July on the Water: Tiny Fish, Big Adventures
- bgcglassworks
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Here we are in the heart of summer, and—as always—there is plenty changing in the rivers.
With the warmer weather comes an explosion of insect activity. Tiny gnats and other bugs fill the air, while healthy mayfly hatches are still providing trout with a much larger meal. Trout tend to key in on these bigger, fluttering insects because it is hard to resist an easy mouthful struggling across the surface.
To imitate that activity, I recommend fishing a larger Sakasa Kebari and pulsing it erratically across the surface. One particularly effective technique is to allow the fly to swing in a broad, looping drift from one bank toward the other. The combination of movement, size and surface disturbance can be absolutely irresistible this time of year.
When Water Gets Too Warm?
Although summer can provide some exciting trout fishing, it is extremely important to keep an eye on water temperatures.
Once the water reaches 68°F, trout begin experiencing increased stress and have a much harder time recovering after being hooked. During warmer periods, I recommend starting early, checking the water regularly with a thermometer and ending the trout fishing before the afternoon heat pushes temperatures into the danger zone.
When conditions become too warm, it is time to give the trout a break—and fortunately, our rivers contain an incredible variety of other fish worth pursuing.
I have also started using clear viewing boxes and soft viewing bags when photographing smaller fish. These allow the fish to remain completely submerged while they are observed, identified and photographed, greatly reducing handling and time out of the water.
Sometimes the Biggest Adventures Fit in Your Hand
One of my favorite parts of this summer has been exploring the world of microfishing.
Rather than focusing only on trout and larger game fish, I have been targeting some of the remarkable native minnows, dace and shiners that inhabit our Southern Appalachian streams. These little fish can display colors that rival anything found in a tropical aquarium—especially during their spawning season.
Some recent highlights have included:
Warpaint Shiners (Coccotis coccogenis), with bold black markings and brilliant red-orange coloration around the face and gill plate.
Rosyside Dace (Clinostomus funduloides), whose breeding males develop vivid rosy-red sides beneath a dark lateral stripe.
Fieryblack Shiners (Cyprinella pyrrhomelas), which can display bright red snouts, dark backs, white fins and striking bands of red and white during the breeding season.
These fish may be small, but catching them intentionally requires careful observation, delicate presentations and an entirely different understanding of the river. Every riffle, pool and tiny pocket of water becomes its own ecosystem waiting to be explored.
Beginning in August, I will be offering guided microfishing trips alongside my traditional Tenkara and fixed-line trout trips. These experiences will focus on identifying and appreciating the incredible diversity hiding in our local waterways while learning specialized techniques for catching these tiny native treasures.
More information will be coming soon—because sometimes the biggest adventures fit into the palm of your hand!
Summer Fishing Is Still Going Strong
Farther downstream in some of the delayed-harvest waters, fishing has become more challenging. Increased angling pressure, bait fishing and seasonal harvesting have reduced the number of trout in several of the more heavily visited sections.
That does not mean the fishing is over.
The mountain streams are still incredibly beautiful, the higher and colder waters continue to provide excellent opportunities, and summer opens the door to far more than trout alone. Success simply requires adjusting the location, timing and target species to match the conditions.
That is one of the greatest advantages of booking a guided trip. Instead of returning to the same heavily pressured stretches, we can explore lesser-known water, start before the heat arrives and choose an experience that fits the river conditions—whether that means pursuing wild trout, learning surface techniques with a Sakasa Kebari or discovering an entirely new world through microfishing.
There is still plenty of incredible fishing ahead this summer, and I would love to help you experience it.
New Products: Viewing Bags and Replacement Sections Available
I am now offering clear fish-viewing bags, which allow anglers to safely observe and photograph small fish while keeping them submerged. They are especially useful for microfishing, species identification and anyone looking for a more fish-friendly way to document a catch.
I am also offering replacement rod sections for my Japanese-sourced 360 Tenkara rods, one of my favorite rods I have for sale. Helping anglers keep their rods on the water without having to replace the entire setup.
Reach out to reserve a summer trip, learn more about the upcoming microfishing experiences or purchase gear!
Meet the Newest Team Member
After guiding a Father’s Day trip in the high country and spending half the day chasing native brook trout, I was driving home when I passed an old pickup truck parked beside the road. Propped against it was a handwritten wooden sign that simply read: Free Puppies.
Long story short: meet River-Dog, the newest member of the Fixed Line Appalachia team!
She is only three months old, but she is already an incredibly sweet pup and seems right at home around all things fishing. Let’s just hope she lives up to her name and starts guiding us toward the honey holes in no time!
See you on the water!
Ben
Fixed Line Appalachia
Book your guided trip here-
Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
@ Fixed Line Appalachia
Comments