Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 6

Fishing
Rivers and
Streams

by Carl Haensel
photos by the author
As the grip of winter loosens and snow melts, rivers and
streams begin to swirl across the region. Full of fish, the
eddies, pools and runs beckon anglers to the banks. Then, the
challenge begins-how to find and catch fish in moving water.
Complex and challenging compared to lakes and ponds, rivers
are always in flux. Anglers have long said, "You never fish the
same river twice." There are plenty of tips and tricks to catch
more fish when you are exploring flowing water. Here are a
few to get you started.

Big fish like big pools

Anglers often ask me where to find big fish. From trout to
Muskellunge, large resident gamefish need two primary types
of habitat in rivers and streams-feeding cover and resting
cover. Anglers often look for big fish in beautiful looking
riffles and runs. Unless fish are migrating, these spots rarely
hold truly large fish unless the fish are connected to a big
pool. If you are seeking large fish, stick with sections of your

6

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * March/April 2020	

favorite stream or river that are connected to resting cover
in deep pools. Large fish will transition from resting areas to
locations that bring in lots of feed or hold baitfish. Ambush
predators like Muskellunge, pike and pickerel can often be
found in log jams and weed beds in or near these deep pools
to feed.

Suspend your bait in an eddy

Eddies are sections of rivers and streams that exhibit
circular flow along the bank or downstream of objects in the
stream channel. Often full of debris and foam, eddies flow
upstream along the bank or downstream of boulders or logs
in the main channel, and the current is slower than adjacent
areas. Along with debris, eddies also capture food and prey
in churning waters. Gamefish of all types frequent eddies.
These spots may confuse fish, since the currents may be
swirling. Suspending your offering often solves this problem
and keeps your presentation natural. When spin fishing, try
using a jig under a bobber. Tipping your jig with live bait may
be effective. Fly anglers may use a strike indicator to suspend
small nymphs. Keep your fly line off the water and rod high
to avoid drag in eddies that may make fish less likely to bite.
Slowly retrieving a fly or lure along the edge of the eddy and
the current is a great way to entice fish to bite.
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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
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - 12
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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 - 63
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2020 - Cover4
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