"Fast water" deters many fly fishermen. Roger Wust is careful, it's a mistake. Having mastered the appropriate fishing technique, you can effectively fish with an artificial fly even in the fastest current.
Fast water is a term that is often used by many fly fishermen. Usually, places with fast currents are quite shallow (for example, rapids prior to infusion into a deeper well, narrowing of the river, sections below the water thresholds) and they don't look very inviting. Apart from that, in rapids it is rarely possible to observe fish coming out to the surface, thus, the fly fisherman lacks one of the most important incentives for the precise fishing of a given site.
Despite this, the sections of "fast water" are for me one of the most attractive places in the river. However, we can only count on success in rapids after mastering the appropriate technique of fishing with an artificial fly.
Close observation
Even when observing the "fast water" very carefully, it is rare to notice fish coming out to the surface. However, one should not jump to conclusions immediately, even if in calm water below a nearby hole, time and time again there are circles showing that they are feeding well. It does not mean that, that there are no fish in the rapids. Trout and grayling standing in "fast water."” they also regularly go out to the raised fauna, and the joke is there, which I already mentioned, it's very hard to see. The current of the water is simply too fast and the characteristic circles of drought are not formed on the surface. Only a careful observation of the previously selected place allows one to sometimes observe a short silver flash that indicates the presence of a trout. The fast current of the water forces the fish to react immediately. Or they decide to catch the floating insect right away, or in a moment it will be too late. Due to this, that in rapids out of ten outgoing fish we can observe at most one, we often get the wrong impression, that there is no point in fishing with a dry fly in such places.
A way to catch the suspected fish sites in the rapids before pouring them into the hole.
A solid leader
As I already mentioned, in the fast current of the water the fish does not have much time to look at the bait. In most cases, the bites are very vigorous and at full speed. An angler feeding an artificial fly on a leader that is too thin, almost always has to attach a new bait to the line in a moment. There is no point in fishing in "fast water" with a thin leader. The fish is not able to closely examine the flowing set, because there is simply not enough time for it. Fish hauling in rapids is quite different than in normally flowing water. A wild trout running to escape with the current can fight with several times more force than usual, and only a leader made of a sufficiently thicker monofilament can withstand such a test. So we make leaders for rapids from fishing lines with a diameter 0,14-0,18 Mm. Thanks to this, the haul of the fish does not last forever, which in turn is very important, if we want to put it back in the water. A very promising method of catching rapids is passing the bait several times in the spot, where the presence of a fish is expected. I suggest you start by fishing as close to the shore as possible on the shortest possible line. The above technique sometimes allows you to catch a nice brown trout right away, because the hiding places of this fish are very often located near the shore. During the next casts, we gradually lengthen the rope, but no more, than half a meter. In places with even current, put the line across the current or slightly diagonally against the current. In a very fast current, we can only count on success, if we have a good grasp of special throws. Only a parachute throw or throwing the line that is already in the water allows you to pass the fly in a manner acceptable to the fish. If the opposite edge is within the throw range, this catching it may prove very effective. At the very shore, the water always flows a few times slower than in the main stream. This also makes it much easier to spot the outgoing fish. Due to the variable speed of the current near the shore, it is advisable to cast slightly diagonally with the current. Flipping the line will allow it to "improve" in the fast current in the middle of the watercourse. A good throwing fly tighter places his lure perfectly on the edge of the current breaking at the opposite bank. The fly given in this way is especially noticed by the trout standing near the shore. After rafting, slowly pull the fly on the taut rope towards the middle of the river (the figure on the left). The dry fly then melts halfway in the water, and in the collection phase it is very often attacked by rainbow trouts. Unfortunately, some of these attacks will be unsuccessful because with aggressive exits to a dry fly, the hook sometimes sticks very poorly into the fish's mouth.. Moreover, in the fast current of the water, trout do not always hit the bait.
Good buoyancy
Not all artificial flies are equally suited to fishing in fast-flowing water. Above all, these are effective, which remain very well afloat and are easily visible even from a greater distance. On the Mid-ge, tied on the hook no 20 we will, of course, take both trout, and grayling, however, due to the poor visibility of this fly, half of the strikes will not be used at all. So it is not an optimal choice. My favorite lures for "fast water" are perfectly floating flies tied with materials characterized by good buoyancy (photos on the left). I prefer to catch trout with a Buck Caddis the size of a fly 12 i 14. After tying them with an additional one, well-floating plastic body, these flies become even more catchy. For catching graylings in fast current, I prefer to use flies tied with duck rump feathers. I tie them in Devaux style on hooks no 14 i 16. The stiff cock of the rooster's feather significantly increases the effectiveness of this lure.
Most Palmer style tied patterns are versatile enough, that I successfully catch trout and grayling with them. Tied at the head of an additional partridge feather hackle allows for very soft planting of this fly in the water. This fly is clearly visible even from a greater distance. The "caterpillar" fly imitates various stages in the life of an insect.
