Every so often, you come across a fishery that touches you in a unique way. Something about it feels different. The river piques your curiosity, and you want to learn all its secrets. It’s hard to put into words why you are drawn to that fishery. It’s probably a mix of the scenery, fish, hatches, and when that fishery came into your life. Sometimes, you know it the first time you fish there; other times, you simply find yourself returning again and again. Whatever it is, you commit to learning and figuring out everything you can about this fishery.
It’s a blessing to come across a fishery that makes you feel this way, but it’s also a daunting task to learn a river. I thought it would be fun to write about what makes these fisheries special and what goes into learning a fishery.
What Goes Into Learning a Fishery?
There is so much to learn when approaching a fishery new to you. Where to access the river, how the river changes from top to bottom, what and when hatches come off, the general food base, how water temperatures and flows fluctuate, where the fish hold, what flies work best, how angler pressure affects the fish, when and where do the big fish feed, how weather patterns affect the fishing, when and where the trout spawn, what months fish best, and how it all changes depending on the year. Are you overwhelmed yet?
That’s why fishing a new river or lake can be so daunting. There is so much you don’t know. From the hatches to the best spots to fish, it is a huge undertaking. However, being of the small percentage of people who intimately know a fishery is one of the greatest accomplishments an angler can pursue.
Read, Research, and Listen
To learn a river, I believe it’s best to start with research. Depending on the fishery, it may have a few books that reference the fishery and possibly provide a comprehensive breakdown of the fishery. A wealth of information on our fisheries and how to fish them has been compiled in books, particularly the renowned fisheries in the Yellowstone Region. I find it is best to start here.
A simple Google search can tell you a lot in today’s world. Whether it be a blog post, a magazine article, or a crappy GoPro YouTube video. I am often surprised at the information you can find on Google when doing a little digging on a fishery. Another great resource is your state’s fish and wildlife website, where you can find news articles, survey data, and general information provided by the state’s fish and wildlife department.
Lastly, there are numerous podcasts and YouTube videos that share information about famous fisheries around the world, including those in the Yellowstone Region. There is a lot to learn from today’s fishing podcasts, and I think they are a great resource for learning about famous fisheries. Often, these podcasts feature local experts or guides, allowing you to sit in on a conversation with someone who has already spent time on the water learning the fishery.
Time On The Water
Now the research is important and a great way to learn when you can’t be fishing, but there is no substitute for time on the water. Spending many hours on the fishery at different times of the year and using various techniques is the single best way to learn a fishery.
Inevitably, this will lead to some great days on the water, many average days, and plenty of poor days. That is the goal. To learn a fishery means to experience it at its best and at its worst. To understand what contributes to the good and the bad, and hopefully be able to predict when the fishery is at its best. You will also learn how to turn many of those poor days into good days by fishing new sections, different water types, and different techniques. This all takes time and experience.
And when I say time on the water, I do not mean just casting away, trying to catch every fish in the river. I believe just as much of your time is best spent observing. Looking for bugs, watching feeding fish, walking the side channels, and dissecting the river’s unique currents. Taking the time to observe will reveal everything you need to know about a fishery.
The Mindset
I think the best mindset to have when attempting to learn a new fishery is like many things in life, it’s an infinite game. There will be no finish line, no game over, and no day when you can say you know it all. There may be a time when you become satisfied with your understanding of a fishery, feeling as if you have caught plenty of fish on a variety of techniques, including some of the bigger ones. However, given the time and passion it takes to reach that point, I think a curious mindset, where you don’t see a finish line, is the best way to approach it. It will keep you going after the best of days and during the worst, and is especially important given the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our fisheries.
If you’re lucky enough to find a fishery that makes you feel this way, I encourage you to dive into that curiosity and learn everything you can about it. To learn a river is a blessing and brings about a driving passion worth exploring. These fisheries become a part of our identity: how we fish, the flies we use, and the people we fish with, all of which revolve around the fisheries we love most.
We can only truly learn a few fisheries in our lifetimes. Get out on the water, stay curious, and learn everything you can about the fisheries you love most. It’s more than worth it.
Thanks for reading,
Nick
2 thoughts on “To Learn A River”
You forgot Trout Routes. Thats a great source of information.
Thanks Dan! I have never used Trout Routes but plan to look into it. I have always used ON X for similar a similar mapping software. Great resources.
Hope the fishing has been treating you well!
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