Small Streams Mastery

FD Academy Courses Welcome

Welcome to Small Streams Mastery! Check out how to navigate around your Small Streams Mastery Course.

FD Academy Courses Small Stream Fly Fishing Manifesto Introduction

Ten quick primers for small stream fly fishing success.

FD Academy Courses Use the Longest Rod Possible

FD Academy Courses Use “Hand-lining” Under Low Canopy

FD Academy Courses Catapult or Slingshot Cast

FD Academy Courses Roll Cast

FD Academy Courses Side-cast Under Canopy

FD Academy Courses Choose a Specialist Casting Line or Leader

FD Academy Courses Use Currents to Fish “Impossible” Spots

FD Academy Courses Fish Downstream More Often Than You Might Think

FD Academy Courses In Tight Streams – Pick a Direction and Work it

FD Academy Courses Two Anglers to a Rod

FD Academy Courses “Guerrilla Documentary” of Kobayashi in Action on Stream

An "as it happened" record of Kobayashi san applying his Small Streams tenkara approach to a little Japanese trout stream (with accompanying analysis)

FD Academy Courses Analysis of Kobayashi Small Stream Tactics E-book

Downloadable, fully-illustrated E-book (PDF) giving a detailed breakdown of the mechanics, philosophy and culture 

FD Academy Courses Kobayashi Complete Tackle Tour

A complete rundown of what Kobayashi san carries on stream (and why).

FD Academy Courses Kobayashi Tackle Analysis (PDF E-book)

Extra detail and context to Kobayashi's gear selection.

FD Academy Courses Kobayashi Fly Tying Video

We sat down after a day's fishing with Kobayashi san as he shared his fly tying secrets and thoughts on fly choice.

FD Academy Courses Kobayashi Fly Tying PDF E-book

Here is an illustrated tour of Kobayashi-san's full collection of fly boxes

FD Academy Courses The Small Stream Mastery of H.C. Cutcliffe

The incredibly comprehensive wisdom and guidance recorded by Henry Charles Cutcliffe in the late 1800s is some of the most perceptive, accurate and helpful teaching on how to successfully tackle small streams with rod and line.In this lesson you can download a short/pocket-book "First Iteration" of what eventually became a full-on 8" x 10" Coffee-table print book (after a lot more practical and desk-based research).The e-Book in this lesson started as a glossary of terms to translate some of the strange language in Cutcliffe's original book manuscript...It eventually (and accidentally) completely out-grew that initial modest goal. However, that first function is still a really valuable tool for improving your understanding of small, fast-flowing trout streams. Cutcliffe's original manuscript itself is included as part of this...

FD Academy Courses On the Trail of Cutcliffe’s Missing Flies

This video diary peels back some of the layers of being on the journey to properly understand and re-discover the lost wisdom of Henry Charles Cutcliffe.

FD Academy Courses How to Be a Small Streams Super Sleuth

Using freely accessible mapping, geology (and more) online data to identify your small stream adventure destinations.

FD Academy Courses Urban Small Stream Trout Fishing

A short trip report showing how your next small stream adventure could be closer than you think.

FD Academy Courses The Girl in the Limestone Gorge

Join Susan on a small stream adventure on the upper reaches of an iconic Derbyshire limestone stream.

FD Academy Courses Robert L Smith Wet Fly on a Small Derbyshire Stream

A short film featuring world renowned North Country fly fishing historian Robert L Smith.

FD Academy Courses Tenkara in Focus Small Streams Special

An on Stream Special episode of Tenkara in Focus dedicated to small stream fishing.

FD Academy Courses Pinpoint Presentation Example

A short video demonstrating the accuracy and delicate presentation achieved with tenkara.

FD Academy Courses Long Rods on Overgrown Streams

Something from our archives to show you don't necessarily need to go short with your small stream rod choice.

FD Academy Courses Gallery of Subscriber Small Stream Experiences

Just a place to have your pictures and stories displayed. Simply email them to me at paulgaskellflyfishing@gmail.com and I'll upload the best ones. Paul