Fly Fishing High Murky Water
by Ben Hope
Yes, you can still catch fish when rivers have just had a good flood.
Fish gotta eat but they don’t want to expend energy fighting that torrent of the main current. So they stay close to the edges. The friction of the water meeting the banks of the stream, retards speed of water so along the edges can be much slower than out in the middle. Fish the Edges
The existence of a trout is basically about consuming as opposed to conserving energy. Fighting against that strong flow burns up energy for a fish. When the streams are swollen, trout in order to escape that surging current, instinctively move to the edges, sometimes just a metre or two off the banks. You may not even have to wade during high water events because the fish will be holding more towards the bank than the middle strong flow.
Sometimes while the main river is flooded, a tributary will be clearer for even totally clear depending on where the rain has fallen. So downstream of tributaries along the line of murky and clear water can be where the trout are likely to be.
A good flood causes trout to seek refuge from aggressive rapids. The gentle run-ins and riffles will suddenly be raging rapids at flood time. Deeper pools will have gentler water so in the slacker “eye” of the pool or at the tail of the pool before the next rapid, will be where trout seek comfort. Places that once were slack water will now have some flow.
However, finding the softer water, nearer the banks will be areas to focus on.
A flood in the river can alter things and nymphs and other morsels can be dislodged from stones and swept downstream and pushed towards the edges. Trout will be looking for food.
MDC Gauges
Check the local Council’s website for over flows and get to know the flows relative to the height of the river. You may have to wait a day for two or three after a flood.
The flood itself may be too dirty to be fishable but as the flood abates and the water starts to clear, it’s a top time to try.
You may not even have to wade as fish are holding in close and short casts can be made from dry stones!
Spinners/Flies
Focus on dark spinners and there’s none better than a Black Toby. Similarly large dark streamers are best such as a Hairy Dog or Black Woolly Bugger size 4 or 2. Cast straight out and let the streamer swing around.
Tippet
You don’t need 5 metre leaders. Shorten up to about three metres and use a stronger tippet.The murky water naturally limits trout’s vision so you can get away with shorter leaders and heavier tippets.
Familiar Spots
In murky water be aware the flood itself may have created new drop-offs so if you have to wade do so carefully. It also pays to fish a pool you know from when the river was clear.
Sometimes pools can have sudden drop-offs which you can see in clear water but not in discoloured water.
Split Shot
Don’t be afraid to use bigger flies. Water flows, just after a flood, will be much faster and higher so if it’s deeper water, it may take some extra weight to get down to where the fish are. So add a split shot or perhaps two, a few centimetres above your fly.