Reading the Water

[alanb_ct]

Torrey's excellent post about overall strategy during high water conditions had me thinking about river structure. I thought of a few additional comments that pertain to all conditions, but especially to high and dirty water. None of these recommendations are exhaustive or absolute.

These suggestions may help you maximize your time on the stream, and allow to bypass some unproductive water. It also pays to watch where fish rise during a hatch. Before and after the hatch, fish those same areas with your nymphs. In general, you should read the water and look for:

(1) Current seams, especially around boulders or fallen trees. With respect to boulders, I think many people assume that fish will be sitting directly behind them. That can be true, but I have found that area of flow can be turbulent, and fish don't like turbulence. It is usually better to fish some distance behind the boulder.
(2) Inside bends. Say you're on a river bank and the river flow is left to right. Looking downstream, if the river curves towards you (to the right), you may have found an inside bend. The soft water along the seam of an inside bend can be deadly during high water.
(3) Undercut banks. Fish them from the shore if you can, or take the time to walk well around the area and cast to them. Anywhere you see any kind of tree roots above the water might be good.
(4) Stream confluences. Anywhere two currents join, there will be soft water right above their junction.
(5) Directly above the entrance of a tributary, especially if the trib flow has gouged out a bottom depression.
(6) Any kind of a trough or depression in the river bottom. These can be hard to find and they shift with erosion, but they often produce. Quite often when you wade you will find a deep hole; mark that spot for the next time you fish.
(7) Any distinct change in color on the river bottom. My favorite is clean sand alongside some gravel and small boulders. I think that fish perceive the color contrast as a lengthwise place for them to hide, like a tree.

Areas to avoid:
(1) Turbulence
(2) Back eddies
(3) Extremely long stretches of river with no change in composition. Remember that different food items have different habitat needs, so a diversity of composition (riffle, run, pool) means diversity of food and more likely feeding fish.

Perhaps on my next trip out, I will try to photograph these types of structures.

At one time, there was also interest on this board about a "Reading the Water" class. If there is still interest, maybe we could arrange something, let me know.

[VTflyfishing]

Why would you want to avoid back eddies? I have caught a ton of fish in back eddies.

[fishingfred]

Alan...reading water class is a great idea! I think it's more important than the fly you have at the end of your line.

[alanb_ct]

VT: Like I said, none of the recommendations are exhaustive or absolute. I've caught fish there too, but never so good on nymphs. I find it hard to establish a drift. For sipping fish and dries back eddies can be good. What's your specific experience with back eddies? Do you often nymph there? What's your approach? Thanks.

[VTflyfishing]

Now that I think about it most if not all are caught on dries. I cant think of any fish I have nymped up out of a back eddie :-\

[Flyfisher]

I have caught a few trout nymphing out of back eddies bout not a lot i have had much better luck working streamers in them.

[Nymphmeister]

Good post Alain, cannot argue with #1-7 of where to look. On the where to avoid, I totally agree with #1 & #3, but disagree with #2, back eddies. 90% agreement isn't bad, right? ;D Lol. Any bankside obstruction (like a big boulder) or indentation will create a reverse current a.k.a. back eddy, and I've actually had good success nymphing in different streams by hitting the seems between the main current & the outside edge of the eddy when the flows are up. I think it is a good "haven" for them to get out of the heavier flow, but still be close enough to the main current to feed on items in the drift. In fact, Aaron is a big fan of nymphing the back eddies, I call him the "Swirly King" 'cuz he loves to fish there (that and because he calls them "swirlies").

On the Housatonic River, I've nailed 20"+ browns in back eddies after rainfall pushed the flow up. And when Aaron & I fished the Green River in Utah several March's ago, cold water had the trout bunched up in the deeper (4-10') back eddies, and while watching your indicator drift an inch (if that!) every few seconds was about as exciting as watching snow melt, Aaron plucked one after another out of the deeper eddies. Sometimes it was more like fishing bait, your indicator would just sit there motionless and then a trout would swim by & eat your nymph. I finally decided it was more fun hitting the riffles and catching about 1/3 as many while the "Swirly King" did his thing in the swirlies.

[alanb_ct]

Torrey, thanks for the excellent feedback. I guess it is up to me to get over my fear of back eddies. Next time we are out together fishing, I am going to take you to one back eddy that has befuddled me for years (you know it already). It looks so appealing, but I have yet to take a fish out of there, even though the area above and below it has always produced.

So here's the friendly wager, I will let you fish there for a half hour. For every trout you land from that spot, you may select a fly from my box (I will hide all the secret flies in advance ). Given nominal, typical conditions, if you fail to land one in 30 minutes, you must give me the recipe for your secret Hare's Ear dubbing blend.

Deal? Game on?

[Nymphmeister]

You have yourself a deal buddy!