There is a lot to be said for the solitude and self reflection that can be found in fly fishing. Even more can be said for tangling with wild trout in the backwoods of Missouri, North Carolina or any number of small stream gems that can be found across the U.S. Sure, stocked streams and rivers have their place, and without them, the sports’ popularity would perhaps wane until only a number of hardcore anglers remained. Fly fishing for wild trout definitely is a sport of skill and cunning – if you do not practice a different approach in the backwoods, most every cast could be in earnest. Below are just a few tips that I have come up with that will hopefully improve your day on the water, regardless of your destination.

• The most important tip that anyone can be given for fishing for wild trout is to be stealthy. Trout have amazing vision and in the wild are very sensitive to anything out of the ordinary. Part of being stealthy is to dress for the occasion. This means wearing mute colors / earth tones. Don’t expect to hook up to a trophy rainbow wearing your new bright red fishing shirt. In addition, you MUST stay out of the water as much as possible. Trout are sensitive to even the smallest riffle and will more than likely dart away well before you are within casting distance if you tromp through the water to get into position. When you must wade, always approach from downstream and stalk your target area as if your life depended on it.
• Another tip is not to waste too much time on a single riffle, pool or any area that looks fishy. Try as you may to make the perfect cast, you’re typically only going to get one or two casts to fool a wild trout into taking your fly. Chances are (especially if you scout out the waters in advance), there will be more
  places to land your fly upstream. Continuing to advance ensures that you will have the opportunity to entice more trout.
• A common mistake that many anglers make on smaller waters is to fish with larger leader lengths that are more appropriate for rivers or wider streams. You need to bring your leader size down on a small stream. Too long of a leader will lead to inaccuracy, which is something you cannot afford when hunting wild trout. Most of your casts will not require that long of a leader. This does not mean that you need to scale down your rod size. This is a common misconception. Although a longer rod can feel cumbersome in the tight confines of some springfed creeks, they are also a godsend, allowing you to make more effective roll casts and to do things that shorter rods cannot.
• Use short casts. It may take some time to stalk your target area properly and get into range, but a short case is invariably an accurate cast. This gives you the best chance to put the fly in a proper position, enhancing your ability to land a trout. Trout do not get to 18 plus inches by being stupid. If you want to fool a wild rainbow or brownie, you need to be accurate. Also, keeping your casts short keeps your fly line off of the top of the pool or riffle that you are fishing.
• Fly pattern selection is not as big of a deal as you may think in small streams. As a general rule, if you are casting a fly that is not completely out of the ordinary for your location, and that fly is presented properly, chances are, a fish will find it. One of the main challenges in small stream fishing is the seeming overabundance of smaller sized trout. They seem to be everywhere. If your fly is consistently being taken by smaller trout, try a drastic change in pattern and / or size. If your dry fly is consistently pulling up sub six inch fish, try tying on a nymph or a larger pattern. Chances are that if you are confident in your approach to a particular target area, there will be plus sized fish waiting. The challenge is finding something that they alone are willing to feed on.

These are just a few tips to help you out on the smaller streams that you may travel to. These streams are an excellent resource and a way to improve your craft. If you have any other tips, feel free to leave a comment so our other readers can benefit from them. Thanks, and good luck out there!

Tags: fishing tips, Fly Fishing, small stream fishing, trout fishing