I’m looking for approach and presentation ideas, not gear specifics.
This is a deep river hole (~15 ft) where a tributary faces directly into the main current. The main flow pushes hard past the mouth, creating a deep rotational bucket on the downstream edge. Big trout are clearly holding pinned to the bottom in that soft water.
Problem is:
I cannot get anything to stay deep enough in the strike zone without it immediately lifting, sweeping out, or blowing through too fast. First passes don’t move fish, and repeated drifts don’t seem to change their position.
I fish a variety of styles and I’m open to any techniques here — float, drift, centerpin, spin
Posted by Fresh_Can9011
7 Comments
Very very stupid question but just in case. You did try split shots right?
Split shot, trout magnet system or a gulp worm
Could try to dredge a white streamer. You can stand downstream from the trib in the current of the main river and cast upstream into the tributary and go between dead drifts and/or bouncing or jigging it back towards you. If the water has more speed, you can try working up it and slowly stripping it back towards you from 3/4 upstream so that it’s headed diagonally downstream towards you. Wade in the current from the main part of the river if it’s not too deep, it will help disguise your position.
Edit: white is key, or something light, because you can see it and have a better sense of control.
Edit 2: and by dredge I’m talking chuck and duck the heaviest thing you can muster. Even if you’re just flinging that fucker. Could use a sink tip with it if you can work it fast enough in a small area.
Attempt to present from where this photo is taken. Cast so fly lands in seam, throw a huge upstream and across mend in the line so you get drift along the directional break. Otherwise cross river and work the reverse direction of the Eddie from either side of the tributary mouth. Use a 90 degree Hinged Indicator Rig. Use 4x or 5x tippet (no leader) straight from the indicator so you essentially have a right angle
The answer is always just euronymphing. 🤷
Uhhh something with weight on it?
Keep low and keep quiet. Trout face numerous threats and many are from above in the form of predatory birds and are constantly on the lookout for danger. If you can see them, they can see you and that may shutdown the bite.
Keep your presentation light, the lightest weight you can get away with. Trout can be very line-shy but also if your presentation looks unnatural it may spook them into lock jaw.
I would send down a hellgramitte soft plastic, maybe a gulp minnow with as little split shot as possible. Small, non-threatening, naturalistic, but also substantial enough to interest a trout that is focused on conserving it’s energy. Cast upstream and allow the current to bring it to them. You probably won’t need to impart any action at all to your presentation.