I’ve been accused of fishing in a mud puddle if I thought there was a fish in it. The truth is, I wouldn’t even have to be sure.
When I first moved to Missouri 25 years ago a coworker invited me to go fishing with him. We got up early one hot summer day and headed to a small creek close by. As he pulled up to the water I glanced his way and asked, “This is where we are fishing?”
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1st Time Creekin’
The water was very skinny. I could see rocks sticking out of the water. This was not at all like the farm ponds and strip pits I had fished most of my life. But I was game. As he waded into the water, I followed. With a small, rubber worm tied to the end of my line I cast to a likely looking spot, a root wad that led to a deeper hole. I was instantly rewarded with a fiesty smallmouth. The fish danced as they do, trying to shake the hook.
I brought the fish to my hand quickly, unhooked it and carefully set it back in the water. I have been hooked ever since. We fished the entire day and saw no other anglers.
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Creeks and small rivers flow all over the United States. Most of these bodies of water have fish in them and probably more species than you can imagine or identify.
I’ve come to love creek fishing as much as any method I have ever fished. If I were limited to only one method of fishing, creekin’ would be it. I fish nearly year-round in these small waters close by my house. Sneaking away for an hour or two any chance I get. I very rarely encounter other anglers.
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Creekin’ Gear
The choice of gear should not be too stressful. I do not use expensive gear. An ultralight spinning reel spooled with 4- 6 lbs. test reel will handle most any fish you may encounter in these micro fisheries. For a rod, I like a 6-ft minimum for better castability. I use a light action rod. For summer fishing I just throw on a pair of shorts and some light fabric shoes to protect my feet from sharp rocks or broken glass. When the weather turns colder, I will don a set of waders.
Creekin’ Tackle
I like to keep things as simple as possible when I fish. I have a small tackle bag I carry. Inside the bag I have a few shallow running crankbaits, a handful of rooster tail inline spinners, some beetle spins and an old Jitterbug for a top water bite. In my fishing vest pocket, I keep my go to supplies which include; a bag of plastic, small, finesse worms, a bag of Senkos and some plastic crawfish that I will either fish Texas rigged or on a Ned rig. For the most part I throw the worm and Senko weightless letting the current carry it along the bottom. If the current is a bit faster, I will use a small 1/16 oz. bullet sinker to keep it near the bottom. As the weather gets colder, I will switch over to throwing a 3/16 oz jig and fish it painfully slow.
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In my neck of the woods torrential spring rains will clean out gravel bars or make new ones. Fish will swim upstream from the bigger rivers and then find themselves living in a smaller body of water than they swam in on.
What’s in the Creek
I once caught the trifecta of bass in one outing: a smallmouth, largemouth and a spotted bass. My best fish measured 19 inches, out of a hole not much deeper than a bathtub. These creeks have alot of fish. On a recent trip my daughter was amused by the tiny fish that would peck at our legs. We stood motionless in the cool water as gar, hognose suckers and drum swam inches from us.
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Creekin’ won’t ever be featured on the outdoor fishing shows, but if you are looking for serenity and a chance to catch a few fish, pick up an ultralight and give creekin’ a try.
