Tips for Fly Fishing High Water

I share my tips for fly fishing high water for trout and then go fishing to demonstrate how I use these techniques on the water to catch fish. A few nice rainbows and a good brown trout come to the net in the process in spite of the high flows of this small stream.
#flyfishing #troutfishing #fishing #rainbowtrout #browntrout
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[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

If you enjoy my videos please consider supporting the channel with a super thanks or looking into channel membership. All of it goes towards making better content. Thanks heaps for watching.

[@NeilgRichardson]

some good information in there Johan, I find if the main river is flooded often they will move into the tribs if they aren't to high. Been getting plenty of practice this season, thanks once again

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks Neil, much appreciated. It has certainly been a season of high water so far. Hoping I might get a day trip in next week but hopefully things have settled by the time I really get into it in November. Tight lines.

[@johnshand6176]

An excellent informative presentation with some great fish thrown in for good measure. Thanks from Gisborne.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks John, much appreciated.

[@timkeir6467]

Thanks Johan ,keeps us old geasers sane while we wait for fairer conditions to arrive,will be a cracking season here in Hawkes bay, when the sun finally hangs around long enough, first job find the fish with plenty of new holes ans runs to explore. Cheers Tim. PS Thanks for new rod update🎣

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks Tim, much appreciated. I'm hoping to come and raid some of your rivers this summer. I was meant to on opening but the weather had other plans and it seems it will be a little while before it's worth it by the sound of things. I have a few headwater spots in mind that I have not been before. Tight lines, hope you get into them soon.

[@thatguyfishing2710]

Spin fishing a flooded River is sometimes the best fishing time

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Indeed, that is a great option for high water. Streamers as well

[@haydnjames5617]

Great video Johan. Well done and good information. I have fished that river many times, however never caught a thing there so moved on... Early season, and reading the conditions correctly makes all the difference. Well done again

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks Haydn, it's a shame it didn't produce for you. It can be a bit fickle sometimes. Give it another go in jan or feb with light dry dropper setup if you have a spare day. Tight lines and hope you season has been off to a good start

[@clivepretorius3506]

Hi Mnr, nice video and very informative. Purchased some flies from I love fishing and very impressed. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Awesome, thank you!

[@AdriftFishing]

Great video and informative! Well done

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks mate

[@tomhope8844]

Awesome video as usual man!! can't wait to get out there and be doing the same!!! love the tips and tricks, really helps those of us learning the ropes and wanting to get into such an awesome way of fishing!

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Awesome thanks Tom. There is another similar video about dry dropper coming in a couple of weeks. Tight lines

[@adventuring_with_MK]

Awesome, thanks you so much for sharing these tips!

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thank you. Making another one today about my dry dropper setup. Let me know how you enjoy these educational ones compared to just fishing stories.

[@flytrout_nz]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!!

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@balbirg3]

Such goood stuff!!! Awesome information!

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thank you 😊

[@DAvanzoConstruction]

Great video Johan, thanks for the the tips.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thank you very much

[@ericyamashita7273]

Great entertaining and informative video! Thanks.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks Eric, much appreciated

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi Johan, a very good and informative presentation. I particularly liked the safety aspect recommendations of checking weather forecast and making sure that you have Plan B to get out of the area if the river levels rise quickly. Your explanation of which flies to choose was spot on! Yea, a good one! Cheers mate. Harera.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

It's easy to forget about safety but even small streams can be unforgiving when you are out of sight and out of signal range. I was surprised at just how tough it was to cross this little stream and as I mentioned in the video nearly had a swim crossing back from one of those pools. I always carry a personal locator beacon with me now. Even on this stream, there is no signal most of the time and a twisted ankle or broken leg can quickly become potentially deadly if you are alone. Glad you enjoyed the video, there will be more good ones to come once the weather settles a bit and they start eating off the surface more. The backcountry is calling me. Tight lines.

[@pierevojzola9737]

@@CrazyAboutFlyFishing Hi, I have come across deep sink holes (Maori name TOMO) in the bush and they are hard to spot and often well hidden with foliage. The scary part is that they are narrow and deep, and if you are on your own you can have a hell of a problem getting out. I have seen Gareth the Trout Hunter using a stick to clear ground in front of himself when bush bashing. He should know as he has fallen into these holes twice before! Take care on your own, I use to go trekking on my own in my younger days (no recommendation) but then I was an invincible Hairy ass Para! Cheers mate. Harera.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

@@pierevojzola9737 I saw those tomos on Gareths videos. Looks very nasty indeed. I much prefer not to go on my own for safety but it's often a choice between alone or not at all so I do sometimes head of backcountry on my own. I do prepare well and keep my wits about me. Hopefully that sees me through those trips. I'm definitely more careful now than I was when I was younger. Especially with having kids.

[@leighbee1764]

wonderful video, thank you

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thank you 😊

[@indecisive2690]

Good video my bro I love that stream was down there but to long ago and managed to hook up a few solid rainbows

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks mate, its great stream. Pretty much learnt to fly fish on it. Glad it produced for you and hope your season is starting well. Tight lines

[@stevendavies7035]

great video as always

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks Steven

[@keithwright4136]

Helpful video Johan. So typical of the conditions many of us fish in the Spring and sometimes later in the Autumn. BTW, it looks like you have crossed over to the dark side with all that Simms gear. Lol.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks Keith, glad you enjoyed it. I don't really remember an opening day that wasn't very wet. Seems like we are having a little reprieve at the moment. Will see how long that lasts. Enjoying the new Simms gear I must say although my wallet not so much 🤣. The hip pack has been really worth it though since I can fit lots of my camera gear in there for easy acces while keeping it dry. The OPST roll top was great but I could rarely get it sealed propperly. Anyway gear is gear, as long as it works for it's purpose. Hope you are having a great start to the season.

[@keithwright4136]

@@CrazyAboutFlyFishing Are you a Manic Tackle ambassador now?

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

@@keithwright4136 yup but not as involved as with ILFF

[@keithwright4136]

@@CrazyAboutFlyFishing If you have time for some reviews on some gear I, for one, would find that so valuable. I am looking for the go to fishing pack right now and would like to find an unbiased review. There will be many of us that make gear changes from time to time and only want to spend the money once and getting the views of someone using the same range of equipment would be great. As an example, a good review of a Simms pack that has sufficient compartments to keep order inside a pack, allows the carrying of wet weather gear and some food and has room to carry a table fish would be helpful. I still haven't found the perfect option and I'm sure I am not the only fisherman who would be interested in fishing packs. The Simms gear looks great but it is expensive so the right choice is important. Thanks Johan. I love your no nonsense, warts and all videos

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

@@keithwright4136 Thanks Keith, really happy to hear you enjoy the videos. I've always steered away from reviews because I don't consider myself an expert by any means and to be honest I have not used a particularly wide range of gear. But I do find the idea of talking about what I have used in an unbiased way appealing and will consider it.

[@danifoote7883]

Nice work mate, those were great fish for that beautiful little stream indeed, usually the ratios on the smaller side there. Were you dry dropping on all of the fish? Cheers keep up the good content! 👍

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks. I agree on the size ratio. In summer and low flows I pick up heaps of small ones on the dry to keep me entertained all day and then generally pick up 3 or so good ones and sometimes a nice brown. Fun little stream. I was fishing all dry dropper. In the deeper pools I should probably have gone to a deeper nymph rig but that's not the sort of fishing I was keen on doing and it's hard work to chop and change constantly unless you have two rods. The dry dropper works well for 95% of the water so I just skipped over the deep pools. In summer I use the same setup but a small light dry and a brass bead size 14 pheasant tail instead. Works a treat.

[@darrellrose3420]

Hi Johan, great video as per usual. Out of curiosity what pants are you wearing for wet wading?

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks Darrell. I'm wearing Columbia quick dry pants that I bought from a Costco in Ulsan, South Korea many years ago now. I need to replace them soon, not sure with what yet. I had two pairs but the other pair now has an unfixable bum ventilation hole 😂. Underneath I was wearing thermal leggings for the cold, which is my alternative for wearing underneath shorts, kiwi style when wet wading.

[@darrellrose3420]

Cheers for that, I've always been shorts and thermals but found hook grass sticks like crazy to thermals when I go bush so this might be a good alternative to shorts thx

[@schmoonkie]

Hi Johan. I enjoyed the video. Did I hear you correctly that you were fishing with a new rod? If yes, what kind? I think you said it was a 5 weight. My early season fishing in Montana was an eye opener. The river I was fishing was running very high and was off color. Yet, I had some of the best fishing once I learned where to look for the fish. I did well on yellow Mop Flies and leach patterns.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it. I do indeed have a new 9' 5wt. It's a Primal Bold from Manic Tackle Project. I also have a 6wt of the same rod. Good to hear you found success in the high water. It can be really good at times if you can work it out. I have heard so many great things about mop flies in high dirty water I must tie some. It seems that tan/yellow are the most productive colours from what I hear? How big do you tie them? I also need to re-stock my woolly buggers and leaches. Great flies both of those. Hope you get some good fishing in during fall. Tight lines

[@schmoonkie]

@@CrazyAboutFlyFishing I used George Daniels's version of the Mop Fly. The mop "noodles" determine the size of the fly. Tying "Junk" Flies for High Water Conditions: Three Simple Nymph Patterns by George Daniel The Squirmy Wormy, Eggstasy Egg [ @5:24 ], The Mop [ @9:42 ] kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJy8mGibiNh2q8k I used the following Amazon search string to find the right yellow mitts: car wash mitt chenille yellow As for a leech pattern, I like: Squirrel Leech Fly Tying Instructions by Charlie Craven ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5jFeGSQort4b7c ) I tied it in black with a silver bead. I also mixed in a bit of flash for the collar ( Siman Peacock Dubbing Fine in black color ). It worked really well.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Sorry your reply got held up for review because of the links. Thanks for sharing, I will check those out for. Tight lines.

[@KIDSTINTIN]

OMG guys keren banget

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thank you

[@andrewbottrell6226]

Great video. Was this in NZ or Australia?

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks, this was in New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@goinfishinalba9811]

820 beautiful trout 🎣

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thank you

[@koilzimbabwe]

If you ever keep your trout and cook it up, do you have any good recipes for trout?

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

I do keep a few each season. I most often eat them baked or smoked. I am planning a catch and cook this season with a chef friend so keep an eye out for that

[@matteorottigni1744]

Is that river in Australia ? Well done

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

New Zealand North Island

[@warrenc50]

I'd consider those fish small. Should fish were I live. I get dbl digits quite often

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Sound great where you live, enjoy it