The river has its own codes, its own "alphabet" that must be learned if we are to be able to "read the water" to force out the fish. Without these skills at the water's edge, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start. Where to cast? Where to look?
Here are some tips to help you quickly and easily understand the river so you can find where the trout are hiding.
Most of all, trout love positions that allow them to feed without getting tired while staying safe from predators and other intruders. There are several of these:
Before looking in the "middle" of the body of water, it's worth exploring the edges first. These grassy, sometimes bushy, areas are rich in small insects and the trout know it. In addition, the edges are full of hiding places and other places where fish can take refuge quickly in case of danger. Following the edges with a crankbait, a nymph or a ringworm can bring some wonderful surprises...
In fast water areas where the current is supported, trout will tend to protect themselves by large obstacles (stones, branches etc.). This way, the current brings all the food they need without them having to exert much effort. A bit of calm water located behind a big stone is a very good example. If you find a position like this at the water's edge, there's a good chance that it's inhabited...
When a trout is positioned behind a block, you must first explore the water veins located around the block before finishing by "skimming" it. Multiple appearances can trigger aggression in the fish. If the trout is not taking the bait, try again later in the day.
Waterfalls
These are choice areas to explore. The gushing water, highly oxygenated, churns up a huge amount of food brought in by the current. The trout often several of them, wait beneath the foam for food. If you can't see the fish under this frothy film bear in mind that they can't see you either. So you can take your time changing the lure, fly or bait in order to fully explore these positions.
These deeper areas are very interesting trout locations and should not be overlooked. The density of fish located in this type of hiding place can be high. A shad type flexible lure, a small crankbaitor even a big earthworm can entice a nice trout to leave the bottom of the water, out of the fear of missing a tasty morsel.
Les truites adorent se réfugier dans ce poste si particulier : le courant y est plus faible et l'abri est sûr. De plus, c'est un endroit parfait pour guetter le passage d'un vairon imprudent... À vous de jouer en proposant à la truite une bouchée irrésistible. Faites passer votre ligne à proximité directe de ce poste avant de finir en le « frôlant » légèrement. Il faudra cependant veiller à bien contrôler la dérive pour ne pas risquer de voir la ligne s'accrocher dans les branches. Tenezvous prêt car l'attaque de la truite est soudaine.
A lure equipped with an anti-grass rig is used to brush grass branches, greatly reducing the risk of getting caught and losing the lure.
At first glance, the high and opaque water can be off-putting but it don't let that make you turn back. Not fishing during floods amounts to depriving yourself of an excellent chance for catching some fantastic fish. Big trusting trout will come out of hiding to face the abundance of food in the open water. In such a situation, a large earthworm type worm will be your partner of choice to get these lovely fish moving off in search of food. Big successive castings will allow you to explore the whole river into the smallest nooks and crannies.
Now that you know where to start, all you need to do is go to the water's edge to look at these positions and try to catch your first trout of the season.