NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1227699
32 Nebraskaland • April 2020 Story and photo by Justin Haag all fishing, it was fun. Too often, though, I ended up with a wad of line at my feet and frequent instances of both rod and line becoming snared in overhanging branches. After a little dabbling, I always retreated to spinning gear. The Nebraska Trout Slam, which challenges anglers to catch a rainbow, brook, cutthroat and brown from the state's waters, inspired me, though. Because I am fortunate enough to live in the Pine Ridge, billed as Nebraska's only region where all four species can be caught, I figured I should add to the challenge by catching them with a fly rod. My fly-fishing skills, or lack of them, are often to blame, but I attribute many of my problems to the nature of the streams I fish. While high on aesthetic value, they are not what I would call beginner-friendly. Whenever on one, I am reminded of the words written by the late Pat McManus, the famed humorist for Outdoor Life, as he was distinguishing a "creek" and a "crick." "First of all a creek has none of the raucous, vulgar, freewheeling character of a crick," McManus wrote. "If they were people, creeks would wear tuxedos and amuse themselves with the ballet, opera, and witty conversation; cricks would go around in their undershirts and amuse themselves with the Saturday night fights, taverns, and humorous belching. Creeks would perspire and cricks, sweat. Creeks would smoke pipes; cricks, chew and spit." Whether or not our pretty streams deserve such categorization, their narrow turns, overhanging branches and encroaching vegetation pose some special considerations for gear and have surely triggered many a swear word from anglers. After a sizable dose of struggle, I began looking for tips. For fly-fishing small streams in tight quarters, the experts recommend a light outfit. That is, short rod with light line. Unfortunately, I did not find such a configuration from local retailers. Seems fly rods sold in beginner kits are designed for casting long distances with length of about 9 feet and heavy line. They work well for ponds and rivers, but are overkill and cumbersome for getting around small streams. L et's get this out of the way early. When looking for fly-fishing advice, you might want to go elsewhere. Mind you, I have fly-fished many times, but when it comes to getting serious about catching fish, a spinnerbait or can of nightcrawlers is usually involved. My fly-fishing dates back to the 1990s when I was gifted a rod-and-reel combo package. As with Story and photo by Justin Haag The Pine Ridge Special Step away from ordinary equipment to fl y-fi sh Nebraska's trout streams. 1945 print ad for a Martin Model 27 and 28 Fly-wate Automatic Fishing Reel.