Fly Fishing For Beginners: How To Read A River, Part 1

This is the first in a series of articles written to give an introduction into the sport of fly fishing. When I talk to people who have never done any fly fishing, the first thing they say is, “That looks hard.” It is that kind of comment that has inspired the MVF Fly Fishing For Beginners series.

Today, we will begin by looking at how to read a river or a stream, so that you know what to look for when you get out on that water. 

Specifically, we will look at the 12 most likely spots for a fish to hide.

Why Start Here?

Why start with reading water? Why not begin with something like tackle or casting? When I take beginners out fly fishing, the one thing that they all inevitably ask is, “How did you know a fish would be there?”

It isn’t that I am some kind of “trout whisperer,” I just know what I’m looking at. Just like reading a page in a book, it helps to know the language and the symbols.

The 3 Things Every Fish Needs

To start to understand reading a river, we need to understand a bit about fish behavior. All fish, whether they be bass, trout, perch or bluegill, need the same three things.

They need protection from predators, shelter from the current, and access to good feeding opportunities. These three things are the reason a fish hangs out anywhere in a stream.

Understanding these key behaviors and requirements will help you in locating areas of the river that meet the requirements. Please understand though, that just because an area meets these requirements, does not necessarily mean it will hold fish. Not ever stretch of river or stream holds fish, just like a lake, sometimes they are there, sometimes they aren’t.

The First Thing You Need

One essential piece of equipment that will aid you in reading a river well is a good pair of polarized sunglasses. I absolutely swear by my Cost Del Mar 580’s. These things are top of the line, and will make peering into the water that much easier.

Trust me when I say, you need every advantage you can get.

The 12 Most Likely Places To Find Fish In A Stream

All right, it is time for the big list! Let’s take a look at the Dirty Dozen places most likely to hold fish in a stream:

1. Depth Changes
2. Back Eddies
3. Current Seam
4. Tributary Streams
5. Undercut Banks
6. Overhanging Flora
7. In Front Of Rocks
8. Blockage Banks
9. Riffles
10. Tail Of A Pool
11. Head Of A Pool
12. Behind Rocks

While those 12 places are not the be all, end all of locating fish, they are arguably the 12 most productive. They are also the 12 easiest to locate in a river.

Today is really just an introduction. The next article in this series will break down each of the 12 in detail, and I will share a few quick tips on fishing each of them.

See ya on the water…