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Learning river reading is a crucial skill in fly fishing in Montana, providing numerous benefits to novice and expert fishermen alike. Beaver ponds offer ideal conditions for beginners, with apparent backcasting freedom, slow currents, and visible fish-holding zones. You can easily catch brook trout by approaching stealthily and casting near the inlet. However, fishing in swiftly flowing rivers presents more challenges. Taking the time to learn river reading will significantly improve your fishing experience, and following a few river fishing tips is an excellent way to start.
Many anglers lose interest without mastering this skill, essential for a successful fly fishing journey. Just as driving safely requires looking beyond the car before you, river reading involves anticipating changes in the waterway's landscape. Meandering channels and bends require quick responses to visual cues. Developing strong on-water reading skills is essential for navigating any river effectively.
Look for Slow, Deep Pockets
Throughout your experience as an angler, you will repeatedly hear the saying, "Trouts are lethargic." Although it's a simple recall phrase, trout deserves greater recognition. Instead of assuming they are lazy, remember that they are efficient.
Considering this from a different perspective, imagine yourself in their situation. You attempt to swim against the strong current of a river all day and night, much like how you spend most of your working life trying to sustain yourself and avoid becoming prey. Seeing it from this perspective makes it much simpler to comprehend why river trout prefer deeper, slower-moving pockets of water concealed from predators above and where air and food come to them instead of having to go after it.
Follow the Bubbles
Fish effectively adapt to breathe the same air as us, although they extract oxygen from their water environment. Hence, as living organisms are naturally inclined to need oxygen, they often gather in areas with abundant oxygen in water.
As a river reading angler, you need to seek out slower, deeper river sections with oxygen-producing elements at or above where they begin. Search for long, unhurried currents just after a waterfall, a section of fast-moving water, a shallow area filled with rocks, a sudden curve, or something like it. Frequently identifiable by a line of bubbles or foam on the surface, you’ll witness streams like this attract numerous trout that are actively feeding.
Check the River Flow
Trout exhibits varying behaviors based on whether the flows are high or low. Knowing each river's high, low, and mid-range flows is essential due to its varying CFS ranges.
A high flow value on one river will be a low flow value on another. Put simply, a CFS value might be just a small amount on a large river but could be considered a huge amount on a small river. Knowing the specific CFS of the river you plan to fish will significantly impact your fishing approach.
Check the Water Clarity
Trout exhibits varied behaviors based on the river water's clarity, whether clear, off-color, murky, or extremely muddy, like chocolate milk.
The river's clarity plays a significant role in determining your approach to fly fishing in Montana, the fish's level of sensitivity to your presence, the visibility of flies, and other factors. In general, clarity tends to increase when the flow is lower, although this is not always the case, as clarity can quickly change.
Food Flows
Trout are drawn to areas with good oxygen levels and abundant food that can easily reach their mouths. These regions usually correspond to elevated oxygen levels. Furthermore, trout are remarkably predatory. Whether aquatic or land-dwelling, if they end up in the dangerous waters of a river, they are just as vulnerable as a wounded fish surrounded by aggressive sharks.
Despite the advice given earlier, fish that feed on insects also gather in areas where an abundance of food is dropping from above, such as overhanging trees and bushes. This is where flies reproduce and eventually fall into the river, providing a source of food for the fish. This phenomenon is called a "spinner fall" and is truly a sight to see. Identifying a spinner feeding frenzy is straightforward—you'll understand once you first encounter it.
Evaluate the Conditions
The surrounding circumstances play a crucial role in river reading. Without delving into the details of physiology or philosophy, conditions determine the behavior of all living beings on Earth.
Like any other fish, trout exhibit vastly different behaviors during the winter and late summer. Their behavior is also different in the morning compared to when the sun is at its peak. Normally, trout are highly cautious when approaching airborne and furry enemies.
Evaluate Your Spot
When you reach the river's edge, it is time to carefully approach the situation before starting to cast. Many inexperienced anglers make the mistake of entering the water too quickly, alerting the trout to their presence and causing them to scatter or stop feeding. Instead, take a moment to observe the surroundings, calm yourself, and analyze the potential challenges. Consider factors such as the sun angle, potential shadows, and any possible snag hazards in the area. Taking these steps before starting to fish can increase your chances of success and avoid unnecessary mistakes. Remember to be patient, observe the environment, and create a strategic action plan before casting your line.
Identifying cast and drift snag hazards requires imagining an invisible sphere around you to anticipate snags from all directions. Wind influences casting style and can aid in camouflaging you from fish. Adjusting your approach based on wind conditions can minimize trip-ruining mishaps. By carefully considering wind direction and velocity, you can avoid potential snags and improve your chances of success. Approach runs silently or boldly, depending on the situation, and adapt to your surroundings like a river reading pro. By being mindful of potential obstacles and adjusting your techniques accordingly, you can increase your chances of success while fishing. Remember to be aware of potential hazards and make strategic decisions to enhance your fishing experience.
Check the Shallows
Although trout generally follow specific behavioral patterns, occasionally, you can catch them in the fast-moving shallow waters during the peak of daylight. When activity wanes in the usual areas, you can often attempt a few casts in the shallower currents and be surprised by a strong bite. In reality, there are numerous hidden spots underwater where trout can hide unnoticed due to natural structures. While improving your skill in river reading, consider casting into shallow areas periodically, especially if the shallows are located directly above a deeper section.
More River Fishing Tips
Traditional belief suggests that 10 percent of anglers are responsible for catching 90 percent of the fish. Many believe the elite "10 percenters" succeed significantly due to their exceptional fishing abilities, but that's just part of the explanation. Understanding where to fish in a particular body of water is just as crucial as knowing how to fish. Being an excellent angler with expertise in flies and retrieval techniques is irrelevant if there are no fish present. To locate the fish, you need to learn river reading and follow a few essential river fishing tips for a successful fly fishing trip in Montana.
Avoid Strainers
A strainer is any obstruction that water can flow through but you cannot, like a fallen tree, a pile of debris, or a low-water bridge. Be on the lookout for these obstacles, especially in fast-moving water, and steer clear of them. These barriers may sometimes extend across the entire stream, necessitating a portage.
Stay in the Middle
When the river is high, and the current is strong, it is best to remain in the middle of the river to steer clear of obstacles like strainers or branches hanging over the banks. You can frequently glide swiftly along the edge to bypass the turbulent water.
Scan the River
Be observant! If you come across a spot with low or shallow water that seems tough to navigate, be prepared to encounter similar obstacles ahead. The river might be too shallow for navigation. However, if the river is engulfed by plants on the bank, has a strong current, floating branches, and logs, and is murky, then it may be too dangerous to navigate today.
Go with the Flow
Go with the flow when the water level is low. You will desire to head in the direction of the majority of the water flow. It's moving in that direction because there is a path for it. And become skilled at identifying an eddy—a tranquil area of water away from the flow, typically found beneath a rock or ledge. An experienced paddler can easily navigate up a gentle rapid by eddy hopping, and eddies serve as convenient spots to stop and wait for the rest of your group to join you.
Do Your Homework
It might be best to seek guidance from an outfitter if you’re a beginner. Aside from seeking help, you should also be aware of your starting point, destination, and route. Monitor river levels with gauges or reach out to a rafting company to determine the status of the river. Make sure to also look at the weather forecast.
Visit The Bitterroot Mile Club!
The Bitterroot Mile Club provides a welcoming escape for individuals discovering the picturesque Bitterroot Valley in Montana. After spending the day exploring outdoors or fly fishing in Montana waters, you can relax in their soothing accommodations or indulge in a meal meant to energize and rejuvenate. Nature lovers and anglers of all skill levels will value our warm welcome and prime location near the Bitterroot Trail. If you're looking to relax or go on an adventure, the Bitterroot Mile Club has everything you need, making it a great destination during your trip to Montana. Discover more about what we have available at Bitterroot Mile Club.