I got to spend the day with my uncle whom lives an hour northeast of me off the shores of Lake Erie. Arcola Creek is the estuary we'd scouted today which has gotten some national recognition in the past. The thaws here have driven levels to the extreme high side with receding expected to occur over the next 3 -4 days.

This was my first experience on a smaller water source. The creek widths would vary from 4 foot to 12 or so at the most. We made about seven stops and the creek conditions were really unfishable. Our final stop was at another, yet smaller creek. There was some clarity at about six to eight inches with a max width of 6 feet. I was only equipped with a 10' Fenwick as I billy-goated through some thicket and brush with limited bank space. However, I saw some movement and a small thrash. After three short ten foot drifts on a black mini foo jig tipped with wax worms, the bobber was gone. Gone straight down since there was limited side to side navigation.

This was amazing as I struggle to visualize this sizable buck in such a small stream. I netted him the first time as he was mine for a moment. Until he straightened out, rolled out of the net and back into the washout beyond the bank edge. I was prepared to jump in after this one. This was my first photo-op for the Stalkers site and I wasn't losing it .

It may have been comical from the cheap seats as I fumbled over the rod, net, brush, two foot bank and a little adrenaline to land this puppy. This buck is now my new avatar replacement picture. He had great color and tale of the tape recorded at 7 lbs and 28".

I learned, as I do something new each time I get out there, that a second rig would be necessary for situational fishing. I will likely scale back to a 6'6" for the closed quarters battles and also change up the terminal. Rivers and creeks are two different arenas.

Feel free to offer any suggestion or advice to smaller stream fishing based on the story.

This is trippin'........... you guys are making me better at this!

Right on, very nice looking fish. I don't have a ton of small water experience, but I would scale down the rod length for sure save the 10 footer for river situations, it will make the hiking and bushwhacking alot easier. Keep up the good reports!
Ryank

Awesome!! I knew it would not take long. I would stick with a rod that is around 7ft for that kind of water with tight casting room. As long as it has a little bit of backbone you should be fine. Good job and nice fish!

Great job, that won't be a fight you soon forget. I would try to keep the rod length as long as possible, but it sounds like you are fishing some very small water so you may need to go with a 6'6". Just make sure it has a good spine. Also, when that water starts to get some visibility the fishing should be dynamite.

Right-on Jonny! jig tipping is something I need to try more of. 4-12' wide of creek, that fish must of looked like a toad!!

Yeah! Tight quarters it was alright.

It was exciting to see. At first glimpse a toad........before long...a bullfrog. Jigs on this side of town are tipped with three to five maggots or wax worms depending on whether the jig is a small, mini or micro.

I was amazed that the creek was fishable it was so narrow. I've got 6'6" and 7'0 rods that I used through walleye fishing carrer. We've trolled with this gear. Therefore, the spine should suffice.

With the levels up, it should've provided great opportunity for more to get upstream. We'll be revisiting next weekend when the conditions are expected to improve.

Thanks, guys