Bluelines and Butter Sticks

Ah, summertime has finally made it. It is time to drag out the maps, and plan some fishing getaways to epic waters near and far. As you ...

Ah, summertime has finally made it. It is time to drag out the maps, and plan some fishing getaways to epic waters near and far. As you scrutinize those roads and contour lines spread across your kitchen table, you may notice several little blue lines crisscrossing throughout each wilderness area. You know what I'm talking about. Those tiny, squiggled blue lines of water that you have been passing over for years. There has never been any intel posted in the latest edition of your favorite fly fishing publication, thereby possessing no real significance. They can be your own private little slice of heaven when other more popular waters are experiencing Conga lines along each bank. If you just do a little research, a little hiking and a little exploring you can find these little gems of fly fishing nirvana.

Most of these little creeks and streams come from divides, canyons, ravines and springs where they usually feed a lake, a river or sometimes, nothing at all. Basically, all the above is where you should begin your search.

I happen to know one of these little "blue lines" on the Western side of the Sierra Nevada range that flows into a large open meadow and eventually disappears literally under the ground. Yep, it goes nowhere. Before it does disappear, its short two mile free-flowing stretch is home to browns and rainbows that seem to be everywhere you cast a dry fly. These beautiful wild trout are not the biggest trout you'll take with a fly, but their perfect colors, inherent wildness and the occasional fat, 12-inch stud under a cut bank will keep you interested and coming back.

A good bend in your rod can be accomplished using a stick like a 3-weight Redington Butter Stick. It is the perfect blue line fishing companion; hard to beat on a warm summer day on small water and small trout. Light, slow and short does add up to a great "blue line"fly rod. Accurate at up to 20ft, and that is all you should need in this environment. The price makes it easy to add to one's quiver, too. The model I've used on these little stretches of water is a 7' 3 wt. Butter Stick, but that 6' 2 wt. is awfully fun to cast as well. Way too much fun.

So, try hitting up a few blue lines this summer and see if you find your little slice of heaven all your own.