Fishing FLOODWATER R. Wharfe Addingham

[ArcticFoxFly]

I went fishing to my normal spot where i usually catch fish when the water is at normal depth. But this time it was higher than usual 2 weeks ago. I used the normal Whickham's Fancy, Waterhen Bloa and an imitation of a Cased Caddis (weighted), that I catch fish with.

But this time I caught nothing and gave up fishing.

What weighted flies should I be using to catch on the bottom stretch at Addingham?

Thinking about going there this Saturday.

And does anyone know how it is fishing??

Thanks

....ArcticFox....

[JohnTyzack]

Hi ArcticFox,

I don't know your Adingham stretch, but I do know the Wharfe. If the river is genuinely 'flooded' by which I mean high AND coloured, you probably need to be deeper and brighter with your flies. Heavy nymphs, beadheads and caddis should work. Look for any areas of slacker water where the current slows or goes around obstructions and concentrate on these.

Same goes for when the river is fining down, still high but losing its colour - a very productive time to be on the river!!! Floods wash loads of inverts down a river and the fish feed hard.

Tight Lines,
JT

p.s. you could also consider hiring a guide for a day? (Hope that's not too blatent an advert - http://www.johntyzack.co.uk)

[ArcticFoxFly]

Yes the water is high (up to the bank) and coloured.

....ArcticFox...

[JohnTyzack]

Then go 'heavy' young man! Or wait for it to clear a little. I will be upstream at Bolton Abbey as soon as this ****** rain stops and the river falls.
Tight Lines,
JT

[ArcticFoxFly]

I looked at the river yesterday and I have decided that i', going to wait until it goes down.

My parents and sister went to Skipton Art Show today and saw that the R. Aire is even more higher, so i guess the Wharfe is higher. :-(

....ArcticFox....

[yorkshireman]

In my experience the Wharfe falls faster than the other Dales rivers so it will be fishable before the Aire or the Nidd. I have occasionally left Summerbridge with the Nidd in full spate and found the Wharfe at Addingham fishable.

Graham

[crabacle]

The Wharfe is nearly busting it's banks at the moment - however a couple of days of fine weather should bring it donw and clear it a little - I am hoping to give it a bash next weekend.

By the way - bright deep heavy Czech Nymphs will do the job - and the usual spiders.

[jangala]

Hi John,

I was interested in your comments about fishing the Wharfe in floodwater, which suggest it's worth fishing in these conditions. I've always found fishing in such conditions virtually worthless and most people seem not to bother fishing at such times. On the Swale this can be a great time of the year, but with the present conditions I haven't bothered. Now your comments make me wonder if I'm missing something? However, I also notice you say you'll be going fishing when it clears and have the same attitude to the present rain as myself; so I'm a bit confused as to whether you think fishing in coloured water is worthwhile or not?

I do often think it might be worth experimenting with fishing when the water is coloured, but the few times I've tried it have not been encouraging. As I also coarse fish I know that fish can feed well in coloured water, but with fly fishing there is an issue of whether the fish can see the fly. My experience is that even when it's clear it seems unproductive if the water is high. I think this is partly because many areas are unaccessible and partly because the fish are scattered. However, having said that it does allow fishing in deeper areas that are sometimes too still to fish and where the bigger fish (especially Grayling) hang out.

[JohnTyzack]

jangala said:

Hi John,

I was interested in your comments about fishing the Wharfe in floodwater, which suggest it's worth fishing in these conditions. I've always found fishing in such conditions virtually worthless and most people seem not to bother fishing at such times. On the Swale this can be a great time of the year, but with the present conditions I haven't bothered. Now your comments make me wonder if I'm missing something? However, I also notice you say you'll be going fishing when it clears and have the same attitude to the present rain as myself; so I'm a bit confused as to whether you think fishing in coloured water is worthwhile or not?

I do often think it might be worth experimenting with fishing when the water is coloured, but the few times I've tried it have not been encouraging. As I also coarse fish I know that fish can feed well in coloured water, but with fly fishing there is an issue of whether the fish can see the fly. My experience is that even when it's clear it seems unproductive if the water is high. I think this is partly because many areas are unaccessible and partly because the fish are scattered. However, having said that it does allow fishing in deeper areas that are sometimes too still to fish and where the bigger fish (especially Grayling) hang out.

Hi Jangala,
There's 'coloured water' and then there's liquid chocolate. The former is certainly worth fishing in (for reasons already given) - the latter is not - but remember that trout are sight-hunters, so they have to be able to see the fly!
Favourite colours for me are pink, lime green and (best of all) black.
Also remember that the water is (almost!) never as bad as it looks to us. We fishermen look down into the water against a dark river bed. The fish look up out of the water against a much lighter sky. They can see more than they're letting on!
Next time you're on the bank with high coloured water that you can see into (a bit) have confidence and give it a go.
High water can have the opposite effect to that which you suggest... It can actually concentrate them into a few areas (of lower flow rates etc).
So you can find them easy enough... all you have to do is to catch them...
Cheers,
JT

[ArcticFoxFly]

Should a worm be dangled in the side of the bank, in the 'calmer water' ie eddie's!??


....ArcticFox....