Spring runoff scares many anglers into not fishing. Sure, high, off-color rivers can be confusing and hard to read, but fish are still biting in these conditions. Plus, you might even have the whole stream to yourself. By making a few adjustments to your tactics, you can start plucking big fish out of murky water, while other anglers are still cooped up at home, waiting for their favorite hotspot to clear.
1. Embrace the Muck
At West Point, cadets are told to “embrace the suck,” meaning to welcome whatever wretched situation in which they find themselves. A similar thought applies to fishing runoff. The toughest part is the mind game. Showing up to a river that looks like chocolate milk can be discouraging, but if you commit to embracing it, you can have a blockbuster day. Just keep telling yourself: Muddy water doesn’t mean no fish. Because, in fact, many times you can land big fish this time of year that might be spooked in clearer conditions.
Runoff often means not only dirty water but also a much higher volume of water. So don’t be surprised if your favorite riffle or run is totally washed out. Concentrate instead on soft, slow eddies along banks and in side channels, or search out pieces of water that are protected from high flows….
