Creek Fishing 101: The right way to Fish Small Streams

Earlier than we are able to discuss creek fishing, we’ve to outline a creek. Whereas it varies by area and relies on who you ask, my definition of a creek is a small- to medium-size physique of flowing water on the mercy of the seasonal circumstances. In different phrases, there’s no spring feeding it or conserving it cool year-round. Save for maybe a bump in site visitors if it receives a trout stocking throughout the spring, it’s not a vacation spot nor a world-class fishery. Frankly, a great creek is ignored and under-pressured as a result of it doesn’t (normally) scratch the big-fish itch, and it doesn’t include loads of “glam species.” There are a great deal of waters like this the place I dwell within the Northeast, and, as loopy as it’d sound, they’re a few of my favourite locations to fish.

I like creek fishing as a result of, for one factor, I take pleasure in solitude, and native creeks are the one locations I can go in the summertime the place I’m nearly assured to get it. Why? As a result of most individuals don’t get enthusiastic about rock bass, inexperienced sunfish, bluegills, suckers, tiny smallmouths, and the odd leftover stocked trout. However my 5-year-old son is. One rod, a number of hooks, a bobber or two, and a bath of nightcrawlers is about all we have to catch something within the creeks. If he will get bored, he can go swimming. He can flip rocks and hunt for crayfish (which additionally make nice bait). To be trustworthy, although, I don’t take him alongside all the time. If you happen to tailor your gear and method, you’ll be able to simply make creek fishing a bit extra “grown up.” Right here’s how I’m going about creek fishing in summer season, and whether or not my son is with me or not, I really feel like a child once more as quickly as I set foot in that water.

Creek Fishing Gear: Maintain It Easy

Whereas so many angling pursuits drive us to hold mountains of deal with and be ready for a variety of eventualities all through the day, a creek lets you be minimalistic. For probably the most half, you’re chasing smaller fish that don’t normally require you to dial in a particular lure or sample. Frequent creek gamers like bluegills, sunfish, rock bass, creek chubs, and juvenile bass aren’t usually selective, and so they not often lack aggression. On the similar time, one of the vital thrilling components of fishing a creek is that the potential exists in each gap and round each flip for a shock from a bigger fish. Within the creeks the place I take my son, for example, each as soon as in a blue moon a 2- to 3-pound smallmouth will latch onto his worm and take him for a heck of a journey. It’s not frequent and you may’t depend on it, but it surely’s value being ready for it.

My favourite creek mixture is an ultra-light 6-foot, 9-inch Omen Panfish Rod from 13 Fishing, matched with a 1000 dimension Shimano Stradic reel. Whereas that rod size could appear a bit lengthy, I’ve discovered that the added size helps ship mild lures and baits extra precisely, and the slower motion of the rod makes the struggle with smaller fish extra enjoyable. I’ll spool up with 2-pound check Trout Magnet SOS line, which is hair skinny however very sturdy. In truth, I can affirm that’s it’s sturdy sufficient to deal with these occasional large smallies, assuming you’re deft in preventing and regulate your drag rapidly.

Apart from a rod and reel, all you want is a small chest pack that can maintain one or two mini deal with trays, an outdated pair of sneakers, some bug spray, and also you’re all set. As for what goes in these deal with trays, it couldn’t be less complicated.

Prime Creek Fishing Lures

On any creek I fish, I’m assured that I can catch something that swims in it with 4 lures. The primary can be the Trout Magnet. These tiny soft-plastic mealworm imitators are available a large array of colours, however brown, gold, black, and chartreuse are my favorites for summertime creek motion. Fished under a foam EZ Float, the micro shad-dart head that comes with them makes the lure quiver and flash because it drifts by runs and seams. You can too twitch the float by gradual holes and runs to make the little jig dance. If I may solely select one lure for creek fishing, this may be it, however I do consider in a bit extra selection.

The 2 laborious lures I’m by no means with out are the 2-inch Yo-Zuri Floating Pin’s Minnow and the two.5-inch Insurgent Pop-R. The Pin’s is nice in shallow, rocky water as a result of you’ll be able to simply let it float alongside and impart twitches of the rod tip to make it dive, wobble, and pop again up. Not solely does it permit you to add a bit finesse to your presentation, but it surely’s not as prone to get hung up as different lures. The Pop-R serves a twin objective. Large rock bass and smaller creek smallmouths will positively clobber it, however the dressed tail hanging under it additionally mimics a flying insect within the water, and white perch, bluegills, and chubs will usually seize it and simply pull the popper beneath.

My closing should have is a Panther Martin spinner within the itty bitty 1/32-ounce dimension. Due to its teardrop physique form, it casts like a bullet regardless of its dimension and completely matches the micro baitfish you usually see schooled up alongside the perimeters of a creek. Along with your arsenal set, the ultimate piece of the puzzle is dialing in your method.

Three Key Creek Places and Ways

The obvious areas to focus on on creeks are deep holes, notably in summer season when the water will get low. What you should be conscious of, nonetheless, is water readability. Always remember that if you happen to can see the fish, the fish can see you, even if you happen to’re wanting right into a gap that’s 3 toes deep or extra. In clear water, depth isn’t sufficient to cease the fish from being alerted to your presence and getting spooked. Ideally, the water degree or shade will present sufficient cowl that you simply don’t must be tremendous stealthy. More often than not after I take my son to an area creek, we by no means go away the “large gap” beneath the bridge, and each worm or Trout Magnet we solid will get smashed for hours on finish. However if you’re coping with clear water, method a gap cautiously and hold your distance. Research the world and determine the place you’ll be able to stand so that you’re not proper on high of the fish. Typically, place your self downstream and solid up and throughout. But when you’ll want to keep away from casting a shadow on the honey gap, get upstream if mandatory and drift baits and lures downstream to attenuate your intrusion. Strive to not kick up rocks or silt as you wade that can flush down into the goal zone forward of you.

One other space you by no means need to go up when creek fishing is a pointy outdoors bend. When a creek takes a tough flip, it usually carves away the financial institution on the skin the place the stream is the quickest. Conversely, the within of that flip normally options softer, calmer water. That slower inside also can maintain fish, however I’ve discovered that throughout the summer season, fish gravitate to the quicker outdoors stream as a result of it offers extra oxygen. The cool half about creek fish in an outdoor flip is that in addition they are typically very aggressive as a result of the present will carry their meals away rapidly. It’s a terrific space to swing a tiny spinner and have it get blasted simply earlier than it sweeps into the delicate inside water.

The ultimate space I by no means stroll previous when creek fishing is an extended, gradual, glassy stretch of water with a bit little bit of depth. Granted, if the water is obvious, you’ll want to be stealthy in this type of water, but it surely’s usually perceived as unproductive as a result of it lacks the attribute of deep holes and turns. I’ve truly pulled loads of larger smallmouths and rock bass out of this type of water, and I consider it’s as a result of it offers a cheerful medium the place fish aren’t competing in a gap, however the slower present makes it simpler to root for crayfish and chase minnows. I’ll hold my distance and begin with a popper in these areas. It’s possible you’ll not have any confidence in what looks like “junk water” till a fish comes out of nowhere and explodes on the lure.