Skinny Water Fishing Tips
A few tips for fishing in lower water
You can utilize a hopper-dropper rig in most rivers as opposed to an indicator set up when flows are low. Attaching your nymphs below a hopper at a 90 degree angle not only gives you a better connection point for your nymphs, but low water years will drive grasshoppers closer to river banks. Nothing can beat the aggressive surface take of a hopper!
* If your hand tied Super-crystal-flasha-mc-rubber isn’t working, go a little more naturalistic.
Last year we got a little spoiled tossing our elaborate, flashy, fun #6 nymphs all year (due to the extreme high flows) but this year might be a different story. Fish will become far more selective in low, clear flows when they can actually take a second to examine their meal. I am not saying to rule out your Crystal Hunchback Baetis all year but if fish are being picky, something a bit more naturalistic (such as a Rainy’s Real Meal) might be the ticket.
Rainy’s Real Meal, an example of one of the many naturalistic patterns to consider this season |