How do you fish creeks for bass and bluegills?

[Joe Ditmer 0]

Flies, and your style of fishing in creeks for bass and gills.

[jhammer 0]

I use small woolly buggers and streamers and I just cast them wherever looks good.

 

I've done it that way for years and have always done well. If the creek has a little more current, I'll throw in a mend or two to help the fly get down and then I'll start retrieving it.

[ditz2 0]

In the small creeks I fish I look for where the current flows along a bank and the water is deep. 'Deep' may be 5' and it may be 2' depending on the area. Rocky banks are much better than mud and generally the cast must be a foot or less from the structure. I dead drift mostly but sometimes they want it moving. It is a big plus if it is in the shade rather than in the sun. I almost always start with my #10 yellow craft foam spiders for gills which is most of my fishing. Small poppers will work as well but the spiders are easier to tie and I lose several each season because I put it in the thick of things. I also use small craw imitations mostly dead drifted. You never know what you might catch on these. I have a new one to try this season. I also like shiminnows. White or chartruse mostly. I seldom use any weight more than medium beadchain but there is little water over 3' deep either. I also intend to use more soft hackles this season.

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[Bucket 0]

I look for falling logs / branches and for undercuts in the bank. Shoot for slower water/ the edge of pools. It never hurts to try rubber-legged wooly bugger.

[TheCream 0]

I have used a real simple fly pattern for creek fishing that has done well. Growing up, I loved fishing small creeks with UL spinning gear and 1.5" tube jigs. For the fly version, I tie basically a tube jig copy. I usually tie it on a #8 streamer hook, the recipe is simple:

 

-eyes: lead/brass dumbbell eyes

-tail: rubber legs/skirt material

-body: ice chenille/cactus chenille in appropriate size

 

Simple and effective.

[chriswalrath 0]

Most times along a creek or a stream I am in constricted space. This means roll casting with a short rod. That's when I call on my 7.5' 5wt setup. I'll tie on a smallish (12) dry, be it an imitation or a nymph. Something that will stay up to avoid tangle in submerged rocks/logs that I may not be able to get to to free the bait. I like to look for natural overhang (rocks, logs, brush, root matt) and roll the fly just under the edge, present the fly like a jumper. I try to cast upstream a bit so I can draw as it drifts. Downstream and the current takes the fly toward the middle of the current. Mornings, sunsets and overcast (non-front) days seem to do the best. Especially once things warm up.

[ditz2 0]

I guess I should have added that I use either a 5wt or 2wt 6'rod and it works great. Both are TFO signature and would'nt trade them for any rod on the market.