There is a rhythm to small stream fly fishing that defies contemporary human nature.

We are, after all, the “get ‘er done” species, yet striding briskly up to a small plunge pool – as if you were powering your way into a Starbucks for your caffeine fix – offers up only empty places where trout used to be.

“Sneaky” is absolutely necessary – a truth known to every predator on the planet save the one who has forgotten how to hunt outside the local supermarket.

A small stream rainbow trout

Who's Huffy?

With midnight already behind me and a full day ahead, this particular fly fishing adventure will be told in images instead of words (outside of a few details).

That’s because there exists another universal truth – this one not forgotten by man – that suggests it’s far better to make time to fish than to steal time to report about it, so beyond telling you Older Bro and I fished this tiny stream last Saturday (I fished a 7′ 3wt Diamondglass rod, and one glance at the dense willow thickets should tell you why) – and tossing in a few details – you’re largely on your own.

fly fishing a small stream

Every once in a while we'd fish a willow-free area (and love it)

I’d fished this stretch a month ago, and it fished better then. It’s later now and the water was just a teensy bit lower, the fish were spookier, and despite accumulating a lot of time on my hands and knees, the body count was lower. It’s even possible I was handily outfished by Older Bro.

Not all small stream pictures involve trout...

A post-fish cleanup of the 7' 3wt Diamondglass...

Fishing a really rugged stretch of water might be the ultimate weight loss plan; once you start rock hopping from one pool to the next, you basically have to maintain your momentum. Stop, and you’ve just made your job twice as hard.

By the end of the day, I was beat and tired enough that the walk out seemed a lot longer than it was. Thus do we offer proof of Relativity.

fly fishing, gymnastics, what's the difference?

A day of this, and we were both beat...

The fish weren’t particularly selective – though several did flash on and then refuse the stimulator I fished early in the day – but they were far from pushovers.

For the record, no trout in water this thin and clear is a pushover.

Royalty in Feathers

Royal Wulff worked about as well as anything else...

I have no idea why I took this...

Boulders are the angler’s best friend; willows his biggest enemy. And – unless you’re really, really into tying knots – 4x tippet is pretty much required.

Hiding from trout

Stand tall, and you'd go fishless. Slink and you'd do OK...

Hey, I’m in a picture, though I’m also reminded that we were fishing in the midst of the rifle season for deer, which leads me to wonder if I shouldn’t have ordered that blaze-orange Boonie hat.

In fact, I think I will.

The Trout Underground in his natural habitat

Rare photo of Fly Fishing's Most Beloved Blogger

See you on a small stream, Tom Chandler.

Posted in Backcountry, fiberglass fly rods, Fishing Report.