Angler's Attention by Cameron Larsen

Angler's Attention by Cameron Larsen

There is something that I have called 'angler's attention'. It is developed after you have been fishing, and in this article we will be concerning ourselves with fly fishing, for years and years. You can usually tell those that have it and those that don't. Quickly rigging up your fly rod, and racing to a likely fishing spot, solely concerned about yourself and your gear, are telltale signs of someone not possessing angler's attention.

I spent many years, especially when I didn't have much time to fish, ignoring angler's attention. If I could steal away even an hour or two, racing down to the river I would go. In a virtual panic, scouring out my favorite fishing spots, then cursing to myself, when they were taken. Frantically I would find a spot to fish, splash out there, and heave out my line. Fishing, at last, my heart would race, I would set the hook on any minute bump, and then have to untangle my line from a tree lurking behind me. Never paying attention to the fly I was using, there wasn't time to change it, wheter my tippet was proper, what was happening on the water, nothing of the sort. Just get me to the water, and let me wet my line.

Maturity probably plays as much a part in developing 'angler's attention' as anythin. Although I have seen many young angler's very deliberately observing and then selecting their approach. Besides natural aging what really changed things for me, was actually observing a fellow fly fisher. Actually it was more observing him, observing me. I was fishing a small stretch of fairly remote river. Although this particular spot became 'discovered' sometime in the 90's, it is still relatively pressure free after mid-June. Happily csting to rising fish, I happened to spot a gentleman stading on the bank watching me fish. He was quite a bit older then me at the time, but his presence somewhat annoyed me. Feeling watched, I gave it another five minutes or so, then headed in.

The next thirty minutes or so were spent discussing fly fishing with this gentleman in ways I had never thought of before. The knowledge this man possessed and frankly the lack of urgency to wet his fly were astonishing. He seemed quite as content to stand and talk about fly fishing as he was to actually be out doing it. He discussed with me clouds and mayfly hatches, the current time of the Callibeatis hatch, the onset of the Giant Stonefly hatch based on elevation, water flow, and air temperature, the need to have your fly drift naturally. The benefit of watching the naturals on the water, the effect of line drag, etc, etc.

After I had finished my lunch, did he finish talking. And then asked if I wanted to give it another try, motioning out to the water. I told him to go ahead, it must be his turn, and he said there was room for two. He was definitely a talented caster, one of the best I had ever seen, gracefully placing his dry fly expertly in the feeding lanes, on the edges of deep pools, and right below large rocks that were all favorite holding places for trout. Stopping when the hatch slowed and beginning again when the hatch began.

From this expereince, I have deliberately honed my own angler's attention, and marvel not at what I notice, but what goes unnoticed by many. And many think it is unnecessary information, figuring they will catch fish using the same tactics they always have, or there just aren't fish to be had that day.

For those that routinely ignore the hints that Mother Nature is giving you in solving the what will fish hit today puzzle. Next time try taking a few minutes to observe the minute details of the place you are fishing. Start with the big picture, the water flow, clarity, time of year, guess at the water temperature (some take a thermometer), consider the time of day, the air temperature. Then look closer, look at the current world of the fish you are trying to entice. Turn over a few rocks, look at the bugs there, some take a screen and place it in the current to view the offerings fish are being presented with. Observe the surface of the water, check for dimples, for feeding fish right below the surface. Actually spotting fish in the water takes practice. Then look for hatching insects, for insects laying eggs over the surface, and of course that greatest of all fly fishing prizes the rising fish.

Observe it all, not just before fishing but the whole time, watch for nuances, changes in the air temperature, changes in the sunlight, the hatches, the surface activity. Are you hooking up deeper, shallower, suddenly less frequently. Be a part of the fly fishing equation, at peace with it, in harmony with it, and you will be amazed how much more you enjoy it.

As you go along, you will find yourself unable to look at any river or lake, without observing it in this way. Even if you are just driving by it. You will be amazed at the hatches you can observe from your car, you wil find yourself analyzing the bugs on your windshield. Angler's Attention will just be the way you looki at the entirety of the fish, insect relationship, and everytime you find yourself fly rod in hand, you will be the better fly fisher for it.


About the Author
Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. http://www.bigyflyco.com/flyfishinghome.html He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html

Fly Fishing in High Water by Cameron Larsen

Fly Fishing in High Water by Cameron Larsen

A long, long time ago, I remember waking up at 3 a.m., on a Saturday. I say waking up, although I don't think I ever went to sleep. It was opening day eve, as good as Christmas eve, in my seven year old way of thinking. Our destination was more than three hours away, to the land of huge trout, and lots of them.
Silently, in the light of the moon, my Dad and I climbeed in his Ford Falcon and began are ardous three hour journey to the land of Big Fish.

Thta magical mysterious place was, across the Cascade Mountains at the legendary Deschutes River. Home of montser trout. I dozed somewhat on the drive over, waking up to donuts and hot chocolate, as we rambled through the forest. At last, we descended on the flat juniper country of the 'East side', and finally began our twisting descent down the canyon to the mighty river. With my dog, I pressed my nose to the window glass, drooling with anticpation. As we crossed over, I didn't notice the off-color water or the river spilling here and there over it's natural banks. But I did notice my Dad's groan. We stopped, stretched our legs, used the bushes, and then I heard my Dad say, 'blown out.' I was curious and inquired, and learned the river was 'blown out', flooded, too high to fish. Each exclamation of the river more seriuos than the last. Until, I realized fishing wasn't going to happen today. As bad as life gets at seven, as bad as no Santa Claus. We threw rocks into the roaring mess, walked around some more, I learned about rock formations, local flora, and then we were off, back to home.

Today I live two blocks from that legendary river, and have learned a thing or two about high water fishing. I have had success here and on other rivers using some very simple techniques.

Where to find fish:

If the current is raging, fish don't really want to be out in it anymore than fly fishers do. They tend to hole up, in slower water, and luckily for us closer to shore. Look for pockets and pools, close in that will provide likely water. Riffles that are normally too shallow, will provide a feeding lane in high water. The nice thing is wading is not required if the fish are lying close to the bank. A word of caution here, high water wading can be extremly dangerous. Water is murky and visibility can be nil, underwater footing can change dramatically. Even if fishing familiar water, the under water terrain could have changed since last fished. A wading staff can help, but fishing from the bank is better yet.

Fish behavior:

As mentioned above, fish don't want to be in the heavy current anymore than you do. But they don't stop feeding. On the contrary, spring run off brings with it the speeding of fish's metabolism, and likewise their desire to eat. Although rising fish are much less likely, fish eat up to 90% of their diet sub-surface anyway. So unless there are peculiarities to your particular river, prepare for sub-surface fishing. This can be disappointing to some diehard dry fly fisher's. But because fish are close in, you may not have such easy access to large fish again, the entire year.

Not that you cannot get a fish to rise in high water. It is possible. I recommend using big bushy fly patterns. For two reasons, one is visibility is poor, and two they float better through turbid waters. Usual rough water attractors are the flies I call on, including Royal Wulff and Stimulators. High floating Foam Hoppers, or Chernobyl Ants also work well.

But by and large fish are feeding sub-surface, in murky waters. And that calls for some special rigging and techniuqes.

High Water Techniques:

The murky water can be a fly fisher's friend. For one thing fish are less easily spooked, and they seem to feel more 'secure' hidden in their sanctuary of dark high water. For this reason you can shorten up those tippets and use stouter tippets than one would normally choose. If 6X is the norm for your particular river go down to 4X. The advantage of the stouter tippet comes into play when you are snagging up on the bottom. I sometimes avoid the use of a strike indicator during high water, so I can better feel the river bottom. As mentioned above fish in high water can be bigger than average, and with the stronger current, you'll putting quite a bit of pressure on your tippet trying to land that big fish.

Murky water typically calls for nymphs, wet flies and streamers. The ones popular in your particular area, should work in the high water. Remember nymphs are having difficulty moving around too, and much more likely to be knocked free. Rigging up with a size or two bigger than norm also helps, as trout are likey to feed on free floating nymphs more than emerging ones, at this time. If in doubt as to what to use, start with the basics, Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail, Stonefly nymphs. Using beadheads will helps in visiblility and in a faster sink rate. Vary the split shots you use. And don't forget to in a streamer or two as well. Aggravators are notioursly good high water patterns are are Dead drifting these as close to the bottom as possible, and be prepared for hard strikes. If success doesn't come, try using a two fly set up, and probe at different levels.

When you find something that works, stick with it. And when you find fish stay there, fish are less likely to move on, so you are apt to get more fish in one spot then normal.

One last advantage of high water fishing, is relative solitude. Most fly fisher's will still see a river as 'blown out', like my Dad all those years ago. The one's that do try, usually don't have their heart in it. But for those that are patient and try the technique's featured here, their reward quite likely will be some very big fish to remember.


About the Author
Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. http://www.bigyflyco.com/flyfishinghome.html He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html