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Every angler wants to fish somewhere new — someplace untouched. We want novel experiences. Something about trout fishing, about catch and release and about throwing flies, attracts the explorer. Long term anglers are most often the adventurers. They’re the pathfinders — the ones who find the qualities of solitude and peace more important than fishing big-name waters or catching a bunch of trout.
And these days, one of the most common complaints heard among fishermen is about crowded waters. People say there are more anglers than ever and that you can’t get away from all the fishermen out there. But I think you can. And, In turn, one of the most common questions I receive is how to find the offbeat waters, where are the places that everyone doesn’t fish? Inevitably, people ask about these places because they want to see fewer anglers.
That solitude on a trout stream is there if you truly want it. By putting in the time to learn your waters, you’ll find the under-fished areas.
You’ll learn that the headwaters of your home stream hold just as many trout as the popular section that meets the road. And here, among this wooded stream just twenty feet wide, the peace and seclusion you seek is there for you. It’s a place where life slows down a bit, and no one else will bother you.
Or maybe do the opposite. By exploring downstream of the catch and release section, by going beyond what anglers talk about as the trout water, you wade into a marginal river. Maybe there are half as many trout, and maybe the creek runs behind a strip mall before merging with its parent river. But this too is water to call your own. And after a handful of casts to moving water and the prospect of a big trout, the imperfect surroundings fade away — because you’re alone.
If you want space, if you want to find your own water, it’s there for you.
Think about where and when. Consider the conditions. And learn to recognize the habits of anglers — because they are always predictable. Avoid every access with a clever name like Rainbow Riffle or Three Dollar Bridge. Sure, the fishing might be great, but these are not the places to find your space.
And if you roll up to a popular access of a blue ribbon trout stream, if it’s noon on a Sunday, if it’s June with prime flows and sunny skies, then stop complaining about the cars and anglers.
That’s your choice. It’s on you. And by making that choice, you’re now part of the predictable habits of anglers.
We Cover the Following
- Are there really more anglers?
- The effects of weather on angler pressure
- How the habits of anglers are predictable
- Popular water, unpopular spots
- Popular waters, uncommon times
- Lesser known waters
- Exploring, walking
Listen with the player above, or . . .
Find the Troutbitten podcast on any of these services:
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. . . and everywhere else where you listen to podcasts.
Resources
READ: Troutbitten | Why Everyone Fishes the Same Water, and What to do About It
READ: Troutbitten | Cover Water, Catch Trout
READ: Troutbitten | Explore | Learn | Return
READ: Troutbitten | Save the Discovery
READ: Troutbitten | One Thing at a Time
You can find the dedicated Troutbitten Podcast page at . . .
Season Three of the Troutbitten podcast continues with Episode 8. So look for that one in your Troutbitten podcast feed.
Fish hard, friends.
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Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com
Another gem Dominic. I read in a book once, a while back, to fish marginal waters at prime times and prime waters at marginal times. Your thoughts mirror that author, and I apologize I can’t remember the name or the book. Still your words carry wisdom. I have found some nice fish over the years doing exactly as you describe and not a soul in sight.
Thanks
This one hit home. Appreciate the positivity. I love it. Walk further, wade better, stretch the season, fish the outliers. Like the old joke about two anglers in bear country, you just have to out-distance the other fellow.
Thanks to the TB crew.
-M
Nice