When approaching trout on small streams, keep a low profile. Wear polarized glasses to pick out areas of underwater cover and any trout around them. (Shutterstock image)
For many anglers, nothing is more satisfying than flinging flies for trout on wide-open rivers. However, there are many more miles of small trout streams and creeks in the Midwest than there are larger, fly-fishable rivers. These streams—where fly-casting is difficult if not impossible due to trees, brush and other features—can still be fished with light spinning tackle. In fact, anglers plying these areas often use small lures to attract browns, ’bows and brookies that can grow to similar sizes as those found in the larger rivers. On these small, tree- or vegetation-lined streams, you just need to find productive stretches of water with the right features, choose a...