Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 24
High Water-
the New Norm for Spring Trout
by Vic Attardo
photos by the author
During the last few years, we have been in an extended period
of high water in the spring. I spent many late nights tying
"high water flies" for myself and friends, so our patterns
matched the conditions. Using high water fishing techniques
worked much better than ignoring the situation.
To prepare for high water again this spring, consider
ways to improve your catch. To clarify, I am not talking
about high, muddy water. If you are standing ankle deep in
a stream and cannot see your feet, catching trout is almost
impossible. However, if the water is clear or you can see the
bottom at knee-depth, the following fishing tips will help.
When fishing high water, the color, size and speed of the
flies you are using is important.
When fishing streamers in high water, I use ones that do
not rush by sitting fish. Streamers made with little weight
or made without water absorbing materials are not good in
high water. Instead, I prefer streamers solidly front-ended
24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * March/April 2020
Absorbent materials for streamers include (clockwise from the
top left): barred marabou, rabbit fur zonker strip, coneheads,
marabou dun and brown, and sculpin wool.
with weight and constructed with a heavier material such
as rabbit fur, marabou, goat hair, wool or similar materials
that can be worked slowly, not bucktail or slick synthetics.
My best high, stained water fly is a brown all-marabou
streamer. I add a gold conehead to it in water deeper than
3 feet. This fly is tied with a marabou tail and a semi-fat
dubbed marabou body. It is a mess to make, but it works.
For high and clear water, I use all-marabou grey/white,
barred olive, orange, and black streamers. When water is
over 3-feet deep, I use a conehead with it. Patterns such as
Slump Busters, Moldy Burnt Toast, Zonkers and Matukas
are high water workers.
The goal is to present a broad profile fly that can be
worked with small steps. I do not use bucktail streamers
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 9
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 15
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 18
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 26
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 30
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 38
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 43
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 53
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 63
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - Cover4
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