High & Dirty

Many trout streams on mainland Australia flow off mountains and alpine areas where snow melt early in the season brings high flows and at times discoloured water. Runoff after heavy rain creates similar conditions in lowland rivers flowing through farmland, and as we have all experienced in recent years, rainfall can vary from very little to a lot in a short space of time.

Being prepared to confront these conditions after a big rain is important, because the increased flows concentrate fish into certain water types and can produce some of the best fishing of the season. The colour in the water makes the trout less wary of our presentations and can also bring out some larger fish. Add in some colourful flies that work best in these conditions and you can enjoy some very productive fishing!

FINDING THE TROUT

In high flows trout will often move out of the fast-flowing water, conserving energy, so you can expect to find fish feeding in the softer water. The inside bend of a run, a slower pocket created by structure, or a medium-paced pool are good examples. Slower flows also help us by giving the fish more time to see our flies in discoloured water.

Depth is another important consideration when the water isn’t clear. I’ve found that the more active fish push into shallower areas in these conditions, which is typically close to the banks. It is rare to find numbers of fish sitting deep in the dark and dirty water when they could be up on the softer edge where there is more light penetration.

It is worth noting that there are times when the water is too high and too dirty to be productive. This changes from river to river, but if you arrive at a river and there is no slower water along the edges where you could achieve a drift of one or two feet in length, then it might be an incredibly hard day of fishing ahead of you. Also, if the water looks like chocolate milk and there isn’t a couple of inches of visibility then I would think the odds of having good fishing are stacked against you.

Having said this, you must not forget that the trout’s eyesight and ability to sense prey is remarkable. Remember, they feed in the middle of the night when it is pitch black, so a foot of visibility in the middle of the day for them in a river is nothing!

Some form of nymphing will almost always be the most productive way to target fish in high and dirty water. Faster water brings more complex currents, so fishing in a way to minimise drag is essential.

Fast flowing and discoloured water also offers cover for the angler. This is ideal because it allows us to make nice, short, concise drifts through targeted water without spooking the fish. I try to position myself as close as possible, allowing me to achieve more accurate drifts with more line control, resulting in more fish in the net.

Lots of techniques will work in these conditions, so choose one that suits you and then adapt your approach, leader and tippet, to make sure you are achieving the best drifts possible.

EURO NYMPHING

Euro nymphing is my go-to technique in these conditions. It is the perfect approach because no line other than your tippet is touching the water, allowing you to fish over and around all of the complex currents. One of the downsides of this technique is the ability to fish at distance, as it is difficult to fish further than 35 feet away. However, when water is fast and dirty you can fish nice and short with control, making very accurate drifts through each seam and slower pocket of water.

Wherever I can, I like to nymph with a single fly. From my indicator I like five feet of tippet to the fly. This gives me control and the ability to change the depth of my drifts. Fishing with a single fly is also less prone to catching sticks throughout drifts, and when you have hooked a fish there is no risk of a trailing fly snagging structure and causing you to lose the fish.

NYMPH BELOW DRY

Fishing nymph below dry on a floating line is also a great technique. It is versatile, as you can make longer drifts through flatter water, such as pools, and you can also achieve a similar outcome to euro nymphing by lifting your line and as much leader as possible off the water when fishing short in complex currents.

I like to fish a 12-foot leader to a tippet ring and then extend from there with tippet. Length of leader is a personal preference but, simply put, the longer the leader the longer the drift you can achieve without drag.

I like to fish my nymph 60 to 70cm below the dry fly, and will always fish my dry fly off a dropper or tag that is 10 to 15cm in length. This is so important to me because it allows the dry fly to fish more freely and independently, whilst still acting as an indicator for the nymph.

DRY FLY

Dry fly fishing also works surprisingly well, as the fly creates a nice silhouette on the surface. Just because the river is high and dirty, it doesn’t mean terrestrials and other insects won’t be on the water. If there’s a nice shallow edge with slower flow along the bank, then this is good dry fly water.

A single dry fly is a great way to fish when there are sticks and other obstacles in the flow that might snag your nymphs. If the water is not deep and not so fast, then the difference between a fish moving to eat a nymph or rising to take a juicy dry fly, is nothing. You will often find trout sitting near the bank, rising in the bubble line created by a bush or shrub half submerged in the water.

Fishing a nice long leader with fine tippet allows you to free up the drift of the dry fly nicely. Larger dries that are highly visible and provide a good silhouette on the water work well. I always choose a dry with a hi-vis sighter or post, because the fish don’t mind and it makes fishing the dry fly that much easier.

STREAMER FISHING

Streamer fishing is also a great way to fish the larger, slower pools on lowland rivers. It is an efficient way to cover flat, uniform water quickly, where there is no defined hot spot. It normally only takes one or two casts to create a chance if there’s a fish there. A streamer offers the added positive of being a larger, lively food item, which can trigger an aggressive take from a fish that isn’t actively looking to feed.

A floating or intermediate line with a very short leader is perfect for streamer fishing on rivers. This keeps the flies clear of sticks and structure and moving above the fish, perfectly in their eye-line. Trout respond well to the plop of the fly and to the darting movements in mid-retrieve.

I like to fish two streamers, one 4 feet from the fly line and then another 3 feet below. This keeps them fishing at the same depth as my fly line. All casts are made across the current or slightly downstream, then retrieved across and back upstream.

I find the best success comes when pulling streamers away from the fish, rather than towards them. And try not to retrieve the flies too quickly, because in fast or dirty water, sometimes they can’t be bothered chasing.

FLY PATTERNS

As opposed to fishing in normal, clear-water conditions, I tend to use more aggressive fly patterns with brighter colours or larger profiles. The aim is to try to help the fish pick out your fly in fast water or poor visibility.

When choosing a nymph, the weight of the fly must always suit the water. In these conditions it is important not to fish too light, making sure your fly is in front of the fish. I do like brighter, more aggressive nymphs — silver, pink or gold metallic beads that catch the light are perfect. Any extra flash or colour in the body is also a huge plus — flies like the Black and Blue Nymph are ideal.

Nice simple nymphs with painted fluorescent beads that stand out from naturals, sticks and litter in the drift, also work really well — the Orange Beaded Pheasant Tail Nymph is a perfect example of one such fly.

I also love fishing larger patterns such as the Squirmy Worm or Mop Fly. These two flies have changed the game when it comes to catching trout in challenging conditions. The Squirmy Worm is quite simple and logical, with earthworms inevitably ending up in the river when the water rises over new ground. The Mop is slightly different — it could be a bit of anything — a large caddis or cranefly larva. Regardless of what trout think they are, these larger flies grab their attention and are an easy meal when presented well.

Under the water these flies also catch the many currents, wafting and drifting beautifully! It is no wonder the fish find them irresistible. Their size and great visibility also makes them ideal for sight fishing in these conditions. Watching a big brown trout slide across and inhale a large fly that you can see, is one of the great joys of fly fishing. These two patterns in particular, are essentials to have in your fly box.

For dry fly fishing in these conditions, I don’t like to over complicate fly choice. The big key is that my dries are highly visible to the fish, and to me. They also need to be able to support a nymph beneath them if necessary. Large parachutes such as a mayfly or Klinkhamer with a hi-vis post are perfect. Also, larger CDC caddis or mayflies, with hi-vis sighters, work really well.

The same principles apply when choosing streamers. I prefer black with some added colour, in sizes 12 to 8. I often fish the combination of Gold Humongous and Orange Bead Black Streamer. This offers a nice mix of colour and flash between the flies. I use similar size streamers for river and lake fishing, because the baitfish are a similar size in both environments.

LEADERS & TIPPETS

Regardless of the conditions of a river, good technique and presentation are always essential. Trout are more cooperative when there is more water and colour in a river, however, they still require a nice, relatively drag-free drift. Our tippet catching the current on the surface, or subsurface, is the main cause of drag, so by reducing tippet diameter we can instantly improve the quality of our drifts.

6X and 7X tippets remain my standard diameters of choice when fishing nymphs and dries. For streamer and wet fly fishing I go heavier — 5X and 4X is perfect. It may still seem too light for these conditions, but I encourage you to try fishing a bit lighter than you normally would, to see if your drifts and catch rates improve.