High water can be a springtime delight or peril for serious trout anglers and sports fisherman. . During springtime fishing you can count on cold bank full water whether it is the upper Midwest, northeast or up in Canada. On top of that a sudden rain shower or spring thunderstorm can add to the extra water and add to the fishing mix. What to do to make the most and the best of the situation?



First of all if you do see streams starting to flood form a sudden rain shower or thunderstorm ? then its time to get out that fishing rod. Especially in the case of trout fishing its that first interval of rising water that will possibly your best shot of the year at that trophy killer trout fish. Trout fishing experts have shared the secrets that often the very best time of the year for those wily trout when the very first intervals of rising water emerge, that is those rare and great time points that happen just as the streams starts to go off-color with silt.

It seems that as the water level goes up and the water become cloudy, trout become more than unusually aggressive. On top of that it can be said that seldom is a trout a passive fish. Not only do these trout fish seem to sense and influx of food and feeding stock for them brought by the flooding, but also the somewhat murky water give them a great sense of security from predators. You can almost bet that old wise old brown trout that somehow knew more than well enough to elude, hide and stay far away from your fishing gear last summer can now well be in your sights and on your fishing line both from a new found feeling of invulnerability as well as even that trout fish's own greed and hunger. Scrip a big streamer fly, toss a larger Rapala or slowly roll a rigged minnow through a fishing pond or pool. Then, it's just a waiting game for that big strike.

Trout activity may well seem to lessen as short term flooding peaks. However do not give up or despair. You can almost count on a second run of a feeding cycle for the trout. It often occurs just as the flood waters drop within the period of time just before the water fully clears. This time interval for the trout fisherman can almost be like a bonanza fishing period ? a true ?golden time?.

If there is one word of advice for both lives struggles as well as that of the sports fisherman it is ?go with the flow?. When the abnormally high flows from spring runoff are pushing rocks down the riffles, where trout usually hold and wait, the trout tend to move out ?of the way?. These edges of riffle will become your prime trout lies. Watch out for prime trout fishing areas where the trout fish may hold and wait behind what are now newly submerged rocks and along grassy stream banks. In addition other good high quality high water areas include the insides of river bends where the current has less power and force and where the silt, sticks and leaves accumulate to the bottom.

Work and rework these areas by carefully a drifting a nymph or wet fly. Worm fisherman often fined that they do best by keeping their bait moving slowly and consistently along the bottom. Rig a split shot or two about a foot above your bait, cast upstream, and let the wonders of the water's current roll these worms along the bottom as you feel the gentle tick-tick-tick of your split shot moving along those rocks.

Water temperatures can be more than key to your success on your day or days of fishing heaven. All things being considered water temperature is generally cool if not very cold during the springtime. In general if the water is high and colder than 50 degrees Fahrenheit you will need a good collection of fish nymphs, small jig, or natural baits. These fish baits should be pulled slowly along the bottom of the waters. In these cold waters of springtime your targeted trout fish will be sluggish in nature and will not move far away to take the bait.

However on the other side if the coin, if the water temperature is 50 degrees or higher (to a maximum of 70 degrees), not only will the trout fish be more active. The food sources that the trout feed on will also be substantially more active than in cold waters. Minnows and crayfish will be moving around at a good pace. In addition the broods of aquatic insects will begin to hatch as well. In high water, minnows will move to edges and other areas of lesser, moderated current and currents. Hence for wise choices streamer flies, minnow-imitating plugs are all good options for these trout in warmer waters. Mayflies and caddis will sill emerge in the higher flows with quieter edges and backwaters harboring and concentrating both emerging insects and your wily trout.

You are there to catch those trout fish. Even if you are unsuccessful in your attempts to land the big one ? that ?killer ? or ?trophy? trout there will always be another grand day of fishing. A bad day of fishing is always better than the best day at work.