VIDEO: Fishing The Rocks — The Opportunities Around Midstream Boulders

by | Oct 23, 2024 | 4 comments

** NOTE ** Video Appears Below.

Midstream rocks are often the primary features in a river. Sure, the two riverbanks are reliable structure in every water, and between those banks we find gravel bars, ledges and drop offs, along with tree parts and brush piles. But midstream rocks — whether they are bowling ball sized, cooler sized or car sized — are a key feature for trout. They don’t miss the rocks, so we shouldn’t either.

How do we fish around midstream rocks? How do we use them to our advantage? That’s what this video is all about.

Here are a few more Troutbitten resources that apply . . .

READ: Troutbitten | Reading Water — Every Rock Creates Five Seams
READ: Troutbitten | At the Front Door of Every Rock
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Reading Water in Levels, Lanes and Seams

And here’s the video . . .

(Please select 4K or 2k for best video quality)

Fish hard, friends.

 

** Donate ** If you enjoy this article, please consider a donation. Your support is what keeps this Troutbitten project funded. Scroll below to find the Donate Button. And thank you.

 

Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com

 

Share This Article . . .

Since 2014 and 1000+ articles deep
Troutbitten is a free resource for all anglers.
Your support is greatly appreciated.

– Explore These Post Tags –

Domenick Swentosky

Central Pennsylvania

Hi. I’m a father of two young boys, a husband, author, fly fishing guide and a musician. I fish for wild brown trout in the cool limestone waters of Central Pennsylvania year round. This is my home, and I love it. Friends. Family. And the river.

More from this Category

VIDEO: Wading Belt Carrying System

VIDEO: Wading Belt Carrying System

How can we keep our stuff with us, make it easily accessible and not be slowed down or fatigued by extra weight? Answer: Carry the heavy things on your hips.

Most anglers focus on whether to choose a chest pack, vest, sling pack, hip pack, lanyard or something else. We think of carrying fly boxes, tippet, leaders and other incidentals. But what about the net? What about water, a wading staff, a camera or anything else with extra weight? Carrying these items should not be a secondary consideration. As the heaviest things among your gear, how you carry them is of primary importance.

The heavy stuff is best carried on your hips, so the most critical part of your carrying system is probably the wading belt. And most wading belts are not up to the task.

What Hand Should Turn the Fly Reel?

What Hand Should Turn the Fly Reel?

In the short term, reeling with the casting hand might lose fish. But in the long term, it encourages poor line maintenance principles.

In this article I give a lot of thought to the various inefficiencies and handicaps that hurt when reeling with the casting hand . . .

Simplicity and Fishing

Simplicity and Fishing

. . .The fact is, keeping it simple only works when trout agree to your narrow terms.

. . . All those adjustments sounds complicated, right? What happened to simple? Well, it didn’t work so well. And it might actually be simpler (or at least more efficient) to make a few leader adjustments than to fight with dragging dry flies and short drifts all afternoon.

How We Cover Water (with VIDEO)

How We Cover Water (with VIDEO)

Here are a few ideas and guiding principles that work for me every day on my rivers. I don’t try to cover everything. I don’t make grids, but I do make plans. I like to stay creative and follow the signs that trout give me. And for my wading approach, I break things down into three simple strategies: the typewriter, the zig zag and following up one lane . . .

VIDEO: Tight Line and Euro Nymphing — The Lift and Lead

VIDEO: Tight Line and Euro Nymphing — The Lift and Lead

The Lift and Lead is a cornerstone concept for advanced tight line nymphing skills.

Lift to allow the fly to fall into place. Lead to stop it from falling and to keep it gliding through the strike zone.

For certain, the lift and lead is an advanced tactic. But if you’re having success on a tight line for a few seasons now, you’re probably already incorporating some of this without knowing it. And by considering both elements, by being deliberate with each part of the lift and lead, control over the course of your flies increases. Efficiency with weight improves.

The path is more predictable. And more trout eat the fly . . .

What do you think?

Be part of the Troutbitten community of ideas.
Be helpful. And be nice.

4 Comments

  1. Other than undercut banks, my best results have come from fishing around rocks.

    That was a really good explanation of how rocks generate seams.

    Reply
  2. Dom, what wading jacket were you wearing in the video. I could not match it to any of those shown in your clothing recommendations. It looks warm and light weight.

    Reply
  3. Very important video for beginners and a refresher course for all of us. Thanks

    Reply
  4. Great video! I have a couple questions about tactics. Do you typically use a heavier fly when casting around rocks, and then maybe primarily guide flies across and down the various seams? I’m thinking of fall and winter water, but it is also a general question. Also, will a trout hold higher in the water columns when picking off morsels coming across the seams? Also, do you typically guide flies across seams or try to aim in the middle of the seam and guide down the middle? Thanks much, Dom!

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Articles

Recent Posts

Domenick Swentosky

Central Pennsylvania

Hi. I’m a father of two young boys, a husband, author, fly fishing guide and a musician. I fish for wild brown trout in the cool limestone waters of Central Pennsylvania year round. This is my home, and I love it. Friends. Family. And the river.

Pin It on Pinterest