“There ain’t nothin’ in that creek boy!” and “You alright? Better places than that to catch a fish!” are comments I have heard more than once. I must admit the sight of someone holding an ice fishing rod, standing ankle deep in a creek bent over staring down into less than a foot of water is a little strange. My first foray into the micro-fishing cosmos was more of an accident than anything, I had 30 minutes to kill with an ultra-light fishing pole and the only body of water nearby a lowly creek. Dipping the tiny hook baited with a small piece of red worm in between the crevices in the rocks and weeds produced many the creek chub and although no “game” fish were caught, the fishing itch was scratched.
It turns out many anglers will never catch more than twenty species of fish in their lifetime. There are others who you would swear only believe a few species are worth targeting and most other fish are either prey or a detriment to those species. We often find comfort zones when fishing, rarely straying from proven grounds or methods, when there is so much more to test out, try and to learn. Really when anglers broaden their horizons and learn that there is more to an aquatic ecosystem than “rough”, “bait” and “game fish”, knowledge, opportunity and a greater understanding begins to unfold.
Micro equipment
Micro-fishing can be fairly inexpensive, (unless one gets obsessed) we aren’t talking about 20 plus pound catfish or 40 inch pike, so expensive reels and rods aren’t needed. There are a few styles of rods specifically for targeting small fish that can run up a pretty penny, but if catching the smallest specimen of every species isn’t the angler’s number one goal, they really aren’t needed. A short rod under a meter in length can be beneficial when wading through streams trying to spot fish in rocks and crevices, while a longer pole can aid in reaching areas of fish in shallows that may spook easily. I’ve used bamboo cane poles, fly rods, ice fishing rods and even a willow branch in desperation and often a reel isn’t needed as the line is fixed right to the rod. Beginning with 1/64th to 1/100 jigs, I soon found myself using the smallest fly fishing hooks I could find, this in turn lead to the discovery of a website supplying even smaller hooks and gear specifically for catching the smallest of fish. http://www.tenkarabum.com/micro-fishing-hooks.html
A whole other world was unfolding, sculpins, shiners, dace and plenty of other small species soon became of interest along with juveniles of larger species. Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t waking up at three in the morning and driving a few hours to catch a red bellied dace like I would a smallmouth bass or trophy carp. However I was willing and ready to dip a tiny chunk of bread or worm in any water body when the fishing was slow or time didn’t permit going after larger species. In my books a fish is a fish and any and all are welcome to bite my hook. Many ideal locations for this style of fishing are accessible to all and there’s no boat required! Anywhere in the world, from the docks and piers of resorts or coastal communities to retention ponds, canals and lagoons, with a small enough hook and piece of bait, there is a good chance there is a fish around to bite it.
The further south one can travel, the more diverse the smaller fish species seem to get. There are many isolated populations and subspecies throughout different geographical regions. While most of the minnow species around our area lack magnificent colouring except during the spawn, the further south one travels the more fish one can come across with intense bright colouring and patterns. The darter family in the Midwest, or one of the many species of juvenile sunfish are two fantastically coloured fish families that come to mind. When species count trumps specimen size, each new creek or stream one passes can often hold more than one surprise.
So why even bother micro-fishing anyway? Well for one, it can be a good way to source some kinds of common bait fish, but that’s what minnow traps and casting nets are for. For those hooked on catching and releasing as many species as possible, it can definitely add to the life-list and for others interested in the aquatic ecosystems they fish, it can lead to a greater understanding of the makeup. It’s not for everyone and that’s a good thing, but if you find yourself by a lowly creek or stream, boat dock or fishing pier with the right equipment on hand you might just surprise yourself with the number and variety of species you may be able to land.
Additional Gear
Viewing/photo box
For the best possible pictures and health and safety of the fish, an acrylic viewing box can be a good addition for the serious micro-angler. Whether counting scales and fin rays or admiring the colours, this is the best way to showcase, document and observe the fish before release.
Polarized Sunglasses
Every angler should have a pair or two of polarized sunglasses. Beyond protecting ones eyes from UV rays, they can help an angler see into the water better by cutting the glare. This makes spotting small fish in different bottom compositions a little easier.
Field Guide
A Peterson’s Field Guide to the Freshwater Fish of North America or a similar guide to the areas one plans to fish is a good addition to the angling pack. It can help with identifying species as well as the ranges they inhabit.