Clear Skies, Clear Water

Here’s one to ponder as we enter the wettest, highest, muddiest, ugliest time of the year for water conditions. Why is it that in the most beautiful, driest, lowest, clearest water conditions, fish are so hesitant to take a fly presented on our local rivers? The short answer, is that the question is the answer. We know that the clearer and less distorted the water through which a trout must look to see the insect imitation, the less chance they will accept the angler’s offering. This is simple: the fish can also notice everything that doesn’t simulate the real thing. In slower water they also have more time to inspect the fly rather than making a split-quick reactionary decision as they would in fast water.

The Skagit River, south and east of Hope is a classic example of this situation each September as the snow pack melts and the weather is sunny. One may easily find the fish and observe them rising, but catching them can be very frustrating, particularly if they are feeding selectively, which they often do at this time of year. There is no way to easily solve the problem, but over time one becomes more savvy as they remember a few simple issues, which, if dealt with will greatly enhance the fly angler’s success under such conditions.

ALTERED STATES OF PRESENTATION – I was fishing this fall above 26 mile bridge on the Skagit over five or six rainbows, clearly visible from the bank, and clearly feeding regularly. Fishing from one shore, then the other,

and back again, although the odd chase took place, not one fish took the fly. However, as the casts continued, I noticed that there was basically no end to the types of ways you could manipulate that fly to travel through the run. After about an hour of experimenting with different drifts, a fat trout finally hit and an otherwise unfruitful hour turned into a beached fish. I wouldn’t normally fish one area that long for one take, but seeing the quarry finning around in front of you keeps the interest up, and ultimately resulted in success. The better known issue of presentation in clear water is the need for soft presentations of line and fly. Keep that rod tip up when presenting the fly to avoid a splashy flop of flyline. Minimize the amount of false casting to avoid shadows over the water, and use light enough tippet to allow the fly to drift realistically so the fish cannot see the connection between fly and angler.

ALTERED STATES OF PRESENCE -- In clear water conditions, a fish, which can focus within a nose of the fly, can and will notice subtle changes as the angler changes fly size, color, or pattern. I’m not always one to herald the need for constant fly changes, especially in terms of color, but under these conditions, it will often make a difference-especially when the fish selectively feed. Find what appears to be the closest to the natural and until successful, alter size up and down or go lighter and darker in shade. Having failed that, try something completely different. It’s not very scientific but I have seen many times where a quick change up to an entirely unrelated fly pattern triggers that undeniably ever-present opportunistic instinct, and the trout is hooked.

ALTERED STATES OF APPROACH -- Because of the refraction of light as it travels through the water, fish looking shoreward can actually see at a lower angle toward the ground. This fact is often referred to as the fish

"seeing around corners." A fish may actually see the angler crouched low when the fly fisher cannot see the fish. This accents the need for the approach to be a low profile as possible. Quick movement is also an announcement to any nearby fish that danger is approaching. I have found that by moving very slowly, it is possible to move very close to fish in clear water, but have also spooked fish in the next watershed by errant quick movement, before the first cast. Equally damaging is loud "stompy" approaches, or splashy walking in the river, particularly upstream. It is said that trout can hear up to 100 meters through the water. Rather a sobering thought when you contemplate how far that is on many of our small streams!

There will always be more difficulty fishing under low, clear water conditions, but the challenge, and the fun of potential sight fishing make this a great way to fish. Keeping the above in mind should help increase success and decrease frustration as one chases their quarry.

 

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