To a serious trout fisherman, the river is his cathedral. River fishing is considered by many to be the ultimate way to fish in terms of connecting with the environment, as it requires an intense amount of finesse. Along with this experience comes an immense amount of difficulty for some people. To be a successful river fisherman, one must be completely attuned to his surroundings. Fortunately, there are a few secrets that, once learned, will be instrumental to your success on the river.
LET THE WEATHER BE YOUR GUIDE
Let’s face it; if there’s one thing that you’ve got no influence over, it’s the weather. That said, you might as well go with that you’re given. Trout are finicky, and fishing in a variety of conditions can yield different results. In general, one should strive to fish early in the morning or late in the evening during the warmer months of the year, and when the sun is at its highest during colder months. While rain may make bass fishing more successful, it tends to not help so much when fishing for trout. Choose clear or overcast days to fish, and avoid days when it is excessively hot.
MATCH THE HATCH
Fly fishermen know that you can’t just throw anything out there and expect the fish to bite; you need to know what they’re eating. In the sport, this is called matching the hatch. By scouring the area or water surface for flies, you can effectively use a specific fly to imitate what the fish are eating. In general, this will provide far superior results. Matching the hatch takes quite a bit of practice and knowledge, however, and is an art form in and of itself.
WATCH YOUR SHADOW
Put simply, trout aren’t stupid. In fact, they’re some of the smartest and most finicky of all freshwater fish. Whether it be through intelligence or fear, trout are reactive enough to know that something is wrong if they see your shadow, especially on a sunny day. To avoid “spooking” nearby fish, always try to divert your shadow when walking along the river. The less shadow that hits the water, the better.
LOOK FOR HOLES
Fishing rivers is an art, and is quite different from other types of fishing. The majority of most rivers have areas that aren’t fishable, and the amateur fisherman often makes the mistake of spending too much time dealing with these spots instead of fishing the holes that will produce trout. Rivers have what are called ‘holes,’ which are basically deep and rather still pockets that pop up every here and there. Trout tend to accumulate in holes, as the water is more hospitable than faster parts of the river. To spot a hole, look for small areas that seem to exist individually from the rest of the river; still/swirling water and changes in color are often indicators of a hole.
DON’T STIR UP THE WATER
Many people make the mistake of stirring up the water as they fish. Some people who aren’t adept at wading will kick up dirt and rocks from the riverbed as they move along, which can have a profoundly negative effect on the fishing experience. Trout aren’t going to hang around if they see that something is clouding up their water with some serious force, and you can pretty much guarantee that you have no choice but to move on to the next hole. If you’re new to wading, always remember to move slowly and methodically, so as to not disturb the bed of the river.
LET THE TROUT COME TO YOU
A common misconception amongst amateur fishermen is that in order to catch fish you need to seek them out. With trout, you’re better off letting them come to you. This is not to say that you shouldn’t put any effort into your fishing, but you should allow the fish to find your fly or lure, rather than trying to “hunt” the fish. If you are too aggressive, chances are they’ll scare and turn. Always remember to fish in a relaxed, unhurried manner in order to produce the best results, and watch as the trout start making their way towards your fly!