Growing up I was always partial to Pautzkes salmon eggs for small creek fishing. Easy to carry, re-sealable etc. Salmon egg, #10 or 12 hook and a small lead sinker. As noted for brushy creeks a longer pole is actually helpful. I use an open bail reel and hold some slack in my hand like a fly pole. You reach out over the hole and drop the bait in, when they strike you set the hook with the slack hand and start backing up and pulling them out. Setting the hook by flicking the pole can be problematic if it comes flying out and gets hung in the brush. You can lose lots of hooks so take plenty of extra hooks, sinkers, swivels if you use them etc.
I have fished with sticks before, it works but of course a fishing pole is better. Sticks are usually either too stiff or too flexible. If you really, really didn't want to carry a pole maybe carry an eyelet off a old pole that you could lash to a stick would be the best compromise, still lets you work the line as opposed to it just being tied off on the end.
You could also try Hobo fishing but it is tough in the brushy stuff.
