Learning to fish the nooks and crannies can be an effective way to deal with the ultra selectivity that takes place on our popular tail-waters. It seems that in our most popular Catch and Release tail-waters the fish get more and more selective as they are pounded daily by hundreds of good fly fishermen. This high level of selectivity has occurred on the tail-water sections of the Platte; Deckers, the Dream Stream, and 11 mile canyon. However, the majority of fishermen fish the main obvious runs that hold large numbers of trout. At times, especially when we have no choice, we need to move out of these main stream currents and fish the nooks and crannies.
By definition, nooks and crannies are places that are remote and where something can be hidden. In the case of fly fishing, nooks and crannies refers to those obscure little seam lines and pockets away from the main-stream runs that hold (hide) trout. Often times these little slots are not fished as heavily and therefore the fish can sometimes be more willing to take a fly.
I got off to a late start yesterday morning so when I walked along the Arkansas tail water I quickly noticed the main runs were already holding one or several fishermen. I then started looking for those nooks and Crannies that were not being fished. I moved in between two sets of fisherman and noticed two submerged boulders in the midst of nondescript water. My third cast produced a fish on a bead head pheasant tail. I watched the guys above and below and they were not hooking up. When I hooked my second, third and fourth fish both groups started glancing my way. It is always a good feeling when one can go in between groups of fishermen in seemingly marginal water and start hooking fish.
For the next few hours I would move around looking for those in-between places. I ended up hooking in to 14 fish with most of the fish coming from various nooks and crannies. My best flies were a size 18 bead head pheasant tail, apricot colored egg and a size 22 Cheesman emerger.
As I have written previously on this blog I am learning to feel somewhat comfortable fishing (and living) in these in-between places. Spiritually, these in-between places are sacred and in fly fishing they can be exciting places to fish. As fly fishers we could all become more productive and skilled by learning to fish these places especially on those days when the river is crowed and only offering these edges. Fishing the nooks and crannies requires more sensitivity, discernment and specificity to learn exactly where to cast in order to get the proper drift without hanging up. Often weight has to be adjusted if nymphing.
Fishing the nooks and crannies can be a lot more demanding than fishing the classic large runs of the main current. In some sense, fishing the mainstream runs can be quite mindless. Fishing the nooks and crannies requires planning, active problem solving and adjustments to be made on the spot. These nooks and crannies cannot only be very rewarding but they will also make you a more versatile fly fisherman.
So, the next time you get to the river late and you are forced to fish the nooks and crannies do not be disappointed. These in-between places can hold hidden surprises.
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