Fishing
Techniques
 To be successful in early season, fly anglers will
have to anticipate the best holding spots, then cast and drift flies
in the target zone. With the high water conditions normally seen this
time of year, many unproductive runs and riffles will look fishy; knowing
your river and where fish normally hold will allow you to sidestep these
areas and concentrate your time and effort where the fish hold.
Like most other types of fly fishing, early-season
nymphing has two general approaches that anglers use to get flies in
front of fish. The most often used technique is an across-stream drift
that places the fly directly into feeding zones.
Start this technique with a cast across and several
feet upstream of the structure you plan on fishing. Throw an upstream
mend into the fly line at this point to allow the line and fly to drift
downstream naturally without excessive drag being placed on the fly.
As the fly drifts downstream, follow the line with the rod tip while
gathering slack line. Once the fly has passed the run or structure you
plan on fishing, raise the rod slowly dragging the fly off of the bottom
and back to the surface and repeat the cast. In most cases, with the
high-water conditions, fish will not bite on the first cast, so repeat
casts to a quality run or riffle should produce results.
 The second early-season nymphing technique is the
down-and-across drift. Cast the fly across the stream, allowing the current
to carry the fly downstream. As the fly line gets pulled downstream,
the line and leader will tighten, allowing the fly to swing to a position
directly below the angler. Once the fly has completed the swing, slowly
raise the rod, which drags the fly off of the bottom and back to the
surface to be re-cast. Keep in mind that with the high, fast flows associated
with this time of year, lots of debris will be flushed downstream. As
your indicator drifts, check any little bob or bounce to see if it is
a fish. In most cases, trout will take flies very lightly, never giving
anglers a significant sign that they are on the line.
 If you're lucky enough to encounter an early season hatch, then drifting a
dry or two can definitely be very productive. In most cases, the basic upstream
and across technique will work very well. Cast dries upstream and across
from rising fish. After the fly lands, immediately mend the line upstream
to set up a drag-free float. If the dry goes over the fish with no response,
pick up the slack line and recast the fly for a new drift. Watch for fish
taking dries near the banks and not to the middle of the river.
Another good point to remember is that jumping fish
may not be feeding, so don't waste too much time chasing after these
fish. Once you have found where the fish are sitting, cast and retrieve
flies for 10 to15 minutes or until you feel that you have covered the
water effectively.
At first glance, most rivers look too difficult to
fish due to the high fast water covering banks and structure. But with
a few extra layers of clothing, the right techniques and properly chosen
flies, you can connect with the fish of a lifetime.
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