| In my opinion, the most important thing to | | | | water. For the most part you'll want to |
| remember while river fishing is not to spook | | | | spend 80% of your time on any given river |
| the water that you're about to fish. I've | | | | fishing trip, fishing the deeper parts of the |
| seen entirely too many anglers do this very | | | | river. Deeper edges and riffles and of |
| thing. For example, they'll wade 1/4 of the | | | | course pools are where a majority of the fish |
| way out into the river and begin fishing. | | | | will congregate(especially in hotter weather. |
| Thus leaving themselves standing in the very | | | | You don't want to get caught spending 80% of |
| water they probably should have fished | | | | your time fishing the shallow riffles and 20% |
| first.The first tip is: When river fishing, | | | | of your time fishing the beautiful pool below |
| remember to work the area that you want to | | | | the riffles. And the deeper edges along most |
| fish in "sections". Don't just jump in and | | | | riffles (especially in the bend of the river) |
| start fishing in the spot that you think | | | | are generally more productive as well. Just |
| looks the best. And don't just fish the | | | | remember: for the most part, deeper is |
| water directly below where you're wading. | | | | better.The fourth tip is: Match your fishing |
| Make your casts into the current then let | | | | gear to the type of fish that your fishing |
| your live bait or lure flow with the current | | | | for. I've seen all too many anglers out on |
| until it is finally below you, keeping your | | | | my local stream fishing for rainbow trout |
| line as tight as possible the entire time. | | | | with gear that would enable them to hook and |
| Repeat this step while varying the length of | | | | land a small mako shark! My personal |
| your casts in order to cover the water | | | | preference is a five foot ultralight rod and |
| entirely.The second tip is: When river | | | | reel spooled with 4 lb. test. If this would |
| fishing, while using live bait, the bottom is | | | | be too "small" for you, a 6 foot light action |
| your friend. As my mentor used to say, "if | | | | rod spooled with 6lb. test would suffice, but |
| you're not getting snagged, you're not | | | | any larger is complete overkill. If you're |
| fishing in the right place!" The goal is to | | | | going river fishing for fall steelhead, |
| bounce you're live bait off of the bottom as | | | | obviously your going to need larger fishing |
| it drifts naturally through the current (JRW | | | | gear. Just make sure to match it to what |
| Gang Hooks are the most natural way to | | | | you're fishing for. I don't need to see any |
| present a worm in my opinion). This is | | | | more shark fishermen on my local trout |
| accomplished by adjusting the number of split | | | | stream.These tips should save you time, and |
| shot sinkers you add to your line. Start | | | | with any luck, help you catch more fish as |
| with two and make a cast. If you don't feel | | | | well. So get out there and do just that. |
| bottom throughout your drift, add another on | | | | And remember what a very wise person once |
| the next cast and so on. Once you're | | | | said, "a bad day fishing is better than a |
| bouncing bottom, you'll be able to feel it. | | | | good day at work." Amen!Trevor Kugler20 year |
| And with practice, you'll be able to tell the | | | | fishing addict, especially ultralight river |
| difference between the bottom and a bite with | | | | fishing - products and information to save |
| ease.The third tip is: Look for deeper | | | | you time, and help you catch more fish. |