I am no expert, just a guy with over 50 years experience doing this stuff. All I know is what I've picked up in my experiences, and I'm sure I don't know everything.I'm going to share what I do, in hopes that others will contribute to help educate me as well. I also figured it was an easy title for the "new member" to search instead of that post "i'm new, where do I go and what fly works", along with the good natured teasing and subsequent "Welcome to the Forum" if they survive.
Step 1, Do your research. Get an atlas for big picture reconnaissance. Find the area that you are interested in, maybe you hear about something or just want to explore. Look for the green land, like for the national forest. Public land is easiest to access, although I knock on a lot of doors. Once you have a general area get a more detailed map like a 7.5' Quadrangle, or use the internet to search your counties GIS, if they have one, for boundaries and ownership. You may have selected a place, great, if not move your finger onver the page and put it down, that's where your going. Check the fishing rules pamphlet to make sure it's open and what rules there are, then check for emergency rules that may be in effect. The WDFW has a good phone app that finds you by your GPS then shows rules. Other products may have boundaries, ect.
Step 2, Mobilize and travel
Check that you have gas, all licenses, gear, and food and water that you may want and load the rig so things don't move. Only the put items you are actually going to use into the rig. Anything else just makes your rig more of a target to would be thieves. Go pee, grab the coffee, check the rig for gear again then head out. When you get to your destination park where you hope to be safe. My rig is basically empty for this so after I park I crack the windows. If someone want's in they can wire hanger it, and not bust up the rig. A good sign 40 minutes from home.
Setep 3 Hike in, enjoy the walk, don't be in too big a hurry, life goes by pretty fast, and if you don't stop to smell the roses you'll miss it. Besides, for skinny water you don't need to be early.
Step 4, Prepare to fish. Carefully approach the water so as not to spook anything and take a look. The book says you should fish upstream first, but your choice, I often go down. Take a look at the water, then walk up and have a look at the life, I see lots of caddis (sorry bad pic) and a couple mayflies and stonefiles around. I'll use a caddis immitation, always works for me.
Now I went over, stung my rod, straightened my leader, affixed tipped and got ready to tie on my fly when I see all these ants. Now I know ant imitations are good so I go with that. The natural agrees.
Step 5, Time to fish. If you have not read the Curtis Creek Manifesto you need to. It's not just a cute cartoon, it's the best book on fishing this type of water out there. This is where my finger lead me. Notice the big boulder on the right 1/2 way down the run. I've already picked that as Spot A. Experience tells me the best fish is there. I will not get there for 30-45 minutes. I will fish it all from where I am to up over the top, considering every inch as possible holding water.
I'm going to work my way up the left side, casting 10-15' upstream and drifting the fly as naturally as possible. Sometimes I will be at the edge of water and sometimes hiding/ crawling it the grass. Nothing happens until I get to the first two rocks at the bottom right of the pool. Half casting, half dapping with the ant I'm in business. If you get skunked or this is all you find, don't be surprised.
Now it's taken me about 15 minutes to get to the boulder. I got one more OK fish. I'm very gently and quietly working to a point about 5' below the boulder and on the opposite side kneeling at the edge of water. I stay here motionless for what seems like 5 minutes just looking at the water and enjoying god's/the great spirits creation.
I'm gonna Tenkar this. I loop the line purposefully once around the tip once before the tiptop. This keeps the line from falling back thru the guides, yet leaves me able to cast and use drag, I'm gonna need it. I dance the ant on top, then let it sink, lift, another fish. I see a really nice one flash out next time but not again. I bring my rig in and tie on a light edson tiger, because I've seen many minnows too, and swim it behind the rock with my rod. BAM! There it is and it's going down river. I do my best Brad Pitt to keep this guy from swimming all the down to the logjam. I don't want to fly him back upstream. Then I saw it and felt bad, the hook got him in the eye. I think it was BobR who said this is a blood sport. If he lives super, but otherwise I'm afraid it's crawdad or bird food.
I ended up with 7 fish in this piece of water alone. I gave a big shout out to whomever is upstairs.
Upon getting home I rinsed all the gear with clean water, wiped the line with a flannel and dressing, and put it all up to dry.
Please feel free add your 2 cents, and I hopes this helps someone.
Step 1, Do your research. Get an atlas for big picture reconnaissance. Find the area that you are interested in, maybe you hear about something or just want to explore. Look for the green land, like for the national forest. Public land is easiest to access, although I knock on a lot of doors. Once you have a general area get a more detailed map like a 7.5' Quadrangle, or use the internet to search your counties GIS, if they have one, for boundaries and ownership. You may have selected a place, great, if not move your finger onver the page and put it down, that's where your going. Check the fishing rules pamphlet to make sure it's open and what rules there are, then check for emergency rules that may be in effect. The WDFW has a good phone app that finds you by your GPS then shows rules. Other products may have boundaries, ect.
Step 2, Mobilize and travel
Check that you have gas, all licenses, gear, and food and water that you may want and load the rig so things don't move. Only the put items you are actually going to use into the rig. Anything else just makes your rig more of a target to would be thieves. Go pee, grab the coffee, check the rig for gear again then head out. When you get to your destination park where you hope to be safe. My rig is basically empty for this so after I park I crack the windows. If someone want's in they can wire hanger it, and not bust up the rig. A good sign 40 minutes from home.
Setep 3 Hike in, enjoy the walk, don't be in too big a hurry, life goes by pretty fast, and if you don't stop to smell the roses you'll miss it. Besides, for skinny water you don't need to be early.
Step 4, Prepare to fish. Carefully approach the water so as not to spook anything and take a look. The book says you should fish upstream first, but your choice, I often go down. Take a look at the water, then walk up and have a look at the life, I see lots of caddis (sorry bad pic) and a couple mayflies and stonefiles around. I'll use a caddis immitation, always works for me.
Now I went over, stung my rod, straightened my leader, affixed tipped and got ready to tie on my fly when I see all these ants. Now I know ant imitations are good so I go with that. The natural agrees.
Step 5, Time to fish. If you have not read the Curtis Creek Manifesto you need to. It's not just a cute cartoon, it's the best book on fishing this type of water out there. This is where my finger lead me. Notice the big boulder on the right 1/2 way down the run. I've already picked that as Spot A. Experience tells me the best fish is there. I will not get there for 30-45 minutes. I will fish it all from where I am to up over the top, considering every inch as possible holding water.
I'm going to work my way up the left side, casting 10-15' upstream and drifting the fly as naturally as possible. Sometimes I will be at the edge of water and sometimes hiding/ crawling it the grass. Nothing happens until I get to the first two rocks at the bottom right of the pool. Half casting, half dapping with the ant I'm in business. If you get skunked or this is all you find, don't be surprised.
Now it's taken me about 15 minutes to get to the boulder. I got one more OK fish. I'm very gently and quietly working to a point about 5' below the boulder and on the opposite side kneeling at the edge of water. I stay here motionless for what seems like 5 minutes just looking at the water and enjoying god's/the great spirits creation.
I'm gonna Tenkar this. I loop the line purposefully once around the tip once before the tiptop. This keeps the line from falling back thru the guides, yet leaves me able to cast and use drag, I'm gonna need it. I dance the ant on top, then let it sink, lift, another fish. I see a really nice one flash out next time but not again. I bring my rig in and tie on a light edson tiger, because I've seen many minnows too, and swim it behind the rock with my rod. BAM! There it is and it's going down river. I do my best Brad Pitt to keep this guy from swimming all the down to the logjam. I don't want to fly him back upstream. Then I saw it and felt bad, the hook got him in the eye. I think it was BobR who said this is a blood sport. If he lives super, but otherwise I'm afraid it's crawdad or bird food.
I ended up with 7 fish in this piece of water alone. I gave a big shout out to whomever is upstairs.
Upon getting home I rinsed all the gear with clean water, wiped the line with a flannel and dressing, and put it all up to dry.
Please feel free add your 2 cents, and I hopes this helps someone.
