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Photo by Hayden Hoey

Reading streams is a simple process. Coverage is a term used by professional anglers to define how they will strategically approach a section of water. Below, the angler is facing upstream and targeting an aggressive surface feeding trout pool. He can catch more fish by selecting vertical casting lanes upstream while casting the water left to right, first in shorter distances and then lengthening the casts.

This technique yields more fish per pool because the angler is casting into undisturbed water while lengthening the cast. If a certain type of fly is not working, simply watch the water to see what the fish are rising for and then try to cast a fly that looks like what the fish are eating. The ‘go to” flies outlined above will almost always be a good starting point.

Photo by Jim and Hayden Hoey

In the image below, the angler is casting cross-stream. Coverage should certainly include selecting horizontal casting lanes. Again casting closest to furthest, starting at seven, nine and eleven feet and then walking upstream a step or two. This is important. A stream is alive and fish are moving everywhere. You have to move to find success.

Photo by Jim Hoey

Downstream casting is usually about ‘swinging’ the fly. This technique is usually used with a sink tip or full sink line. The angler is addressing or facing 45° downstream when casting and then letting the line swing through the target zone for trout as outlined in the picture below.

Start the swing closer and then cast a little further each time, widening the swing arc. At the end of the swing, the angler will ‘strip’ back the line quickly, which will entice trout that have chased the fly on the swing. It is not uncommon for trout to bite during this “chase” period.

Photo by Jim Hoey

Practice is an angler’s best friend. These techniques are time-tested and provide any angler with a practical and efficient way to approach mountain stream fly-fishing.