Reading the Water
Ok, so now you’re ready to hit the streams and catch some fish. The question becomes, “So where do I find these trout to fish for?”
Unless they have a specific reason for swimming downstream, trout will be facing upstream, thus swimming against the current. Naturally this burns up a lot of energy so the trout needs a lot of food to replace that expended energy. Since they are facing upstream, they’ll see all the food that passes by them in the current, including insects and other small creatures, like worms, leeches, minnows, etc. that get swept away in the strong current. Fish will strategically position themselves in spots where the current is not too strong so they don’t burn up too much energy and where the current will channel the most food to them and where there is a hiding place in close proximity.
Pools and Pockets
It seems like the most popular situation to fish is the deep pool. Pools generally hold the most fish because of the cover they provide and because of the slow and easy currents.
The head (beginning) of the pool will hold some trout, perhaps resting before heading upstream, but there will usually be more fish farther down the pool.
The tail (end) of a pool is where the water starts to become more shallow. Fish will sometimes hold up here as a resting spot after fighting stronger currents when heading upstream. Other times they’ll be located in an area that creates a small underwater bank where the water depth quickly changes from deep to shallow.
Along with these pools, trout will often find "pockets" behind large rocks, which break the current and sweep food to them. To find submerged rocks, watch for bulges in the stream and for small patches of water that look slick against the rest of the current.
Bends and Eddies
At the bend of a stream a trout may be holding on the inside or the outside of the bend, depending on the speed of the current, depth, etc. If it is a deep bend, usually the current will be stronger on the outside, up against the bank. In this situation, a trout will usually hold in the slower current to the inside of the bend. If the water is shallower, look for the trout to be back closer to the bank on the outside of the bend in search of the deeper water and better food distribution.
An eddy, on the other hand, poses a bit of a different challenge in fishing. This is a phenomenon where the current actually flows in the opposite direction. When the current cuts into a bank, it creates an eddy which is an indentation into the bank where the water swirls around and flows back against the main current. This creates a pocket of water that collects food which will attract fish.
Riffles
Shallow, choppy water generally downstream of deep, slow pools, riffles usually hold fish, but there are fewer of them and they are probably smaller than the fish in the pool. In the riffles, look for patches of smooth water that reveal depressions deep enough to hold fish. At the bottom of a riffle, look for a "chute" that resembles a funnel carrying food to fish waiting on the edge where the current is slower than in the middle.
Deadfalls and Brushy Banks
Trees that have fallen into the water or hang over the water also create ideal places for fish to hide. Overgrown banks with grass or brush create a hiding place for fish and also provide a good food source in the summer months as crickets, ants, grasshoppers, and other insects get blown into the water by soft breezes.
Weed Beds
On spring creeks you’ll often find weeds blanketing the streambed. Currents will cut channels in the stream bed. Trout will usually hang out in these channels, up against the weeds for maximum coverage, where there is plenty of food and a quick place to hide.
As you can see from everything you’ve just read, it’s a little bit of a challenge to determine exactly where you should fish for trout. The more you get out on the streams, the more comfortable you’ll get at determining the best places to wet your line. Just remember that fish like to hang out in areas where there is enough oxygen to breathe and where they can get the most food with little effort and a place to hide nearby. You may not find fish in the same spots each day as streams can change rapidly. Take time to study the water and don’t get frustrated if you come up empty.
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