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Fly Fishing Tips - Finding the Fish
Finding where the fish are holding is often the most challenging, yet crucial, part of fly fishing. Trout and other game fish hold in specific locations for two primary reasons: safety/cover and food access. By understanding how to "read the water," you can significantly increase your success rate.
Understanding Prime Holding WaterFish, especially trout, instinctively seek out areas in a stream or river that offer them protection from predators and strong currents, while also providing a steady supply of food. The following is a breakdown of the most common and productive holding areas.
Structure | Description | Why Fish Hold Here |
|---|---|---|
Riffles | Shallow, fast-moving water where the surface is broken. | Oxygenated water and dislodged insects, but fish are actively feeding. |
Runs | Deeper, uniform flow between a riffle and a pool. | Excellent feeding lanes, offering a balance of current and depth. |
Pools | Deep, slow-moving sections often found after a drop-off or bend. | Excellent resting and safety areas. Fish often hold near the head or tail of the pool. |
Seams/Current Edges | The line where fast water meets slow water (e.g., behind a large rock). | Minimal effort required to hold position, with food delivered directly by the fast current. |
Eddies | Circular, reverse currents found on the inside bend of a river or behind obstructions. | Resting and feeding areas where food accumulates. |
Cover provides fish with a sense of security and protection from predators (both above and below the water).
- Subsurface Structure: Look for large boulders, submerged logs, or ledges. These break the current and provide a stationary position for feeding.
- Overhanging Vegetation: Trees, bushes, and undercut banks that hang over the water offer shade, hiding fish from aerial predators. They also serve as a source of terrestrial insects (hoppers, ants, etc.).
- Undercut Banks: These are pockets eroded beneath the bank, creating a deep, dark refuge. They are primary holding spots and can be targeted with a tight-line nymphing or dry-fly cast.
Fish location is not static; it changes based on the time of day, weather, and available light.
Light and Time of Day- Low Light (Dawn/Dusk): Fish will move into shallower water and less protected areas (like the tail-outs of pools or across the main riffle) to actively feed, feeling safer from predators.
- Bright Sun/Midday: Fish retreat to the deepest, darkest sections of the water—under logs, in deep pools, or tight to undercut banks. They become more cautious and are less likely to chase a fly.
Trout are cold-water species and become lethargic in warm water.
- Warm Water: Fish will congregate near cold springs, tributaries, or at the bottom of deep pools where water is coolest and oxygen content is highest.
- High Water (Post-Rain): Look for fish to move closer to the banks and into the slowest water possible to escape the strong main current. The water is often discolored, making fish less spooky.
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