There are many benefits to fishing small streams: no crowds, no boats, and fish that are often less finicky. Of course, the trade-off is usually—but not always—smaller fish. This time of year, when valley rivers are sometimes too warm to fish for trout, small mountain streams or spring-fed creeks offer opportunities to cast for trout without fear of over-stressing them.
In this great video from The New Fly Fisher, Tom Rosenbauer shows you how to find good small streams and then explains a host of tactics and techniques that will help you catch more trout from these waters. Plus, Pete Kutzer gives a casting lesson to help you get the fly out in tight quarters.
My number one rule for fishing a stream is to fish close to me first. I usually don’t even cast just dap the close water. If nothing develops I will then fish further and further away from me.
Many times I will sit and watch for a few minutes.