Bowriverblog (CA)

 Where do you look for fish when you arrive at your Local River or stream? Where do fish usually like to hide out in a river system? It has taken me a few years to figure out this riddle but as we grow and learn more about fish patterns and behavior we are able to narrow this down somewhat. Here are some of my favorite places to locate fish in a river or stream.

1. Feeder Streams or Brooks. Where the junction of a small stream meets with a larger one is often a prime fishing spot provided there is a reasonable amount of depth and cover nearby. There are two reasons why this location will work in your favor, the currents funneling food to the fish and the cooler water to attract fish in the hot summer weather.

2. Current Edges. Wherever you see a rock, Small Island, piece of debris like a tree that pokes through the surface or out into the flow of the river, a short drift line is created. A fisherman can often notice them by lines of drift matter or bubbles in the river. Provided there is enough depth or nearby cover, fish will work these natural food funnels and feed in these locations.

3. Mini Eddies. These are created when there is a small or large island jutting out into the river or a large rock that is sticking out of the water or close to the shoreline, behind these obstacles a mini Eddie is created. Clumps of grass, rocks or small indentations in cliff faces will create small eddies downstream that break the river currant and collect food. Fish often hang out these places for both comfort and for food. These places can sometimes be hard to see but keep your eyes open for them and you will have great success.

4. Shady Areas. On hot summer afternoons when the rest of the river seems unproductive, you can often fish that are interested along shady areas of the shoreline. Steep cliffs or tall grass along the shoreline are prime locations to launch a hook. These places are often the perfect locations to fish on a hot summer day!

5. Tails of Pools. When fishing late in the evening, often when it gets too dark to see, fish will drift down the pool and feed at the lip where it breaks out into the next set of rapids. This can sometimes be a poor location early in the day, but it can offer the best fishing of the day on a late summer evening. Look to fish these places in the dark as well as fish will tend to stay here and feed well into the darkness of night.