Winter woes

[ChezJfrey]

I've been plagued with my apparent lack in figuring out where the fish are in higher water...I'm pretty sure a major factor contributing toward me finally getting more hookups was actually locating the fishy lies; I have gotten better about determining where the fish are and actually casting to some, rather than empty water

However, my first two hookups this year were in low, clear water and I spotted several groups of fish. The last four, were in colored up water, but was still relatively low and while I couldn't see fish, I successfully figured some good spots and hooked into some. But, when the water level is above my sweet spot, but is still quite fishable, I get no action.

I think I'm pretty good about getting the presentation down near the bottom; I never fish in fear of losing gear and still get hung up on the bottom from time-to-time. I think, rather, that I'm just not as good as finding fish in higher flows. All the reading, all the advice, and yet this still eludes me.

Practice, practice, practice...

 

[Mad dog]

You're learning!!!

Practice, practice, practice!!!

So many variables that affect where they will hold when the water is up. Try spots that are closer to the bank, 3-4 ft deep and have that good flow about as fast as a man can walk. When the water is low they tend to stick to cover rocks, ledges, deeper holes, riffles with a broken surface chop. When the water is up I find lot's of fish stacking on certain flats or runs that would be to low to hold fish in low water conditions. 3-5 ft. deep, no particular cover to hide around, they just seem to start stacking up on these flats out of the main hole. Some holes continue to fish good when the water is up, some are useless or unfishable!

Experiment around, you're on the right track and figuring stuff out!

 

[rippin fish lips]

You're learning!!!

Practice, practice, practice!!!

So many variables that affect where they will hold when the water is up. Try spots that are closer to the bank, 3-4 ft deep and have that good flow about as fast as a man can walk. When the water is low they tend to stick to cover rocks, ledges, deeper holes, riffles with a broken surface chop. When the water is up I find lot's of fish stacking on certain flats or runs that would be to low to hold fish in low water conditions. 3-5 ft. deep, no particular cover to hide around, they just seem to start stacking up on these flats out of the main hole. Some holes continue to fish good when the water is up, some are useless or unfishable!

Experiment around, you're on the right track and figuring stuff out!

Perfect!!!!!! (walking speed water) is a good key.

 

[brandon4455]

high water =traveling lanes

 

[Kevinb5688]

I hate high/ off colored water. You dont get as many fish. But i will say when you do get one in poo colored water it feels as good as 10 in goo water quality. I got two in nasty high water drifting roe in huge gobs 3 ft from my feet, i have never felt better about my fishing abilities!

 

[jawjacker]

I'v had some epic days when the water is high and off color. I think the swifter flows concentrate the fish more so when you find um you can crush um, but when the waters running cold not so much. If your gonna be out there giving it a shot use salmon size drift gear in chartreuse. I'm talking big drift bobbers, hooks & heavy line the fish can't see it and your gonna need it. I also like to use the 1/4" stick lead or big slinkys and literally drag my stuff across the bottom instead of just ticking it along here and there.

 

[Mad dog]

Ya, know....thinking about it, just to add some more to your high water thoughts. I pretty much fish 6-8 rivers over the course of the winter depending on water levels or clarity. Some I will not fish in high water because they don't produce well. Some I only fish in low, clear water because that's the way I like to fish them. The west fork of the Millacoma clears notoriously fast while the south Coquille clears a lot slower. I like to chase water!!! I fish whatever is going to give me my best chance at success. a lot of my steelheading is very caculated, not much to chance! I fish the North Umpqua quite a bit having good success fishing flows anywhere from below 2,000 cfs. to over 9,000 cfs, so at times I am fishing marginal to poor water conditions. Best thing in big high water is move until I find fish and fish those spots thoroughly! Some stretch's of the river fish ok high and some are crap! One hole in particular comes to mind....the bathtub hole. Starts fishing at 4,000-5,000 cfs and fishes pretty good up to about 10,000 cfs depending on clarity. Below 4,000 cfs I can't even catch a sucker there! Basically it's just a little side channel on the far side of a ledge that you can't hardly boat through in low water, but when the water is up....:dance:

 

[ChezJfrey]

Hehehe, I appreciate the advice guys, but unfortunately, it's a little worse than 'high' conditions. It's more a case of 'high' for me...for instance:

The Wilson supposedly fishes well at 6-7 feet. I can't seem to find/hook fish above 5.5 feet. All my hookups on that river have been in the 5 to 5.5 foot range. Above that, and I get nothing. So it's not really 'high', just apparently too high for me; I just can't seem to find the fish except when it's pretty low. I hunt around, and cast pretty much everywhere in search of them because I need to figure out where they might be, but can only seem to figure it out when it gets pretty low.