Working up Stream or Down

[Todd K]

Which way do you prefer to fish a stream, up or down? I guess this is a loaded question because it can depend on the situation.

[lar42]

Which way do you prefer to fish a stream, up or down? I guess this is a loaded question because it can depend on the situation.

In my limited experience, :) , I fish up stream if short line nymphing, downstream if stripping streamers. Either way if I'm dead drifting a streamer or nymphing with an indicator. I seldom dry fly fish so I won't comment on that. :oops: :wink:

[JACHARBO]

Ginger or MaryAnne?

[The Fisherman]

For me, it really depends on the situation. There are far too many circumstances to list that would make me choose up or down.

However, if I am walking a significant (1/2 mile+) length of stream, particularly a large one like the Farmington, I will almost always travel downstream.

Wading against the current sucks.

[Todd K]

Example: Say you saw 3 fish feeding on the surface. Would you take the one in the back first to avoid spooking the others above or start from the top one and maybe get a better drift to each fish... this is a small stream situation.

[Housy Dave]

Upstream vs Downstream

hmmm....I mostly just go back and forth across :? :D

[Z Fisher]

Example: Say you saw 3 fish feeding on the surface. Would you take the one in the back first to avoid spooking the others above or start from the top one and maybe get a better drift to each fish... this is a small stream situation.

My instinct would be to start with the rear one -- though that's a real arrogrant instinct because it presumes I can get all three. If the water was moving to hide me and the fly line and the movement of the fight then I may come from upstream. But in still water on a small stream, I'd come from downstream (assuming the cover on the bank doesn't overhang too much preventing any sort of reasonable cast).

[spike]

I would try to get above and float down into the one closest to me - assuming they were feeding 3 across (or in a triangular pattern) and not line over any of the others. I would be happy with the one. Assuming I get one, I would definitely try back for the next closest, etc. I really dislike casting up and floating back down into the fish. I always get a lousy hook and usually miss.

[phishhead]

My first thought would be to go for the one in the best feeding spot (upstream?). That one (Hopefully) is the largest of the three, and with that mind set I wouldn't mind spoking the others.