Whenever an angler passes even the tiniest trickle of water, thoughts immediately spring to mind as to whether there are any fish in them, followed by if there were, how would I catch them?
It is a completely automatic response built within us, but how many times have we passed a tiny stream and just assumed there is nothing worth catching in them, well Dan Bouskila proves there can be some real giants lurking where you least expect them.
T"here are loads of streams all over the country that aren't fished heavily, and I really believe that gives dace in particular an advantage to grow to specimen sizes. Over the years I have experienced some incredible angling on tiny streams, and I'm going to share some of the things I have learned with you."
Stay on the move
One of the most important things when fishing smaller rivers and streams is to stay on the move. The advatanage of them being so shallow and clear is that often, you can eliminate huge areas as you won't see any fish present. My advice is to keep moving until you locate them, or find any likely looking areas like a snag or deeper pool where throwing a few maggots can encourage fish out of the cover.
Search for deeper runs
Shallow stretches can often seem fishless in places, and very often they can be, but keep searching, looking for any slightly deeper runs. These areas just give the fish a bit more depth and water above their heads which I believe makes them feel a little more comfortable. If fish are really spooky they can be incredibly difficult to catch, so ones that feel more settled give you a fighting chance.
Spice it up
When it comes to bait choices, keep it minimal as you might be walking a long way and you don't want to be bogged down with loads of bait tubs. My two top baits for catching dace are maggots and casters, but a small bag of hemp can also be worth taking, especially in really fast water.
Scale down
When you are targeting dace in clear water, using light lines and small hooks can make the world of difference. Even dace that see little pressure can be incredibly cute and I always find fishing the lightest I possibly can without losing fish or snapping off is essential for catching those bigger more cautious fish.
Pick a soft rod
If you fish with fine tackle, be sure to use a rod soft enough to cushion it during the fight as it will reduce chance of hook pulls as dace that twist in the current. The last thing you want to do is hook the dace of a lifetime and watch it fall off!
