by Pro Advisor: Landon Mayer
Being able to adapt to various conditions on the water can make you more successful when stalking trout. Probably the most challenging part of sighting fish in various conditions is the glare on the surface of the water. Glare can reduce visibility in the water and make it more challenging to find fish. Glare is the reflection of light off the waters surface; it resembles a mirror reflecting the light from above. These challenges can be caused from various weather conditions such as bright sunlight, white clouds covering the sky, reflection of the sun off the snow, sunrises, and sunsets.
Here I will discuss what to look for when scanning the water and how to sight fish in low and bright light conditions to help angler find, and ultimately catch more fish!
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
When spotting fish in the water, the most ideal situation would be to get a detailed view of the fish and be able to see all of its actions and movements. This is not always the case. When you are scanning the water to locate fish, the first and most important thing to understand is what colors and shapes to look for. Often times the first and most common visual of the fish is the silhouette of the trout , which is usually the shape and shadowed outline of the fish. Once you have spotted a silhouette in the water and you think it is the fish, the nest step is to watch for movement, which will determine if the silhouette in the water is actually a fish. Look for the natural movements made by a trout such as sideways movements, tail or fin movement, and upwards or downwards motion. By watching for movement you will determine if what you are seeing is a fish or actually some structure in the river.
When looking for trout, another common technique is to look for markings and coloration. Since the best time of the year to hunt for trophies is around the time before they spawn, the trout are marked with bright and elaborate colors, making them easier to spot in the water. Here are some examples of the coloration and markings:
• The red side and gill plate of a rainbow trout.
• The orange belly, fins, and gill plate of a cutthroat trout.
• Leopard spots and the yellow/orange belly of a brown trout.
If the conditions or water quality makes seeing the colors and silhouettes difficult, there are a couple of other ways to get a visual on the fish. The first is to look for shadows of the fish on the bottom of the river. When you spot a shadow, pause and focus on the shape and watch for movement (as discussed previously). This method is effective in bright sunny conditions and in multi colored river bottom areas. When you are fishing in lower light conditions, look for the white colors in the river, which is often times the inside of the fish’s mouth. This can be a dead give away because of the size and bright white
coloration. Once you have an understanding of what to look for in the water you need to adjust to the various weather conditions for each day you are on the river.
LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS
Low light conditions can be very productive in viewing the fish because the glare off the water is reduced. This gives you more visibility in the water. Some of the best times to fish in low light conditions are early in the morning just before sunrise or late in the afternoon after the sun has started to set. During these times you can see in the water without glare and often times see the whole length of the water in front of you. While it is, at times, easier to see in these situations, you also gain the advantage of the fish being less wary because it can not see the threat of predators from above as well. Another example of low light conditions is on stormy cloud-covered days. For cloud-covered days, the best situation is a dark sky. When a storm moves in and the sky is dark, the color on to the water takes on the dark reflection of the sky, reducing the glare significantly, allowing you to better spot the fish in the water. If the clouds covering the sky are white or light in color, the reflection on the water will be bright, causing a lot of glare and making it difficult to see the fish. In this situation you will only have small areas in front of you to see the fish. Scan that area thoroughly and move to either side of the waterway to improve your visibility. This will allow you to view more water in a smaller area. Remember in low light conditions the angler has the advantage of the fish being less “spooky” because the fish’s visibility is reduced and you don’t cast shadows on the water.
BRIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS
Fishing in conditions of bright sun can be an advantage, as well as a challenge for most anglers. The challenge in these conditions is the reflection and glare off the surface of the water is extreme and can often make it difficult to spot trout in the water and the trout are usually easier to spook because they have better visibility and are able to see more shadows. The way to overcome this obstacle is to find a viewing lane in the river. A viewing lane is a section of water up stream, down stream, or in front of the angler. This area is glare free and gives you the chance to see into the water. The best way to find a viewing lane is to position yourself with the sun at your back.
Putting yourself in this position in the early morning and late afternoon, allows the reflection off the water to be aimed at the other side of the river and keeps the suns ray out of the angler’s eyes, allowing you to see clearly into the viewing lane in front of you. Being able to use the lane to your advantage and cover water by looking in these sections of river will help you to spot more fish and keep you from missing fish in the water. The advantage of bright light conditions is the ability to see into the water at high noon hours. During the high noon hours, the sun is not at an angle and the glare or reflection off the water is reduced. This allows you to see into the river without any obstacles. These ours of the day can be some of the most productive in bright light conditions; however, while it is easier for you to see into the water, it is also easier for the fish to see you and detect predators from above. So be cautious, scan and cover the water thoroughly, try to get a visual of the fish from a good distance. This will allow you to put yourself in the best position to cast to the fish without spooking it.
Being able to spot fish is learned technique and is possibly the most important element if catching a trout. Spotting fish can be easier on some days than others due to the weather conditions – cloud cover and wind – and also based on the water flows and clarity of the river. Becoming productive at sighting fish in a variety of weather, and water conditions takes practice and the ability to scan the water and how to identify the fish. Also, keep in mind that having a quality pair of polarized sunglasses is worth the investment, especially when hunting for trout on days when the conditions are difficult. It is nearly impossible to
accurately sight trout without using polarized sunglasses, due to the glare on the water.
LANDON'S FAVORITE FOR SPOTTING FISH: THE LVF
The LVF from Winston Polarized Sunglasses are my go-to model for ultimate versatility in changing light and water conditions. They have incredible Polarization, are lightweight, cut glare in sunny conditions, and increase contrast in low-light.
ABOUT LANDON
Landon’s angling success is fueled by an addiction to pursuing large trout with small flies and lightweight fly-fishing equipment – it is this obsession that makes him a perfect match for Winston. He enthusiastically teaches and demonstrates his techniques and on-river knowledge to fellow anglers and has developed innovative strategies for sighting, hooking, and landing selective trout that he has shares in four instructional books as well as two DVDs. In addition to teaching through guided trips, fly-fishing classes, presentations, and demonstrations, he is also a contributing writer for Fly Fisherman and High Country Angler magazines. Landon has been guiding full time on the South Platte River for the last 29 years, as well as one full season on the Nak Nek River in AK.
When not on the river or traveling you’ll find him home with his son in Woodland, Colorado. Learn more at landonmayerflyfishing.com