The Adirondack Park boasts more than 30,000 miles of streams and rivers, many of which hold both stocked and wild trout. The solitude that one can encounter while fly-fishing in the Adirondacks is matched by no other. While fly-fishing the smaller mountain streams for our Native Adirondack Brook Trout, it is important to bring appropriately matched equipment. Below I have compiled a list of the bare necessities that I bring when fly-fishing these waters.
Fly Rod: Redington Butter Stick 370-3
The 7' 3 weight Redington Butter Stick is the ultimate rod for the blue-line trout streams of the Adirondacks. The slow action that is created from using their T-Glass construction on their Heritage Taper allows anglers to present dry flies with accuracy. This rod is short enough that it will allow you make back casts in even the smallest of streams, yet it will give you the power needed to cast the extra distance if it is ever required.
Fly Reel: Redington ZERO 2/3
The Redington ZERO 2/3 is the perfect lightweight reel to match the Redington Butter Stick. While fly-fishing the small blue-line trout streams of the Adirondacks, it is likely that you will be doing a lot of walking and casting, which makes having lightweight gear a necessity. This reel is extremely durable and can take a beating. I highly recommend checking this reel out!
Fly Line: RIO Creek
RIO's Creek fly line is the ultimate blue-line fly line due to its ability to load at close range. This allows anglers to make casts of 10-15 feet with ease, yet has enough power to make longer casts if need be. A feature that is particularly nice about this line is the MaxFloat Tip, which ensures the line does not sink. This line is perfect for throwing dry flies, nymphs, and even small streamers.
Leaders/Tippet: RIO Suppleflex Trout Leader
RIO's Suppleflex Trout Leader is the best leader for delicate dry fly and soft hackle presentations. I highly recommend the 7.5' 5x leader. The shorter length will allow you to turn over the fly with ease and prevent getting tangled in the surrounding greenery. When the leader starts to get cut down from usage, simply add on a section of Suppleflex tippet.
Fly Selection
When fly-fishing in the blue-line trout streams of the Adirondacks, you can get away with only a few flies. It is important to carry a few bushy dry flies such as the Usual, Ausable Wulff, and Haystack. These flies were invented and designed to be fished in the streams of the Adirondacks. For subsurface flies, I find success fishing soft hackle patterns such as a Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail and a Soft Hackle Hare's Ear.
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Thanks for checking this article out!
Tight lines,
Andrew