I think I have found small stream, Mid-Atlantic paradise! The streams in/around North Central PA are just amazing, beautiful, and full of healthy trout.
I took off on a trip to a licensed state campsite for a few days of small stream fishing. I had just purchased a new Leiderman-built McFarland 7'8" 4wt 4piece rod that I was dying to try out.
Upon arriving, I set up camp and headed down to the stream. The sun was bright, but the water was a cool 60 degrees. I was up near the headwaters, and after a bit of searching, the first fish I was able to put into the net to commemorate this rod was a healthy 8" brook trout. There is something special to me about a healthy, feisty brook trout, and it was wonderful to feel it's heft in the rod's bend.
Shortly, thereafter, I drove further down stream a few miles and hiked down the steep hill, looking for some brown trout. The slate drakes were hatching, among other caddis flies and smaller mayflies, a wonderful sight. Not long after, I had a fat ~11" golden-hued brown trout putting a nice bend in the rod.
I marveled at the craggy beauty of the area's rock formations and all the life that it encompasses. Later that day, I hooked and lost an even larger brown trout who nabbed a #12 Isonychia dry as I was drifting it right by the edge of a rock overhang beside a rushing pool. It jumped dramatically out of the water as I whooped and a huge smile plastered itself on my face, feeling the rod bend over completely, connecting me to my quarry. It was so enjoyable, I almost didn't mind when he spit the hook and got away. Almost.
The McFarland 784-4 is just a beautiful rod. It's an oddball blank that Leiderman had picked up from McFarland because he had liked it and kept it on hand. I don't know where it fits in McFarland's tapers, but I can say it is a wonderfully progressive rod with some strength in the butt that is easy to access. It's a bit quicker than my McFarland 805-3 but flexes very similarly in its bend profile. The more I let the rod do the work, the better my casts are. It feels more like a conversation than a dictation. I love it! Not to mention the (IMHO) unparalleled finish work from Matt Leiderman. The design is painfully elegant and the execution flawless.
I had to leave my three-day trip after only 24hrs to be home to help with a pet emergency. The dog is better now, and I'm dreaming of when I can make it back to the area with its miles and miles of gorgeous small stream fishing. In fact, I think I am sneaking away early this coming week to go exploring again!
Posted: 20 Jun 2021, 10:16 • 
