HM30R. It is a super light, sensitive yet powerful rod. My favorite for that kind of situation.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've had one. Really nice rod, but to long for many of my creeks.
DeleteI had the Kiyotaki 18 and 24 rods, but after getting the 206/245 rod I donated them to a friend, because the 206/245 could do the same things in a single rod. To be sure the 206/245 is not as stiff and powerful a rod as the Kiytokis are, but it is more than stiff enough to control the fish I am catching and it handles the bow-and-arrow-cast just fine for me on the small streams that I am fishing.
ReplyDelete