Mountain Stream Fishing

I may not be on the Bassmaster Classic Circuit, but I have spent countless hours tracking and fishing rainbow trout from mountain rivers. So maybe some of my experience may be useful to you.

-Temperature

This will make or break your outing. The concept is simple: Mountain River Water is colder than your lowland rivers and lakes. Don’t even think of a mountain stream as “Water”. Think of it as “Liquid Snow”.

Since mountain streams are closer to direct snow, they tend to be colder and warm up slower than other bodies of water and this definitely impacts the habits of the fish. You may think it is warm enough for fish metabolism to be in overdrive(and it may be in lower areas), but just because its 90 degrees does not mean the water is 90. The higher up the mountain, the more this is true. I have personally jumped from 105degree rocks into 50degree water. OUCH!! Consider the fishing season shorter in the mountains.

The time of day that the water heats up is almost more important to the hill angler. The water cools at night and heats back up as the sun does its daily work, but remember that this frigid water takes longer to heat up and that the sun may track different than you expect. The sun seems to rise later and set sooner in high mountain areas as the peaks block the sun from your fishing hole. One of my favorite fishing holes will not produce a single fish before 11Am in the heat of summer. The water does not get sunlight on it till 11AM as it is directly NorthWest of a large mountain peak. This particular pool will also ruin an anglers day in the spring and fall, due to a ridge running along the Southern side of the river. This ridge completely blocks direct sunlight from the water until the dead of summer when the sun inches farther North.

The effects of a sunless mountain fishery are twofold. The metabolism of the fish are slowed due to frigid temperatures and the spinning lures of choice just don’t have the same look.

When the metabolism of a fish is in winter mode, the fish will slow down to conserve energy and even a hungry fish will not move a few inches for a meal. In some environments, where the water is the coldest, the fish become almost completely comatose. Spinning lures reflect light!! That’s what they do, no matter the color or pattern. When a hungry rainbow see the spinning of a roostertail or inline spinner, its gives the appearance of a fish or bug swimming. This entices the fish to strike! The more sun your lure catches and flashes, the better appearance your lure gives to the waiting lunkers.

It has been my experience that the path, heat, and angles of  the sun are the fishing law in a mountain stream. No lure or flawless execution of technique are above the law.

Sun Hitting Fishing Hole

Watch the sun and it will tell you when and where to fish. Shades areas may not result in bites even though they contain hungry fish. Work towards sunny fishing pools and plan to come back to shaded pools later in the day after the sun hits them.

It is great for all types of fishing and a great fishing pole for folks that are just getting started in the sport. The Ugly stick comes in several different sizes and offers specialty rods for catfishing, backpacking, striper fishing, saltwater, etc.

Shakespeare markets this rod’s strength and durability as the primary benefit, however it offers much more than that. I use a 6 foot 6 inch, medium action freshwater rod that is engineered for 6-15lb line. The rod separates into 2 pieces which makes it easy to safely transport it in a vehicle or strap to a hiking pack.

The Ugly stick is by far the most durable rod I’ve found and is the major selling point of these poles. I use this rod for small trout, catfish, stripers, surf fishing, and everything in between. I strap mine to my pack when fishing in the mountains requires a long hike. This is the only rod I’ve owned that has stood up to the torture of being slammed against rocks and bent over by tree limbs. Mine still doesn’t show the wear and hasn’t broken. The Ugly Stick also has superior line guides with increased attachment points for maximum durability.

The Ugly Stick is surprisingly sensitive! Don’t compare it to the $500 super sensitive rods that the pros use, but compared to other rods of similar size and price The Ugly Stick is the winner. This durability and sensitivity combo make it the perfect rod for any type of fishing, from catfish and stripers to bluegill and trout.

An Ugly Stick combo is available for $30-$50 for freshwater at various retailers, a price hard to beat! The combo comes with the rod, reel, and line, although I replace the line immediately to one of my favorites in the weight I need. The Ugly Stick is the perfect rod for the person who doesn’t know what kind of fishing to expect next week!!

If you need a quality rod that will work well for any type of fishing or you are on a budget and need one durable rod that will last a lifetime, the Ugly Stick is a great choice. For a very durable rod, The Ugly Stick is surprisingly sensitive! Don’t compare it to the $500 super sensitive rods that the pros use, but compared to other rods of similar size and price The Ugly Stick is the winner. This durability and sensitivity combo make it the perfect rod for any type of fishing, from catfish and stripers to bluegill and trout.

Here are the main features of the ugly stick:

• Howald Process™ Double-Built™ blanks and Ugly Stik Clear Tip® design for guaranteed strength and sensitivity.

• Durable and lightweight “Ugly Tuff™” EVA grips. Spinning models have an EVA insert on top of reel seat for added comfort.

• Graphite twist-lock reel seats are standard on most models.

• Black stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts.

• Ferruless design on two-piece models for the strength and feel of a one-piece rod.

• Over 40 actions to choose from for all freshwater fishing applications.

• Exclusive “Ugly Back” 70-day/7-year warranty

Homemade fire starters tested:
1. Jute Twine dipped in melted petroleum jelly
2. Cotton balls dipped in melted petroleum jelly
3. Cotton balls mixed with straight petroleum jelly
4. Dryer lint mixed with straight petroleum jelly

Ease to make, from easiest to most difficult:
1. Cotton ball and straight petroleum jelly
2. Dryer lint with straight petroleum jelly
3. Cotton balls in melted petroleum jelly
4. Jute twine dipped in melted petroleum jelly

Results for burn time:
1. Jute twine fire starter at 2 minutes
2. Dryer lint fire starter at 3 minutes
3. Cotton balls with straight petroleum jelly at 4.5 minutes
4. Commercial fire starter at 5 minutes
5. Cotton balls with melted petroleum jelly at 6 minutes total burn time!

The cotton balls with melted petroleum jelly came in number one and is our best recommendation for a homemade fire tinder. Surprisingly, this batch of fire tinder burned 1 minute longer than the commercial fire starter.

Cotton balls and petroleum jelly are a cheap and easy way to make your own fire tinders. Perfect for the backpacker on a budget

Fishing Waist Pack with Water Bottles

Fishing Waist Pack

While doing research for this post, I realized that I own and use many Outdoor Products.  Although these products were purchased as a cheap alternative and not expected to last long, I have been quite surprised with them. The waist pack with 2 water bottles is an awesome pack for fishing. From everyday fishing to backwoods streams, this pack has impressed me.

While choosing a fishing waist pack, the 2 water bottle pouches were the selling point for me. I drink an excessive amount of water while on the trail and fishing and this pack enabled me to leave the hydration bladder at home and cut down on weight.

The included water bottles have worked for me and are BPA free, however I consider them to be an extra bonus. The quality of the waist pack far outweighs the price and the quality of the water bottles. The water bottles are easily replaced with higher quality bottles, if needed. The bottles have worked for me and have yet to brake, despite me dropping them on rocks and throwing them in my truck. If you want a high quality Nalgene bottle, just swap them out.

The waist pack has 2 compartments, one larger and one smaller. The main compartment is about 8.5″ wide, 7.5″ tall and 4″ deep. Total storage space on the pack is 230 cubic inches. The smaller pouch on the front is where I store my terminal tackle(Hooks, lures, weights, etc) and smaller items to make best use of the space. The larger pouch is plenty of room for spinners, soft baits and some medium sized crankbaits. This larger pouch has is divided and has a smaller flat compartment that sits next to your body while wearing it. I use that pouch for my softbaits because it is sized perfectly for the packages and I won’t have a plano box jutting into my back.

The zippers on the waist pack have NOT FAILED ONCE! I tend to have issues with zippers because I cram packs full of lures. These zippers have NEVER hung up or separated. The large pouch has 2 zipper heads so you can position them on either side.

There is ample padding on the back of the pack that extends to the water bottle pouches. This padding enables you to effectively tighten the pack and not feel any discomfort. I have taken this pack on 19 mile hikes and never noticed that it was on my back. The belt is tough and the belt hardware is just as tough. The buckle has not broken, even after 4 years of abuse. The belt also stays tight on your waist and doesn’t loosen up as you hike. I have also tightened the waist pack onto my 3 day pack to be used as a fishing waist pack or day pack once I have made camp. There is a loop on the top that can be used to hang the pack or to attach a telescoping fishing rod with a carabiner.

The Outdoor Products Mojave waist pack is available in blue, teal, orange and red to suit your fancy. Pricing ranges from $10, at your local Walmart, to $30 delivered to your door from Amazon.

I now have 2 of these fishing waist packs and they serve me well. I keep one in my truck, ready to stop by a stream on the way home from work. I have a 2nd hanging in the closet ready to packed up for a daytrip or overnight excursion.

The Blastmatch is an awesome tool to quickly create spark and start your fire. The blastmatch can be used even if it has been totally submerged in water and never requires fuel. Combined with fire starting tinders, the blastmatch creates an economical and effective fire starting tool. Check out the video to see the BlastMatch Review.

The Dakota Fire Hole or Dakota Fire Pit is a great solution to many survival and camping situations. Wood efficiency, excess smoke and wind issues are several of the problems facing fire builders.

The Dakota Fire Hole is set out of sight in a hole and uses a small tunnel dug facing into the wind to provide air and create a draft. Since the fire is shielded on all sides by the soil, wind becomes much less of an issue. The draft created by the tunnel provides ample oxygen to sustain the fire and aides in a complete burn. The combustion process in a Dakota Fire Hole is a much more efficient way to burn wood and creates less smoke. This is an advantage to those who don’t want to be detected or when the Dakota Fire Hole is constructed inside of a structure, such as a lean to shelter.

The Dakota Fire Pit is also more efficient when used for cooking or for warmth, because the heat created is contained and focused in a single area. The warmth created by the fire is not allowed to escape into the air around the fire.

Fishing Bucket Pack

Fishing Bucket Pack

A friend E-mailed this item to me, asking for my opinion on the pricing. I told him that any type of pack for $30 is a good price, especially a specialty pack designed for fishing. I am not familiar with the brand, however I can assume that it is decent quality based on the seller(REI).

I have seen many different specialty fishing pack, but not one that holds a 5 gallon bucket before.

Looks like a good buy to me, just thought I would share!

Look for Bass near retaining walls or damns. These areas are a great transitions for bass to ambush baitfish. The walls also tend to warm up quicker in the spring and during the day.

Good Luck!

When fishing deep lakes, spinnerbaits work well if you fish them in deep water with a lift and fall slow retrieve.

Happy fishing!

Using a fast action rod will greatly improve your casting accuracy. This is especially helpful when fishing around brush and other obstructions. Stand up if you are in a boat and make quick, short casts.

Good luck!