Sneak n Cast

[DARK30]

Of all the ways to fish, this is my favorite. Walking in a small to med size river or stream is without a doubt my most fulfilling time on...uh, I mean "in" the water. Fall is coming and the fish stories from the years end "soft" water will be repeated in the ice shaks no doubt!

Wading has many different approaches and factors involved when in pursuit of the fish that live in those particular waters. "Stealth" is very important if the water is clear and shallow. I've seen guys standing high above the water line in a near white shirt attempting to fool fish. The only successful fisherman I know of that can catch fish and wear white is an Egret.

Fishing the "twilight times" seems to produce the best but daytime can also keep you quite busy. Keep the sun to your back if possible and keep in mind that a shadow cast into the water means danger to the fish. I like to keep as low a profile as possible and approach the holes from downstream and to the side. When I approach a likely area wether its a hole or a deeper run, I cast across and upstream slightly of the target area. I use a fast retrieve the first few times and then slow down if nothing hits. Most of the time if you have successfully infiltrated the area without being noticed, you'll get smacked within the first few casts.

Noise is a big BIG factor....Don't make noise. The fish will hear you walking in rubble and feel you walking on the bank. Picking up vibrations is probably the best defense the fish has. If the water is fast, flowing over rocks, you stand a much better chance of going unnoticed. If the water is flowing good and yet quietly, your skills are put to the test. Stay low, keep quiet, and move slowly.

Fishing a new stretch that is unfamiliar is very rewarding to me. Its like getting feed back on how well I can do my job. It takes a lot of miles of wading to learn the dynamics of moving water....and yet there is always something new to observe. There are no two streams alike. Each place has its own signature and exploring the possibilities of a stretch of water seems endless.....and of course...The best spot is just around the next bend!

What to use for bait? Well, talk about endless possibilities! It all depends on what your looking to catch mostly. Live bait vs artificial is the first choice you'll need to make. I like artificial and tend to stick with crank baits or plastic grubs. Floating a piece of natural bait down current can be deadly either with a float or without. Bobber fishing with live bait in a shallow eddy of a larger stream works great in a lot of cases but lugging live bait along can be a hassle.

Trout, Smallmouth, Walleyes, Northerns, even Catfish and many others including baitfish can be had by taking a little walk. Rivers like the Root, Blue Earth, Ottertail, are among my favorites but there lots and lots of others with miles upon miles of "Sneak n Cast" opportunities waiting for you!

Do be careful when walking in the water! If you don't swim well, wear a lifejacket....In some cases, wear one anyway! Some waters can be very dangerous if you were to loose your footing. Most of the time when I'm wading, I'm alone....Sometimes its just because I'm fishing in water that nobody else would think about walking in! I was once approached from behind by a Game Warden on shore. I was standing in fast water up to my belly button. He said simply, "Don't bother coming out, Anybody crazy enough to be standing in there must have a license!". My Wife always loves to hear me say.."Honey, I should be back around dark30 but if I never see you again, I love you!"

WET NETS!

------------------
cast,cast,cast,cast......

[Sarge]

Great article! Informative and gives us a glimse into the Dark ones fishing closet.

My favorite thing about "Sneak n Cast", Is when asking for permission to fish, having the land owner say "sure", "but there is just minnows down there", and "I've never seen anyone fish it". This is how I have found many of my favorite fishing holes. Low or no presure streams and rivers are everywhere, And you just never know what you might catch.

[wade22]

I can't agree more. I was lucky enough one evening to run into a landowner along a quiet stretch of a small stream and got his unconditional permission to fish it whenever I want after he saw me pick up some garbage left behind by what he thought was a high school graduation party. This is a quiet stretch so bringing a dog or company is really out of the question.
As the summer wore on I learned a lot of the things already discussed the hard way. Now when I fish this stream - as well as others - I concentrate and focus on my approach to the stream. It's really more like hunting grouse by stealth than motoring out to the middle of Mille Lacs for walters. Slow wading is a must. So is staying low, getting your fly/bait/etc. to your target quickly and proper clothes becomes essential. Small streams are tough to fish properly, but just slowing down and concentrating on being quiet starts to improve your chances immediately. The first time I actually went through the effort to crawl up to the stream, hide behind a fallen bankside tree and let my cast drift out without a breath, I honestly caught my first trout from the stream. A little effort goes a long way. Thanks for the post!

[fisherdog19]

Dark30,
I will be moving to Detroit Lakes in the next month, and I love stream fishing. I've heard that the ottertail river can be good in the fall for wallys and smallies. I'm not sure if your from the area, but if you have any areas where a guy could start, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, are there any trout streams within a couple hours where I could fly fish?
Thanks,
Fisherdog

[EBass]

I agree with being sneaky. I even do that while in my boat in the shallows. I try not to let my shadow pass over where I expect a bass to be hanging out. I also don't let anything bang around or drop in the aluminium boat. (Well try not to) Even my casting has changed to a surreptitious approach. I skip a lot more so I don't make a big ol Kerploosh.

[Aquaman01]

Nice postricle, Dark!

Aquaman

[uffdapete]

Is that the origin of Dark30 (the name)??

That has to go in my repertoire! Every time I've read your posts I wondered what that was about.

[DARK30]

Home at Dark30 means I'll never be late

Fisherdog, I usually fish south of I94 near Fergus Falls. From there west to the border is mighty fine fishin! I've heard the Straight River south of Park Rapids is a good trout fishery. I haven't been there yet so check it for us!

WET NETS!

------------------
cast,cast,cast,cast......