Blown Out ??

[Stripminer]

I ventured to my local WTMA yesterday despite the recent rains. Needless to to say the stream looked nothing like its usual self, lots of water in a big hurry to get downstream.

I am curious to know how you guys handle high water. Do you wait it out? do you change tactics? Can you fish a stream or river despite a recent rain? I am one year into my fly fishing passion and learning this sport is most of the fun. Thanks in advance for your answers.

- Tom

[Kierran]

Depending on the flow and clarity, it might be best to wait it out a day or two.

or...

Sometimes in conditions you describe, you may find fish hugging the banks. A good way to target trout during these times would be stripping a streamer. Best of luck.

[The Fisherman]

I usually avoid small streams during times of freshet, but what Kierran said: I've fished WTMAs with high water the color of milk and coffee and had fish find and hit streamers. Big and white (Zonker, Woolly Bugger) would be good choices.

[westbranchangler]

You can fish streamers and larger nymphs. Fish close to the banks as that is where the greatest visibility and light penetration will take place and therefore the trout in those zones will be "catchable." When the fish are deep and the water is dirty the trout do not see your flies, this makes catching them near impossible. This is due to the inability of light to penetrate the water column. Fish the margins or the stream and you will catch fish.

Also, don't look at adverse conditions as a reason to not catch fish. Look at them as a reason to up your game and find a way to catch them. You will become a better angler in the long run for it.