As runoff continues to subside, our favorite small streams are coming to life. Creek fish make up for their lack of size with voracious appetites and an unmatched love for dry flies. As temperatures continue to rise along the Front Range, it's hard to beat wading knee-deep in a cool mountain creek or stream picking every fishy pocket you can find. With that in mind, I've cultivated a collection of gear that will enhance your next day on a small stream.
SIMMS Intruder Wet Wading Boot
I'm a believer. After years of using neoprene Guide Guard Socks combined with my standard wading boots, I made the plunge and bought a pair of the Intruder Wet Wading Boots. Comfortable, durable, and simple. These boots have changed my wet wading life. With an integrated neoprene cuff to keep out rocks and the like, I don't have to worry about my gravel guards unhooking and line tangling around the hook. These boots feature a Vibram Megagrip rubber sole and they're a game changer for those long summer days wet wading until the sun sets.
Topo Designs Quick Pack
We've praised the Quick Pack before and with good reason. It's a versatile, sturdy, surprisingly spacious pack that's perfect for carrying a couple small fly boxes and the essentials for your next day creekin'. It can be worn cross-body or around your waist and is handmade in Colorado. If you don't need to carry everything you own on the water, the Quick Pack is for you.
Sage Trout Fly Reel
Drawing inspiration from the iconic Sage 500 series reels, the new Sage Trout Fly Reel harkens back to the simpler times and is a nod to the past. Don't let the classic stylings fool you, the TROUT reel features the One Revolution, Sealed Carbon System (SCS) drag. Durable and dependable, it's a great option for small streams and big rivers alike.
Grayl Geopress Purifier
If you want unlimited water over the course of the day, but don't have a personal sherpa to haul that water around, the Grayl Geopress Purifier is a great option. The Geppress makes 24 ounces of sage, clean drinking water with eight quick seconds of elbow grease. Simply Fill. Press. Drink. The Grayl Geopress Purifier removes waterborne pathogens (99.99% of viruses, 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of protozoan cysts), including Rotavirus, Hepatitis A, Norovirus, Giardiasis, Cryptosporidium, E. Coli, Cholera, Salmonella, Dysentery and more. Pretty good.
Redington Butter Stick II Fly Rod
The Redington Butter Stick II is the perfect slow action fiberglass rod for picking pockets on small streams. Not only will it present flies smoothly into the smallest and tightest pockets on your favorite creek, but it will also make 8-inch feel powerful. Ain't nothing wrong with that.
Umpqua LT Mini Standard Fly Box
The UPG boxes are shop favorites and they're available in smaller sizes perfect for those simple days spent on small creeks when a couple dries and couple of droppers will do the trick. Get one for your bushy dries and one for your flashy nymphs and call it a day. They'll fit perfect in that Topo Designs Quick Pack.
