Hitting early season Small Streams

I love fishing small streams and with the weather we?ve had this year I was hopeful they would be opening up early.  So Friday I got off work early and headed out to some local BLM land that has a great small stream on it just to check it out and see if it was even fishable yet.
After the longer then I remember because I?m still pretty out of shape hike I spotted the stream through the trees. 

First thoughts were AWESOME I see water!  Popping out into the valley there were still ice and snow around some of the edges but definitely fishable water.  Great little runs and flats that were very productive in the summer were wide open.  However early season fish hold in different water and as I walked down stream (which I hate) trying to find some fish I started spotting fish holding in the deep pools.  Unfortunately being in the wide open valley and walking down stream into the fish?s gaze they also spotted me.
I decided to walk down into the canyon and fish my way back upstream.  But as I entered the canyon I also started to run into huge frozen sections of water.  Undeterred I found openings in the ice fields and started to find fish in the deep water openings.  Must be the winter rust or the too much ice fishing but I missed several strikes and had a few LDR?s. 

After a few miles into the canyon the sun was slowly falling and I was starting to think I was walking out with the black and white kitty on my shoulders.  When everything aligned I came upon a very deep pool, probably the deepest spot in this entire creek.  Pushed through some willows into a perfect ambush spot and made a cast.  A large brown (for this creek) came out from under a rock and opened his big white mouth to take my offering but turned off not hitting it.  He did this three times, before I had my line in.  Again I make the same cast again he goes to attack it and pulls off at the last possible second.  Changing up my speed on the next cast I hook him.  Wow, usually don?t get a 2nd chance at a small stream fish and I had three.  The only thing now was to get him in with reminders of the three LDRs I had upstream.  It felt good to land him and snapped a quick picture, relaxed for a second as I watched him swim off and decided it was time to head back up stream fishing the pockets I had seen fish but didn?t land any. 
Right away I miss a fish and land another from the very next run.  Walking out enjoying the scenery and solitude I was able to bring a couple more fish to hand.  Yet another great day on a small stream here in Colorado.  Get out and check out some of your local small creeks and see if they are already open.  You may be surprised.