Mika Lappalainen | Friday, 27 October 2023
There is new discussion in sexyloops' board about learning to read rivers. Some people study and masters physics of casting etc. I consider reading rivers is my shit. It is not only because fishing a lot but also doing rafting , crossing rivers with quads, making small streams just for fun. I hope you find some useable stuff from this serie, which is coming on next weeks. All feedback is welcomed, Am I yedi master on this , not sure but pretty close anyway.
One of the most common sentences what is told and written is "fish around the rock". Same time when it makes sense it is also stupidest sentence to say. It should continue and this is how and why you do it.
If someone thinks that Paul's drawings are bad... wait that you see mine.
Fish around rock... upstream side of the rock. Why fish are there and how to locate those rocks. First of all fish are lazy motherfuckers. They spent most of the time where it is easiest, less energy consumption and food is coming to you. Just like us, if someone brings beer for us when sitting on the couch, you'll take it. If you have to get it from fridge... well you will think twice if you really want move your ass.
Everytime there is white wave in river there is rock upstream from that. Size of the wave depends current's speed etc... anyway always rock on upstream.
And front of the rock potential place for fish. When bottom current hits the rock it will makes eddy, swirl... it means that fish can stay on place without no effort. Same time current is bring food straight to mouth, also fish can pick up something passing from side.
So simple as that. No big secrets or science behind, except you have to find those rocks. There is not always white wave downstream, you will see change in current anyway and wave even you might not see the stone itself. Really rough measure is that height of the wave is length of stone, but this one goes only in fast current.
And remeber to fish all the way until water breaks, especially with dries. I have caught lot of graylings when fly has just about reaching breaking point, before turning white. Fish might be lazy but there are fast and when there start rising from front of rock.... they meet your fly just before breaking one.
Have a nice weekend and go fishing.
Mika from Finland
Ps. lakes are frozen here, last night it was -16 celsius, 3 F. Ice fishing season is just to start it.