Water speed and trout species

[davesilva]

This for obvious reasons applies to streams (my question)

When I fish a stream I mainly look for deep pools then structure

But on my trip to the south ram I wasn't catching any cutties on the slower section of the pool, I started catching consecutive cut throats on the fast section which I thought was almost too fast for trout I would cast a dry fly over this almost white water rapid and the cuts would take the dry every second cast!

I was always told brown trout usually hang out where the fast water meets slow

Bull trout love log jams etc


So have you guys ever caught trout on sections of Rivers you never thought you would like ankle deep water etc

[Scott N]

The first few times I caught trout within a few inches of the bank of the river surprised, me, but not any more.

[lannie]

I think the reason you will find the Cutties in the faster sections of water is the elevated levels of oxygen in the water due to the aeration of the riffles.
When the water temp is colder earlier in the year and the oxygen levels are higher you will find them in the deeper and slower pools.

[Chief16]

Originally Posted by lannie

I think the reason you will find the Cutties in the faster sections of water is the elevated levels of oxygen in the water due to the aeration of the riffles.
When the water temp is colder earlier in the year and the oxygen levels are higher you will find them in the deeper and slower pools.

X2

[FlyTheory]

Not just what mentioned above, but I'd try tailouts too. I've personally been surprised by some of the fish I've caught there. But it's only worth a couple casts, not a thorough working. Good luck!

[Cowtown guy]

Originally Posted by davesilva

So have you guys ever caught trout on sections of Rivers you never thought you would like ankle deep water etc

I had a secret little spot before the flood where I caught browns at midnight via the aid of street lamps across the river. They would be in such shallow water for so long that their dorsal fins would show and give them away.

I rarely fish more than 20 feet from the bank on the bow. Routinely less than 2 feet from the bank. I see dozens of guys standing right on top of where fish would be if they weren't there.

[fishman]

I live 100 feet from a river which has cuttys. Bows and browns
I find when the the river is high in spring I find the bows in the beginning
Of the pool and the tail out as the water level drops and
Water warms up they go into the deeper part of the pool
The browns seem to stay close to the bank
I agree about what was said about the o2 content from water churnning
Over boulders etc. but on the other side it breaks the water into small
Particles and it absorbs the surrounding air temp driving
Them into deeper water

[mvaughan]

One book I have read says
Rainbows and Cuttys - like to feed in max 6' per second water speed
Brooks if I remember correctly 3-4 FPS
Browns 0.5 -1 FPS


It has helped me to find fish anyways!
Tight Lines!!

[Runnyd]

With cuttys, I find that the smaller ones spend time in the riffles and faster water while the bigger fish are more edumacated and spend less energy hanging out in pools.

But I'm not a biologist, what do I know.

[fishman]

Originally Posted by Runnyd

With cuttys, I find that the smaller ones spend time in the riffles and faster water while the bigger fish are more edumacated and spend less energy hanging out in pools.

But I'm not a biologist, what do I know.

This is true depending on conditions
But if u follow a book u r passing over
Water that holds fish. It all changes with
Conditions
Example. Cowichan river. I catch rainbows in the middle
Of the river in fast water hiding behind any rock
These r not small fish First time it happened I couldn't
Believe it
I watch the fish in my river in front of my door. I change
My approach depending on conditions
So many factors
Water. Temp
O2 level
Flows and structure

[Red Bullets]

I was fishing the a river near Pierre Grey lakes and was amazed that the only brookies I caught were in very fast main stream riffles of 10 inch deep water. I was always used to fishing brookies around slower water near beaver dams and eddie edges.