Fishing High Water

This is going to be a big water-year for us here in North Park.  Big water requires a different approach when trying not only to navigate around the stream but also trying to effectively fish.  Fortunately, fish love high water and they’ve been eating at a tremendous pace since the flows jumped a few weeks ago.

First things first, we need to know what they’re eating. A seine net can give a definite answer as to what’s in the drift.  In high water, we’re likely to see a smorgasbord of trout snacks floating down the river. You could tie on a size 22 RS2 and represent one of the many bugs in the drift, but you’d be better served by something big and juicy. If I was nymphing, my first choice would be a pink, purple, or red San Juan worm. Big Stones, Craneflies, or Caddis larvae can be deadly as well.  This is also a great time to break out the big bright streamers.  Any pattern that’s big and bright is worth a cast or two during these times of the year.

We’ve got an idea of what we need to be throwing, now we need to know where to look.  On the meadow streams the best places to try are: inside bends, irrigation returns, backwaters, or any other seams, where fast and slow water come together.  In heavy pocket water, such as Northgate Canyon, I would begin my search by fishing super close to the banks, or behind big rocks. You’d be amazed how many fish will stack up right on the bank, especially after an initial jump in flows.  Trout like to sit in slow water for efficiency, but they like to be near fast water that will carry food down to their holding lies, almost like a trout snack conveyor belt.

Watch for these spring flows to start dropping in the next few weeks or so, and get out there and catch some fish.  It’s hard to find a fatter, happier trout than you’ll see right after runoff.

Written by: Drew Rodden