Lots of productive waters sustains lots of happy trout. There is a good reason why the Madison River between Yellowstone National Park and Ennis, Montana beckons so many anglers and is affectionately dubbed the “Fifty Mile Riffle”. Guides often seek out choice riffles to teach beginners how to fly fish. There is no better place to introduce novices to fly fishing for trout in moving water. During a good hatch, a lot of fish can be landed in a single piece of riffle water. Start at the bottom of a riffle and work upstream. Hits on nymph rigs move the indicator noticeably and dry fly strikes are assertive and energetic. Riffle trout are rarely as selective as fish in other water types.Ĭonsequently, fly choice is sometimes not as important and general attractor type patterns work very well. Because these fish are aggressive in nature and many insect species drift by them daily. Trout in riffles are often willing to move a chase bugs like emerging caddis with little regard to absolute dead drift. As bugs are often actively swimming towards the surface and hatching. A little swing and drag on your fly is not a bad thing in a riffle. The broken surface allows for a close approach and because the moderate water speed is uniform throughout the length of a riffle it simple to achieve a good drift. Slow, glassy pools require a gentle presentation and perfect drift. Easy to FishĪnother reason anglers should always seek out riffles is that they are relatively easy to fish when compared to other water types. Holding in a riffle does require a little effort and energy expenditure but this is more than offset by the calorie intake that is achieved when a trout feeds in this type of water. Also, in riffles insect nymph, emergers and adults are constantly drifting through a trout’s feeding zone.Ĭonsequently, while trout that found in deep, slow holes, tailouts and elsewhere may be motionless and resting with no interest in feeding, trout in riffles are there for a reason. ![]() Stoneflies, mayflies and caddis all prefer riffle habitat. Aquatic insect activity is high in riffles. Broken surface water creates security cover from airborne predators. This is a sure sign that winter is coming to an end. Every year in March though, I look happily forward to the days when more and more fish begin utilizing riffles as bug hatches intensify and temperatures moderate. Winter fish choose deeper, slower water but will push into riffles when the water warms slightly and food sources become more active. Choppy but not rough current in the two to four foot depth range will generally hold trout consistently spring through fall. Moderate speed and moderate depth is the key. All water is not created equal as far habitat and food production in a river and riffles provide ideal habitat, lots of food and good security for trout. Finding Rifflesīy far, as far as finding trout that will be the most willing to eat fly, the best water to seek out first is a riffle. All of these water types may hold fish and they can be caught but there is another water type that is the most productive. Meandering runs with conflicting currents may have rising fish that make it impossible for even experienced fly fishermen to achieve the correct drift. Roiling, wavy whitewater could be necessary for providing cool, oxygenated flows in very hot, low late summer conditions. Shallow, glassy water might attract trout if there is enough food to make it worth the risk to expose themselves. ![]() Reading Waterĭeep, slow or even dead pools may hold feeding fish at times. The first and most important is to seek out the most productive water in any given stretch of river. But, there are some things anglers can do to come closer to a “sure thing”. Even with decent water clarity, strong hatches and relatively happy trout there are times when catching fish is not automatic. Weather changes, off color water, no hatch, angler pressure or just trout that are not feeding can all create difficult conditions. Too many factors can negatively impact the river and the trout and make things tough on the angler. There is never a sure thing when it comes to fly fishing for trout.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |