I recently returned to my home state of Virginia after a hiatus abroad, and had the opportunity to spend a few days around northwestern Virginia before heading east to Richmond. As such, for the first time in over two decades of old stomping grounds, targeting native brook trout in the gorgeous small streams of George Washington National Forrest. Given today’s environment of social distancing, at this time Virginia is in the early stages of opening back up, and as we had just arrived from Brazil, I was essentially cut off from heading into the local fly shops for flies, tippet, etc., having to navigate the waters with the limited hardware that I had fled Brazil with. As such I am limited to a 9′ 5WT, and a small box of trout flies which contains mostly dries, and not much experience by any means of fishing small streams, having spent the bulk of my last 20 years on the large rivers of the western US, Patagonia and Bolivian jungle, and the saltwater flats of Belize, Yucatan and the Gulf. With plenty to learn and good times to be had, off to the woods I went, despite looming dark grey skies in the 40’s, a lovely treat in late May.

With high and fast waters, yet clear waters, from the recent onslaught of rains, I trudged up the muddy path following the river, looking for any spot that a wader-less guy with a 9′ rod could poke through and make whole hearted cast in pocket riddled riffles. Finding that spot proved quite challenging on 2 of the 3 rivers that I visited, resulting in relinquished comfortable, dry feet in trade for better water access from the ever-present vegetation. The 18 ounces of hot coffee in my backpack and I soon become the best of friends. It was not long into any day though, that I was able to find success on the water with eager brookies ready to bite. Here is what I took away from 3 days on delightful small streams in the Appalachian mountains.

Although not optimal, a 9′ foot 5WT, Sage One in this case, proved effective when you adapt to leverage its strong points.

Cons

• Forget traditional casting. With the very tight quarters of Virginian small streams, in the 3 days that I was on the water, I recall only 2 spots in total that I was able to actually make a back cast. You will need a good roll cast to survive with a 9′ rod.
• Off the beaten path exploring is challenging I rarely like to fish the waters within half a mile of parking distance. I greatly enjoy a hike alongside a small stream long before I pull the fly from the rod guides. Apart from getting a sense for the water and insects, fishing for me isn’t always about the fishing, but also about the escape into wilderness to recharge the batteries. As such I am typically off the beaten path, hoping over logs, dodging through briars and branches as I make my way up and over a large bluff in order to avoid wet wading up to my waist in 40F. Having a 9′ fly rod with you as you trudging through the woods is a real pain, and expect to get hung up. Keeping the drag set high and your hand over both the rod and line at least help ensure that you’re not peeling 20 yards of line off your reel before you realize that you’ve hung up.
• Reduced strike sensitivity I fished mostly with dry flies, but did don on a nymph one day. I was able to successfully hook up on a nymph once, but I suspect that I missed a few strikes. My 9′ 5WT is a fast action rod, which has several pros that I enjoy, but attempting to leverage it to guide nymphs down the riffles proved challenging from a sensitivity standpoint, at least for my blunt mitts when chasing the little natives.

Pros:

• Keeping line off the water Apart from a few stretches of unbroken riffles, there was quite a bit of pocket water that I encountered. Having an extra bit of rod lent a massive hand in line management for a cleaner, drag free drift. As with most situations with pocket water, I am keeping the fly close to avoid the ever present cross currents, working on proper line management to extend your drift as long as possible. I also was tying an additional 3-4′ of tippet that helped extend my drifts a few seconds longer, which did come in handy.
• Roll Casting was a breeze Having no zero backcast territory, roll casting was a second best friend, just behind the hot coffee. The 9′ rod gave better leverage and momentum to cast; coupled with Scientific Angler’s GPX line, I was able to push the fly out a fair distance on the riffles and pools. This made it much easier to find a suitable position to cast (easier said than done with numb, wet toes), make several casts upstream, inching further each cast to avoid lining any trout lying in the headwaters of the pools and riffles.
• Fast action 9′ makes a good bow As the tress and brush enclosed into the stream to the point where roll casting wouldn’t cut the mustard, an archer cast became handy. A fast action rod such as the Sage One really drove the line and leader when needed for that extra reach, and did help land a trout or two that I may not have reached else wise.

Summing up, I had little complaints on the 9′ 5WT in close quarters. It may not have been the best tool in the shed, but a good jack of all trades that provided a few fun days on the water. I would like to have had the chance to carry a 7′ 6″ 3WT and a 10′ 3WT along during the week in the quiver as well for a comparison, but suppose that will have to wait for another day.

Tight lines.