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The Sage Dart Hits A Bullseye

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Sage fly rod, small stream, Sage Dart, finfollowerI’m always excited to see a package on the doorstep with a return address from Sage and RIO. It usually has some of the latest products inside and an offer to test them.

I was pleasantly surprised to open this box and find a new Sage Dart 3wt rod, Sage Click reel and RIO Creek fly line. Ever since I saw the Dart I’ve been wanting to give it a try, and the timing couldn’t be better.

I live in New England. The recent rains have pushed some of the larger rivers to relatively high water levels, and small streams have been looking more attractive.

The Sage Dart is a great choice for small streams. I am testing the 3-piece 7’6″ 3wt.

If you’ve read any of my prior reviews, you know that I typically test the product outside the intended use. This review is no exception. While I used it for small stream trout, it was also tested on my local bass pond.

To complement the Dart, I received a Sage Click reel along with RIO Creek line, which is specifically made for small streams. Sage reels are always light and dependable, and I’ve been using RIO lines for some time.

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The first day of testing began on the Farmington River. Almost immediately I caught a juvenile smallmouth on a nymph. It was good to feel a fish on the line, but the winds picked up and I wanted to use this rod for what it was intended for – dry flies and small streams. We packed up and I started thinking about where to go next.

Five minutes from my house is a small stream that runs thru town. It is stocked lightly in the spring, but by late summer holds few remaining trout and it is mostly dominated by panfish.  It was a longshot, but turned out to be the right decision.

I tied on a small caddis dry and started catching panfish. Nothing of size, but it gave me the opportunity to cast to different targets. I’m pleasantly surprised by the distance and accuracy you get from the 7’6″ 3wt Dart. For such a light rod, it shot much more line than I expected.  The RIO Creek line delivered the fly softly to the surface and did not spook the other fish.

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On one cast I had an interested follower that looked like it might be a trout, but it quickly turned away.

I dropped down to a size 2o midge, and this brown appeared. As is typical, he refused the fly 3 times before turning and crushing it on the surface.

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The second outing I took the Dart to a local bass pond.

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It was a beautiful fall day and I decided to tie on a size 10 baby complex twist bugger from Fly Fish Food.

I cast from the dock into the glassy water. Within minutes I had this perch on the line.

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Followed by this juvenile largemouth bass.

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Even though the Dart is a 3wt, it provided enough backbone to cast a size 10 streamer 60 ft, and pull in this bass with no issue. Again, I really like the smoothness and distance of cast with the RIO line.

What I like about this combo:

  • Casting is effortless – it is a very light rod and I was happily surprised by the distance you can get with the Dart
  • The Click reel felt like it was made for this combo, smooth and light
  • RIO Creek small stream line was perfect for small streams – loaded well at close range but has enough body for casts beyond 50 feet

The bottom line: If you’re a small stream enthusiast, give the Sage Dart a test. It is an excellent dry fly rod, and worked well with small nymphs and streamers.

If you’d like to check out other review on these products, see below:

Sage Dart Fly Rod Review

HATCH Magazine Review

Link to the RIO Creek line video.

Note: I received a Sage Dart rod, Sage Click reel and RIO Creek line to test, but no compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Enjoy!

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A Few Streamer Patterns

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This time of year the surface action slows and most of us turn to nymphs and streamers.

Here are three streamer patterns that I’ve tied and fished successfully over the past year. All will work in both cold and warm water.

The Guinness Trout – I’m a big fan of Ralph Long of Ralph’s Fly Box.  I started tying this pattern in a size 10 because I liked the name, but soon found it would bring both brookies and bass to hand.

The Thinmint Woolly Bugger – From In The Riffle, this has been a great pattern for trout. Try it in sizes 4 – 10.

The Triple Threat Woolly Bugger – This Rob Weiker pattern is probably my favorite of the three because it’s attractive to summer smallmouth as well as large hungry rainbows.

Named Triple Threat because the 3 body materials (schlappen, chenille and dubbing loop) are all wrapped simultaneously, it can be a challenge that will give your rotary vise a workout. I started tying this in a size 4, but also like sizes 8 and 10.

Give these 3 patterns a try as you’re filling in the streamer box. Enjoy!

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Product Review: Fishpond Buckhorn Sling

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Had a chance to review the Fishpond Buckhorn Sling for the past few weeks. I’ve used other Fishpond products before, and find them to be well constructed  with plenty of useful features.  Here are a few of the specifics from the product spec for the Buckhorn Sling:

  • Cyclepond Fishpond fabric
  • YKK Aquaguard #8 external water resistant zippered main pocket
  • Structured back air mesh panel to help carry loads and keep cool
  • Zippered main storage compartment for secure fly box storage
  • Signature molded zip down fly bench with replaceable foam
  • Exterior VELCRO® attachment for foam, tools or accessory attachment
  • Exterior Hypalon® tabs and cord loops for tool and accessory attachment
  • Integrated guide net slot
  • Exterior water bottle pocket
  • 7 zippered pockets

After spending a few days on the water with it, here’s what I like most about the Buckhorn Sling:

The two zippered pockets in the fly bench are spacious enough to carry tippet, leaders and other supplies. The fly bench itself is large enough to carry a number of flies, more than I typically use in a day. I actually carried more on the water than what is seen here, but wanted to show just how large it is.

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Behind the fly bench is another large pocket with compartments, enough to carry an extra reel, fly box, water bottle, sandwich or rain jacket.

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I don’t personally carry much on the outside other than nippers, forceps and floatant, but there are plenty of clips and tabs for other equipment. The water bottle holder also comes in handy.

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I really liked the zippered mesh pockets, suitable for licenses, keys or a phone in a waterproof case.

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On The Water

So while the Buckhorn Sling has plenty of room for gear and some neat features, how comfortable does it feel on the water?

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The good news is that you really don’t notice it until you need it. During the day I positioned it on both sides, and am happy to say it didn’t interfere or feel awkward with my casting or wading.

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I’ve used a vest, Fishpond Black Canyon Backpack, and now largely rely on a Fishpond Westwater Chest Pack. The Buckhorn Sling has much more room than my chest pack and felt comfortable throughout the day. If you’re making full day trips, I would definitely consider the Buckhorn.

Here are links to some other reviews:

 

Overall, I would recommend the Buckhorn Sling. It’s light weight, capacity, comfort and price (~$130) make it a great choice.

Note: I received a Buckhorn Sling to test, but no compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!

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A Fall Day on the Housatonic

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This is the time of year when you’re reminded that the remaining comfortable fishing days are few, and you better get out and enjoy them while you can. During my drive to the river, I heard on the radio that the number of daylight hours in CT is now less than 12, and falling.

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The temperatures have dropped by about 10 degrees in the past week. With the daily highs only reaching the low 70’s, it makes for some very cold water and enjoyable fishing.

Both the Housatonic and the Farmington are fishing nicely, and there are many new reports touting the quality of fish caught. This post is no exception.

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Yesterday afternoon I met up with a friend on the Housatonic.  We stuck to an area that we knew held both rainbows and browns, and on occasion produced some nice smallmouth as well.

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Thanks in part to the state’s stocking program, I picked up a number of rainbows and browns. Although I don’t think all of these came from a truck, I’m guessing most did. The mix of caught fish was about 75% browns, 25% rainbows. The browns looked really good, but the rainbows had some of the scrape marks associated with stocked fish.

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While I would like to say that I took most of these on dries, the truth is I watched a number of dry fly anglers walk away frustrated while I continued to catch fish on a nymph rig. I did pick up a couple on a Usual, but they really wanted small BWO emergers. We just couldn’t go small enough to satisfy them.

The browns were especially aggressive, and I found that my nymphs were in shreds after 2 or 3 hook ups.

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Another noticeable difference was that the most of the fish were caught in the early afternoon – not the evening. Usually the fishing picks up around dusk. While we did see quite a few fish sipping emergers, they were not as active or aggressive compared to the early afternoon.

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, the markings on the fish in these pics vary dramatically, proving that some of the best fall colors are not always on the foliage.

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Hope you’re finding time to get out and enjoy some fall fishing and the colors that come with it. Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Changing My Mind: Exploring a Small Stream for Wild Trout, November 2013

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At some point in time, most of us have driven by skinny waters close to home and wondered if they’re fishable. For whatever reason, we decide not to explore their potential, dismissing them as too small or classifying them as drainage.

Yesterday I decided to test  my opinion of a small stream that runs near my home.  It appears along a side street used as a cut-through to the main road. I’ve passed over this water several times and thought of it as primarily a place for runoff, with not enough current to sustain anything other than mosquitoes. I was wrong.

During a Google search to determine the stream’s path, I found that, according to the State of Connecticut, my stream/ditch was actually a river. Yes, a river.  A little more online sleuthing revealed that it is known to hold wild browns and brookies.  Best of all, it does not appear in the CT Anglers Guide, so fishing pressure is most likely limited.

I packed the waders, boots, flybox and 7′ 4″ 4wt fiberglass rod in the truck and headed out. It was an overcast, 50-degree day with little wind, perfect for the small loops and roll casts needed for this type of water.

After parking on a nearby pulloff, I walked along the first hundred yards of stream river.  Branches extended over the water, but it wasn’t canopied and there would be plenty of room for casting.  Although classified as a river, it would be better described as a series of riffles, runs and calm pools with plenty of rocks in view.  The bottom could be seen at all times, so wading would be knee deep at best. This was skinny water, but it had potential.

Small stream, November 2013. A series of small pools and runs that seem to go on forever
A series of small pools and runs that seem to go on forever

I went back to the truck and slid into my waders, rolling them down to the waist before fastening the belt. I tied on a small brown bushy fly and walked down to the water.

The next two hours were spent exploring every run and pool encountered. Despite the size, it offered quite a variety of opportunities, ranging in length from 10 feet to 10 yards, and never exceeding 20 ft. in width.  I had not fished water like this for some time, and noticed that my casting improved along the way. And while the trout weren’t as large or as plentiful as those found in stocked waters, the challenge of stalking and landing small wild native trout was well worth it.

Wild brookie caught with a dry fly on a local stream, November 2013
Wild native brookie caught with a dry fly on a local stream river, November 2013

This type of  fishing requires stealth, positioning and most important, patience. Often I cast into a run while sitting on the bank or standing in an adjacent pool. More than a cast or two would put the fish down, so I was careful to time any rises before making a presentation.  There was also a fair amount of crouching and climbing over rocks. At the end of the day it felt like I had a workout.

The next time you’re driving by small local water, give it some thought.  You might find a hidden treasure. Enjoy!

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