Summer brings unique challenges and joys to tenkara fly fishing on Driftless spring creeks.
By late June, the conditions on Driftless spring creeks have
changed dramatically from the easy going days of Spring. Grass and weeds along
the banks grow jungle-thick and face high. Pesky insects like gnats can swarm
thick enough to make you run screaming back to the truck. Heat waves can drive
water temps so high that we often stop trout fishing for weeks at a time. But
sometimes things line up perfectly for a spectacular day of tenkara fly
fishing - which is exactly what happened on the Summer Solstice!
When we were making plans to fish the 21st, we really wanted
to chase smallmouth, but knew that recent rains had blown out the streams we
fish, so that was off the table. As luck would have it, a cold front brought
cooler air into the area, and we were certain that we could find fishable trout
water in the smaller watersheds that clear quickly after rains. The challenge
would be that the forecast was for a bright and sunny day - a combination that
doesn't mix well with crystal clear spring creeks.
Now then, usually weather will conspire against us. If
conditions are cloudy and cool when we leave the house, the sky will typically
clear up and go bright blue about the time we hit the pull-out and get geared
up. But somehow this time we won the lottery! A light cloud cover moved in as
we got closer to the stream. By the time we got there we had perfect conditions
- overcast, very little wind, and water temps of 59 degrees - A SUMMER SOLSTICE
MIRACLE!
We access this section of Parr Creek legally by parking near
a small feeder and following it to the main channel. The feeder itself is too
small to fish, except for this pool right by the road. We refer to it as the
"Batting Cage" because we like to fish it as warm-up before moving on
to the main event. As we approached from downstream, several fish were feeding
the top - a good sign.
I slipped into the creek to get low, kept close to the bank
using the grass to mask my profile, and moved slowly into position.
Dead-drifted presentations of a Cranefly
Orange Snowcone Kebari produced two Brookies from the tail-out in rapid
succession. A few steps forward and another cast produced a Brown. Mike
finished rigging and swapped out into the casting slot, prospecting the same
zones I had hit with his favorite size #16 pheasant tail nymph, producing a few
more. We traded shots while working the entire pool, taking fish off the surface
with the kebari and along the bottom with the nymph, picking up a dozen trout
in 15 minutes before the pool shut down. Not a bad start!
We moved out to fish the nice pool that forms where the
feeder joins Parr creek, again slipping into the water downstream and creeping
up into position, and again happy to be greeted with rising fish. This pool
produced several fish in the open areas and head, but offered some unique
challenges. For example - the plants growing in the water created a raft that
made it very difficult to place a presentation near the "true" cut
banks along the left side of the pool. Even though we worked it thoroughly, we
were unable to draw any fish out of the deep cover - the rafts pushed the
presentation zones too far from the holding positions, and the fish either
couldn't see the flies or were unwilling to move 3-4 ft to get them. We know
they were there, as we spooked several out of the bank when we moved forward
through the pool. Still - don't pass those up when prospecting summer streams,
you never know if you'll get lucky!
It wasn't just aquatic vegetation that proved challenging.
High grass interferes with an angler's ability to fish from the bank.
Overhanging stalks seriously restrict casting and drifting lanes. Presentation
zones shrink to pinpoint slots in snag-magnet areas. You've got to get serious
about targeting and fly control to get the most out of Summer water. The good
news is that a tenkara fly fishing rod with proper line tension delivers that
in spades; it is the right tool for the job!
Despite the obstacles, we had a phenomenal day, as the fish
were eager to feed below surface and above. We brought just under 40 to the net
in three hours, including a hefty 12-inch wild Brook trout. On some pools we
pulled 4-6 fish at a time. Sometimes, it was "one cast, one fish" all
the way up a run, other times we had to make extremely technical casts at
difficult angles to reach a prime lie. We pushed ourselves and racked up fish
that we would not have caught if we weren't willing to take risks.
This was one of those days when everything lines up and
conditions are...perfect. Heck, I even fished the entire day with one single
fly - I can't remember the last time I hit the water didn't lose at least one!
Learn the fundamental tactics of tenkara fly fishing and
keep a close eye on local conditions, and if you throw in a little luck - you
may be gifted with a day like this too!
- Matt @ Badger
This post was originally published at http://www.badgertenkara.com/badger-tenkara-blog/simply-superb-tenkara-fly-fishing-on-the-summer-solstice
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