Andrwhite610
Well-known member
Look at those hard edged tail fins how could they be stocked 😅
Swirling or Turbulent Current.
- Thread starter Andrwhite610
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Basically, I look for converging currents. The seam where slower current meets the faster water is a good place to start. In your drawing, you have a swirling current behind the large boulder. In that scenario, the fish will face into the current which may actually make it facing downstream. Lastly, in heavy current areas, the water in the surface might be ripping but the water by the streambed is barely moving. There was a video on here a little while back that illustrated this. It's likely a fly scraping on the bottom may have a better chance of getting eaten.
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One of my all time favorite takes was fishing a hopper/dropper, and casting above a good sized rock on a small freestone stream, intending to drift around the rock and catch a fish (most likely on the nymph) in the current seam below the rock. As the hopper pushed up against the upstream side of the rock, a Brown Trout snout poked up and ate the hopper. Always fish the cushion above the rock too was the lesson learned that day.
Bamboozle
Well-known member
Tight-lining or Tenkra excels in these situations because reach & keeping line off the water is key to making good, consistent presentations and catching fish with regularity.
There are a couple of small streams I fish in the Poconos with so many rocks sticking out that I only fish a Tenkara rod because it works so well. At those places I spend almost the entire day specifically looking for big rocks and "swirling or turbulent current..."
There are a couple of small streams I fish in the Poconos with so many rocks sticking out that I only fish a Tenkara rod because it works so well. At those places I spend almost the entire day specifically looking for big rocks and "swirling or turbulent current..."
Andrwhite610
Well-known member
I’ve never fished Tenkara but I think I basically use my euro rod the same way when fishing small streams. Which is about 85% of my fishing. I will pull a fixed amount of line out and just keep it pinched while running drifts but not retrieving any line with my other hand. It’s very simple and efficient on small streams. Obviously when necessary I will pull more line out and retrieve on targets farther away.
Bamboozle
Well-known member
The streams I am thinking about in the Poconos are small in width, but aren't hemmed in with trees, rhododendron and other things that make using a long rod a bit of a challenge. Because a Tenkara rod is telescoping, it's also a breeze to move from spot to spot and avoid trouble.
What I discovered with Tenkara on these streams is a longer rod (11 - 12) foot is very fishable. But when pared with a short line (8' - 10'), I can reach over the rocks from quite a distance and literally steer my fly around the rocks and through seams on either side, in front or behind.
It's really a lot of fun...
Like tight-lining, I can change out to a longer line or leader for longer casts but on these streams, that ain't too long. 😉
Andrwhite610
Well-known member
Sounds like fun.
I didn’t realize tenkara were telescopic.
Are they quick to rig up and get to fishing?
Sounds like someone I could keep in the truck for when I pass by a juicy spot.
tjsingle
Well-known member
For the turbulent waters, I typically fish these with a nymph or dry dropper rig. Either casting right at the back of the boulder and letting it "marinate" in any slack water, often times even though its not a clean drift it will still get the attention of any residents.
Also look for the seams, as they are a guide for where fish may lay.
Fishing in Maine and fishing some of its turbulent water ways has taught me that fish can be in places you simply don't expect. I remember a trip up north last year, it was the last outing before we drove home, I was fishing a heavy turbulent flow that had a small pocket behind the boulder. All whitewater for the most part. I cast my dry dropper in to the whitewater and long behold a big old brookie took notice and took my fly. I lost the fish as it disappeared into the white water. Hooking them is one thing, its landing them that's the difficulty with that type of water.
Also look for the seams, as they are a guide for where fish may lay.
Fishing in Maine and fishing some of its turbulent water ways has taught me that fish can be in places you simply don't expect. I remember a trip up north last year, it was the last outing before we drove home, I was fishing a heavy turbulent flow that had a small pocket behind the boulder. All whitewater for the most part. I cast my dry dropper in to the whitewater and long behold a big old brookie took notice and took my fly. I lost the fish as it disappeared into the white water. Hooking them is one thing, its landing them that's the difficulty with that type of water.
Bamboozle
Well-known member
I ALWAYS have several Tenkara rods and a very small over-the-sholder bag with flies & other kit with me in the back of my SUV year round for the "juicy" spots.
If you backpack, the telescoping thing and the smaller collapsed rod size also makes it especially convenient for steams you encounter, even if you are hiking in to set up a base camp to fish one or two spots with conventional tackle.
It also beats packing a whole lot of regular gear for those situations and it definitely takes less time to set up.
It's a fixed line systems so I have multiple lines of different lengths in a gear bag that I choose based on where I am fishing. There are also "zoom" rods available that telescope out to three different lengths (10'8"/ 11'10"/ 12'9" for example) to give you even more flexibility in regards to reach and obstacle avoidance.
When I set-up, I pick the line I think will work best and usually carry one or two other different length lines in a pocket. All of those lines with a leader and a fly are on small spools so it realistically takes me about two minutes to attach the line to the rod, un-spool it and go fishing.
FWIW - It's wonderful when it is really cold because there are no guides to ice up and less stuff to fiddle with so you can literally keep one hand warm, inside a pocket. This kind of fishing is the main reason I initially became interested in Tenkara and it is pretty much the only way I fish for trout in winter.
Solitariolupo
Active member
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When fishing for Muskie I usually always fishing currents and swirling waters. They really like hiding behind stuff in those currents and so do other fish. Sometimes extra weight is needed to get it down in the pockets of slack waters.
Next time you’re at the seashore out in the breakers ….. instead of diving into a breaking wave, try sinking to the bottom and just sitting on your butt as a breaker passes overhead. Funny thing, it’s totally calm on the very bottom even though it’s chaotic near the surface. It’s even better to wear swim goggled and do this.
That’s why thin line is so improtant when surf fishing …. it’s not the current that drags your bait and sinker up the beach, it’s current that pulls your line and then the bait & sinker.
There seems to be a “boundary layer” of sorts near the bottom (surf or creek) that dampens the turbulence there. That’s why (for me anyway) upstream casts seem to be more productive when fishing beadheads in fast or turbulent water.
That’s why thin line is so improtant when surf fishing …. it’s not the current that drags your bait and sinker up the beach, it’s current that pulls your line and then the bait & sinker.
There seems to be a “boundary layer” of sorts near the bottom (surf or creek) that dampens the turbulence there. That’s why (for me anyway) upstream casts seem to be more productive when fishing beadheads in fast or turbulent water.
rancid waders
Well-known member
I wish you luck. I had one period where I fished 6 different times at least over the same heartbreakingly large trout.
Nymph-wristed
Well-known member
"Big fish like the bouncy stuff," a sharpie buddy of mine used to say. It took me a while to realize that what he meant was the best fish often found the easy spot to rest within what appeared to be chaos.
Even in the winter, I may put one single, heavier bug right in mess if the water below is deep enough. I have been rewarded with nice fish whose big old grapes were tucked right up under the whitewater just chilling and waiting for an easy meal while feeling safe as can be.
