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Fishing in the rain...any tips?
- Thread starter upyun
- Start date
upyun
Just finished a River Runs Through it!
Thanks Dave
I ordered a bunch of flies (nymphs, stimulators/buggers) online on tuesday but I doubt they'll be at my house by today. If they haven't arrived, I'll pick up a few wooly buggers and stimulators at Ramsey Outdoors on saturday morning then I guess. Thanks!
Brian
I ordered a bunch of flies (nymphs, stimulators/buggers) online on tuesday but I doubt they'll be at my house by today. If they haven't arrived, I'll pick up a few wooly buggers and stimulators at Ramsey Outdoors on saturday morning then I guess. Thanks!
Brian
Scott
Salmo salar Sebago finatic
For me, the best time to fish streamers - absolute best time - is when the water level is changing, i.e. rising or falling. This is especially true of migratory fish, which seem to wait for water level changes to move upriver.
For example, Landlocked salmon on the fall spawning run congregate at lake inlets, and while some will start up whenever they feel like it, most tend to move up river when water levels rise and the temperature drops. Also, a sudden drop in water level, especially at night or on a dark day can push the fish to move that are already in the river - at least the ones that aren't already at their destination. They move fast and can cover several miles a day.
Although I haven't fished for sea run brown trout before, from what I've read most catches of sea runs occur when the water level starts to fall following a heavy rain.
Shad do the same thing, they wait for the water to rise before they move. I would expect Sunday & Monday to be good shad days.
For trout in your local stream, I believe rising water (from my experience) is more productive for prodding fish into putting on the feed bag.
I usually base my streamer pattern based on water clarity. The murkier it gets, the brighter, or darker the pattern. The point is to increase the contrast so the fish can see you streamer.
I prefer bright yellow, or black. That was the idea I had behind one of the streamer patterns I came up with, which places a yellow saddle hackle on top of a black one in the wing, with the golden pheasant neck for the shoulder which is orange and has those black bands.
If the water is still relatively clear I usually opt for a streamer that approximates natural forage, such as a gray ghost, or similar.
If you do go out in heavy rain, be careful because even here in NJ water levels can come up fast, and you may find that you've waded somewhere you can't get back from very easily. Know the water you are fishing, and pay attention to how to get the heck out of the water fast if you have to. Safety first!
For example, Landlocked salmon on the fall spawning run congregate at lake inlets, and while some will start up whenever they feel like it, most tend to move up river when water levels rise and the temperature drops. Also, a sudden drop in water level, especially at night or on a dark day can push the fish to move that are already in the river - at least the ones that aren't already at their destination. They move fast and can cover several miles a day.
Although I haven't fished for sea run brown trout before, from what I've read most catches of sea runs occur when the water level starts to fall following a heavy rain.
Shad do the same thing, they wait for the water to rise before they move. I would expect Sunday & Monday to be good shad days.
For trout in your local stream, I believe rising water (from my experience) is more productive for prodding fish into putting on the feed bag.
I usually base my streamer pattern based on water clarity. The murkier it gets, the brighter, or darker the pattern. The point is to increase the contrast so the fish can see you streamer.
I prefer bright yellow, or black. That was the idea I had behind one of the streamer patterns I came up with, which places a yellow saddle hackle on top of a black one in the wing, with the golden pheasant neck for the shoulder which is orange and has those black bands.
If the water is still relatively clear I usually opt for a streamer that approximates natural forage, such as a gray ghost, or similar.
If you do go out in heavy rain, be careful because even here in NJ water levels can come up fast, and you may find that you've waded somewhere you can't get back from very easily. Know the water you are fishing, and pay attention to how to get the heck out of the water fast if you have to. Safety first!
Scott
Salmo salar Sebago finatic
Oh, and one other thing - make sure when you pull your waders up that your raincoat is on OVER your chest waders, not tucked inside... Trust me on this one... And you can also believe me when I say that if you do happen to pull your waders up over your raincoat, you won't make that mistake again. Especially if it rains really, really hard.
Nourrir les poissons
Lads, as you just read there are a number of theories, strategies, and tactics involved in fly fishing in the rain. To answer your first question I have yet to catch a trout on a dry fly in the rain. Not saying it can't be done, just that I haven't been able to. Secondly, with the rain drops hitting the surface of the stream it gives the trout a sence of security and they will be more apt to start feeding, ie. like at dusk and after dark. Thirdly, with rain you will have a rise in level from the run off which is generally darker in colour and again, the trout will feel secure from over head predators and begin feeding for a short while anyway.
Lads, as you just read there are a number of theories, strategies, and tactics involved in fly fishing in the rain. To answer your first question I have yet to catch a trout on a dry fly in the rain. Not saying it can't be done, just that I haven't been able to. Secondly, with the rain drops hitting the surface of the stream it gives the trout a sence of security and they will be more apt to start feeding, ie. like at dusk and after dark. Thirdly, with rain you will have a rise in level from the run off which is generally darker in colour and again, the trout will feel secure from over head predators and begin feeding for a short while anyway.
NJFred
Trout Hunter
Heavy rain does tend to keep the flys off the water (maybe in the water) but in light rain or showers the fishing can be cosmic.
The water keeps the mayfly wings wet and they ride the surface much longer than in dry weather. Not to mention that for most of the year except early spring perhaps, hatching is much more prolific in the lower light.
I like fishing in the rain... at least the light rain.
The water keeps the mayfly wings wet and they ride the surface much longer than in dry weather. Not to mention that for most of the year except early spring perhaps, hatching is much more prolific in the lower light.
I like fishing in the rain... at least the light rain.
sstasiak
Super Pupa
I remember fishing a stocked stream last spring in the rain. When I got there, it had just let up from a couple hours of heavy rain. The water was coming up and was getting murkier. A few minutes onstream and it started up again. It was probably the best fishing I ever had on that stream for the short time I was there. The fish were taking sulphur dries off the surface and sometimes the nymph that was on the dropper below it. Not only were they taking off the surface in the rain, but they were literally exploding out of the water. It was kind of strange seeing stockies behaving like that. It was NICE.
The bait guy that was just downstream from me watched in awe as I pulled in fish after fish, and he couldn't get so much as a bite using whatever he was using.
The bait guy that was just downstream from me watched in awe as I pulled in fish after fish, and he couldn't get so much as a bite using whatever he was using.
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upyun
Just finished a River Runs Through it!
Thanks for all the tips guys!
I went out to Ringwood on saturday, after I thought I WASN'T going fishing so I was a little unprepared. I didn't have my fly rod with me so I was spin fishing. I didn't see any hatches or anything since the rain was coming down pretty steadily, but I did manage to catch some type of sucker fish (not a carp or catfish....had big scales and looks a shiny gold) right below the waterfall in the state park. All my friend and I had were worms, but it was still nice to get out there instead of couped up back in Philadelphia! I was a little disappointed that I couldn't see any trout since they had stocked the river the day before and when the rain would subside (at times) I was able to see a couple of feet into the water. Plus, the river isn't that large/long and I believe they only stock the section of the river that's in the state park. Those trout are quiet sneaky!
After a few hours, we drove up to Shepherd's Lake and saw a few other fisherman there already. One had caught 2 rainbows on fathead minnows and everyone else left. We stayed for maybe a half hour, but it was getting way too cold for our clothing we had on so we called it a day.
I went out to Ringwood on saturday, after I thought I WASN'T going fishing
so I was a little unprepared. I didn't have my fly rod with me so I was spin fishing. I didn't see any hatches or anything since the rain was coming down pretty steadily, but I did manage to catch some type of sucker fish (not a carp or catfish....had big scales and looks a shiny gold) right below the waterfall in the state park. All my friend and I had were worms, but it was still nice to get out there instead of couped up back in Philadelphia! I was a little disappointed that I couldn't see any trout since they had stocked the river the day before and when the rain would subside (at times) I was able to see a couple of feet into the water. Plus, the river isn't that large/long and I believe they only stock the section of the river that's in the state park. Those trout are quiet sneaky!After a few hours, we drove up to Shepherd's Lake and saw a few other fisherman there already. One had caught 2 rainbows on fathead minnows and everyone else left. We stayed for maybe a half hour, but it was getting way too cold for our clothing we had on so we called it a day.
