How to fish? - smallish fast flowing river

[yorkio]

It sounds like perfect fly water!

[chevin]

It sounds like perfect fly water!

 

It does indeed but I think that the fish he is chasing are mid water and bottom feeders, though of course a bit of lure stripping would probably work quite well. The old polystickle still works well in those situations.

[Anderoo]

Newt, what are the characteristics of the fish you will be trying to catch? Do they like to be in the flow, in the slacks, on the creases? Do they like snags or open water? Fast shallow runs or deeper pools? What do they eat?

 

I'm not familiar with those fish, but understanding where they are most comfortable, where they feed and what they eat is the thing I would need to understand before deciding on rigs or methods. For example, if that stream was in the UK and held chub and pike, the swims, methods, baits and times of fishing would be completely different depending on what I was targetting.

[Newt]

Thanks all.

 

I had a go at it yesterday and I think the current is faster than I stated. Using 4 mph as a decent walking speed for a man, this is a bit faster so probably more in the 7-10 mph range. Not sure how much weight it will take to reach bottom, much less hold a little but the link idea sounds interesting and I think I'll try to whip something up.

 

Way too far south for trout and the fish I suspect are there (largemouth basss & bluegills) both like slack water.

 

Leon - pole or pin would have been my choices but I don't own a pole and they aren't for sale in this area. Same for a pin.

 

Jan has a longish (12 feet I think) rod from our UK trip (thanks Steve Burke). I had a short go at it yesterday with a 5 ft rod and immediately figured out the longer one will be better to keep line out of the water. There is some slack water and back flow on the far side but I couldn't keep the float in it with the center current grabbing the line and heading downstream at a rapid rate.

 

In warmer weather I think wading would be fun but the water is a bit cool for bare legs and I've not needed waders for so long I got rid of them since they were bought at 190 pounds and were a horrible fit at my current 270.

 

Bread sounds interesting so that and lobs will be the first baits. I may try one rod with enough weight to hold bottom and bait up for carp. Haven't seen any signs but they do enjoy fast water at times so there may be some in the area.

 

Hopefully I can post photos tomorrow to give you an idea of the water. I also want to investigate some on what is upstream since this thing runs way faster than I'd expect for a flattish area and there are no serious hills within a couple hundred miles. Something has to be putting lots of water in upstream and constantly.

[Leon Roskilly]

Leon - pole or pin would have been my choices but I don't own a pole and they aren't for sale in this area. Same for a pin.

 

 

A fixed spool reel, or even a multiplier would do, given the current that you are experiencing.

 

The real secret is in using a stick-float, fixed to the line top and bottom. Usually a cork body around a 'stick', easy enough to make .

 

Fishing a fixed-spool, you fish it with the bail arm open, but a finger on the lip of the spool, controlling the speed that the line comes off the reel.

 

The bait should be moving ahead of the float, and at the same speed as loose offerings fished at the same depth.

[andy_youngs]

A blob of plasticene works better, and avoids the problem of a lead snagging and holding (lead putty if the current is really strong, but that can work out expensive).

I've sometimes used a rock attached to the swivel by an elastic band. Size of the rock depends on the strength of flow. The principal is that if you get a decent fish the elastic band snaps, helping set the hook in the process. It's a flexible bolt rig with zero environmental impact (unless of course you decide to eat the fish...).

[Newt]

Tried one short session with lobs and a rig shotted to hold in the slack water. Had a few bites but nothing hooked. Still, it is nice to know there are actually fish in the stream.

 

Here are a few photos to give you an idea of the place.

One of the few clear places (a picnic area maintained by the RV site owners) with the stream in the background

Upstream from the cleared area

 

Downstream from the cleared area

 

Directly across from the picnic area

 

Note the high water mark on the bridge piling

 

A few random obstructions to the water flow

 

 

And a gravel bar I wish I could reach but it is about 50 feet below where I took the photo and the drop is sheer

[Dick Dastardly]

I was going to sugest using one of those Crappie rods that you have mate then remembered Jans UK rod. Looks a lovely bit of water.

[poledark]

Nice looking stream Newt. Having seen the pics, I guess there is a bit of rainwater adding colour and flow. Here's how I would tackle it.."Chubby" type float, enough shot to cock it about 12" below the float, and a 12" hooklength below that. Should be heavy enough to cast well and bouyant enough to show bites. There will be an awful lot of casting

 

When you get tired remove the float and shot and thread on a small (1/2oz) bullet or any running lead. Keep to the 12" hooklength. Cast this into any likely lookin' slacks, behind some of those snaggy roots and trees. Tighten gently and wait for the rod tip to pull over. Give each spot a few minutes and move on. Don't forget to try real close in to the bank as well.

 

I am envious

 

Den

Edited November 2, 2009 by poledark

[Worms]

Nice looking stream Newt. Having seen the pics, I guess there is a bit of rainwater adding colour and flow. Here's how I would tackle it.."Chubby" type float, enough shot to cock it about 12" below the float, and a 12" hooklength below that. Should be heavy enough to cast well and bouyant enough to show bites. There will be an awful lot of casting

 

When you get tired remove the float and shot and thread on a small (1/2oz) bullet or any running lead. Keep to the 12" hooklength. Cast this into any likely lookin' slacks, behind some of those snaggy roots and trees. Tighten gently and wait for the rod tip to pull over. Give each spot a few minutes and move on. Don't forget to try real close in to the bank as well.

 

I am envious

 

Den

Pretty much what I'd try along with the rolling lead method using an arlesey bomb or a link ledger that doesn't quite hold bottom just in case there are some US barbel equivalents lurking on the creases!

 

Have you got access to small livebaits Newt? I'd also try one under a 'bob' type float in the slacks and also sailing past some of those snags