Streamer Fishing High Water for Brown Trout! (Fly Fishing Tips)

FLY FISHING HIGH WATER FOR WILD BROWN TROUT!!
Last week a friend and coworker of mine asked if I’d be interested in fishing for some wild brown trout. The water levels were high, but the weather was perfect.. it was relatively warm with temperatures in the 40’s and overcast. And Of course I never turn down a fishing trip… so I figured I’d use this opportunity to talk about how I streamer fish in High water.
High water can be intimidating but fishing for trout in high and muddy water can yield some of your best results. It is for sure my favorite time to streamer fish and just go trout fishing in general.
When I make videos like this I struggle to articulate why I do what I do because a lot of the decisions are made in a split second or just off of gut instinct, so for this video I did my best to explain how and why I make the decisions I do when fishing high or muddy water. If you have any questions let me know in the comments below and I’ll try to answer them. But the general rule of thumb is to throw dark colored streamers that move water, focus on areas with current breaks adjacent or near cover, even if that’s a bank that isn’t normally even under water, and fish water you already have knowledge of. Fishing high water is when I’ve caught some of my biggest fish and is by far my favorite time to target wild brown trout.
#fishing #flyfishing #troutfishing #outdoors

[@briljantje9583]

Hi John, you gave a very rational explantion why you could fish this colored river with unweighted streamers: "they go to the bank". I have learned something tonight. 😉

[@marisamontgomery7340]

the king of fishing blesses us with two videos this week☺️

[@jarrettlandreth285]

I was able to hold my own that day as far as numbers and size go, but that last fish was wayyy better looking than any I landed 😂 it was super fun catching browns with you man, thanks again!

[@hardmanfishing]

It was fun fishing man! We’ll do it again soon

[@OFF_ROADIN_BOYS]

Your videos are so fun to chill to and listen to love the work that goes into these vids!!!! Keep it up

[@OFF_ROADIN_BOYS]

Your vids are so fun to chill to and listen to love the hard work !! Keep it up

[@loydtruss]

Jon Thanks for sharing another stellar video. You are my go-to guy to watch trout videos now. Looking forward to your next outing!!

[@DndCfishnexplore]

I really enjoy your videos. You’re very detailed especially in the “run and gun” of catching and landing. I’ve been fishing for years but wasn’t especially good at it got serious a little over a year ago through a Veterans group I’m in and now have started guiding locally in NC. I still watch the videos and add to my tool bag of information. Maybe one day I’ll see you on the water. Thanks.

[@user-kp4bg9zg2b]

Great video Jon. Thanks for all your tips and content!

[@hardmanfishing]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@timmyallen5655]

Good stuff,as usual . Thanks for showing the fly and leader . Showing the fly and leader ( lenth and tippet ) helps us out the whole picture together . Tks

[@jesperkontkanen7317]

Nice work! I also learnt a lot for fishing high water conditions. I'll try this style on steelhead this winter!

[@hardmanfishing]

Good luck!

[@tylerwatson3573]

Sweet video! Im out in Utah and have been fly fishing for a few months, haven’t had much luck. Your videos keep me motivated to keep trying!

[@seribas]

Keep after it man! There’s so so many good fly channels out there these days. Some favs are old dominion trout bum, wild fly, the Orvis videos.

[@IdahoFlyFishing]

Awesome video! I was lucky to get out on the river and even landed a nice Cutt!

[@tonywalkingstick8883]

Awesome, awesome, awesome video. Not only one of the best fishing videos but definitely one of the best tutorials ever in the fishing genre of videos out there period. I absolutely love fly fishing and all you explained to your audience is spot on. They can certainly learn a lot from you if they paid attention. For instance you mentioned changing the direction of your fly in mid retrieve. What would prompt you to do so and would you be kind enough to explain how you go about getting that accomplished, please?

[@uni_shadow164]

Awesome Browns! Well done my friend!

[@WoodyTheHistorian]

Enjoy your crew and your videos. A lot of these creeks have such a familiar look to them from upstate New York through the Delaware branches, Pennsylvania, and all the other places you go. Grew up in the Finger Lakes and southern tier region. Love the work you’re doing with Cortland. Great company and you do a great job explaining your set ups, looking for fish in the water, and making it all come together.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoy the videos!

[@larryhudson4511]

First rule of big water is don't get washed down stream! I've always liked dropping a big streamer behind a midstream rock. Great camera work as usual!

[@Dzyxl69]

Another great video! Ive been enjoying your videos for past couple of years. Thanks for sharing your setup and techniques. Im just curious what patterns i should tie up. Any help appreciated. Tight lines

[@davidleimeister5027]

Great instructions, professor Jon.

[@hardmanfishing]

Idk about professor 😂

[@henryleslievermont6004]

Enjoyed, and thanks for sharing what you are using. 👍

[@hardmanfishing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rickkrueger4254]

Great info for me!

[@charlesnicholson2591]

Another awesome video, John!! Can't beat an opportunity like that!! Nice brown at the last!! 🎣on❤

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much!

[@charlesnicholson2591]

What impresses me most is your truly professional technique!! Your understanding of the quarry and the respect shown during handling and release!! 👍❤️ Born and raised in North Georgia. Trout fishing was a heritage!! Western North Carolina has some spectacular trout streams very close to me! Just saying!! Anyway, much respect and appreciation!! ❤️🎣🙏

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Awesome video mate!

[@ohmsweethohm7259]

High water brown trout fishing is my favorite trout fishing by a big margin! Most of my best brown trout have come during high water event fishing! Great video as always very informative!

[@lyleburlingame2276]

What are some of your best tips and what do you see holding others back? I have my opener this Saturday and I'm very excited for another crack at a big boy/girl I missed last season

[@bigz5262]

I like this style of video

[@landonedwards7504]

I've never had much luck on high water. Now I think I know why. Thanks, Jon!

[@hardmanfishing]

Good luck out there

[@boxingstarcmbballer8797]

Very true about fishing high water on it’s always a plus big advantage to know the stream . In high water if you don’t know where boulders are and debris and such and contour of bottom it will be very hard to find the fish . Will have to spend tons of time fishing the absolute loads of extra water while losing gear in process 😂 extra pain which can turn the day into no fun what so ever lol I honestly fished a stream just under flood level ppl were doing extreme whitewater kayaking that day and still caught fish because of knowing the stream and where pockets would be by knowing the bank which was under water . The stream was literally at least 5-6 ft above normal 😂 and straight chocolate moo 🐮 my buddies were amazed I even got my 2 inexperienced friends to catch a couple fish that day .

[@TravisDuff]

Love high water! Good stuff dude!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thanks man!

[@juwright1949]

excellent!👍🏻

[@blueridgeflyguy9551]

One of your best

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!

[@johncalabrese6467]

"Hey Buddy, Thanks for Playin'.❤.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!!

[@tonycamplin8607]

Another great video of how you fish in the USA. Here in the uk, especially where I live, we don't have rivers like that that flow so fast even in normal conditions. Most of our trout fishing is done in well stocked reservoirs where the fish are kept for eating. I like the fact that you use sensible tackle that's strong enough for the job not like some anglers here. Nice scenery.

[@goinfishinalba9811]

Here in Scotland we have plenty rivers that run like this even the small burns can have a right heavy flow after rain , and one thing we have in Scotland is plenty of rain

[@tonycamplin8607]

@@goinfishinalba9811 I live in the Cambridgeshire Fens!

[@clanman8278]

Great video man. What rod size do you use for streamers usually

[@robbieallan6522]

Last time I fished my local river when it was chocolate colour after massive rain I found the brown trout tight against the bank, good footage

[@hardmanfishing]

That sounds about right!! Thanks for watching

[@russyates482]

Do you ever fish a sink tip fly line? Really like the streamer fishing videos you have done.

[@mtb_flyfish_skate]

Nice dude

[@christorres1388]

That was a great video, I'm just getting into the whole streamer thing. What weight rod are you throwing? Is the floating streamer line different from just regular floating line? I'm finally getting some success on streamer fishing for steelhead throwing verry similar looking streamers.

[@todgibson5001]

Hey John awesome video as always we have the east prong of the roaring river in north carolina but by the look of things you must be in Virginia or West Virginia?

[@hardmanfishing]

This was actually neither of those states 😂 I’ve got to keep everyone on their toes… but this is a really popular river

[@daletowler1354]

hello Hardman about high water, New jersey trout do the same thing they head to the side of the banks, alot of guys they don't under stand they cast in the middle of the river..

[@kirksoutdooradventures]

Let's go!!!

[@chaoyang9080]

You’ve got the Echo streamer x.

[@deanvarner9308]

Freaking excellent ❤❤

[@FishOutdoorColoradoAdventures]

Nice !!! What reel is that?

[@Relaxingfishing]

Good 😊

[@bengibson2383]

Always coming out with the best fly fishing vidoes!! No doubt about it, what’s your rod, reel, and line setup for streamer fishing usually? Looking to get me a setup strictly just for streamers.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you! And I have a streamer x 8 wt now, although I’ve only used it for a few months so I’m still deciding how much I like it. The reel is a speedster S my lamson so you know it’s outstanding! Thanks for watching

[@bengibson2383]

Wow what a setup!

[@edwardrolle7723]

Funny to see an old fishing partner of mine fishing with the man the myth the legend hardman himself. I bet JL thinks he upgraded I’ll have you know I taught him half he knows 😜

[@hardmanfishing]

Hahahaha 😂😂 he’s a good dude! Thanks for watching

[@spacedong3059]

Sick

[@Paul-ji9gv]

Rock-it science!

[@Riich87]

Can you help me please if I was to use a single nymph with strike indicator do I use fluorocarbon on its own or do I add tippet as well? Or maybe just tippet on its own ?

[@JohnKolb-iq3gw]

Great vid. Do you use a 9' 8wt ? I seem to remember from a previous video.

[@hardmanfishing]

Yep!

[@pkflyfishing4803]

Great video, how satisfied are you with the Echo Streamer X rod? And what configuration do you have it in, 9ft 6wt?

[@hardmanfishing]

So far, so good. And no I got the 8 wt, but at times I wish I had the 6 wt

[@Riich87]

How are you attaching your line together?

[@m.w.h.9253]

One of my favorite rivers, I just bought a camp 10 mins from there.

[@hardmanfishing]

It’s amazing that’s for sure!

[@Outdoorsgb]

Please recommend me spinner for brown water? Which spinner you use in this video?

[@slaminsteelinc3625]

I never used streamers before but like to know what size you are using

[@HaB-rj9mi]

What wt reel doy you use

[@mtb_flyfish_skate]

Thanks for the tips

[@BACON850]

What rod and reel are you running?

[@devinshook3289]

Can you recommend a good streamer rod? Also what kind of lines do you like to use? Thanks. Love the videos

[@lyleburlingame2276]

I was wondering that what kind of line he was using. For a streamer rod I'd go with a 6wt 9.5' or if you are going after big trout exclusively with the rig go with a 7wt

[@TakaVln]

You mentioned you don't like heavy streamers with tungsten coneheads and such. Do you use any weight at all? And what's the length/size of streamers you normally use for trout?

[@hardmanfishing]

Most of the streamers I use have dumbbell eyes or just have material that absorbs water

[@jay2pic]

That a hardy reel and rod? I have a hardy reel Dd #4 and rod hardy #4 8’

[@Nrussell11]

What fly line you using with that Streamer X?

[@hardmanfishing]

Cortland floating streamer line!

[@tenkarapondfishing4611]

John. Is a 6-weight 9' a stout enough rod to throw the types of streamers you're throwing in this video?

[@barrymills128]

Definitely yes. A 6WT can handle 3 inch' streamers with ease

[@owenhammers4900]

do you use sinking line when you throw streamers?

[@hardmanfishing]

Nope, it’s in the video

[@aaronbridge9355]

How do you like the Streamer X rod?

[@hardmanfishing]

So far, so good

[@wnctarheel9626]

What would you do differently if you were fishing for rainbow or brook trout in high water?

[@hardmanfishing]

Not too much different… brook trout are usually in smaller water so that’s just a game of finding the calm pockets they can sit in. I usually use jig streamers for them. Rainbow trout fishing I usually avoid in high water in favor of browns (or brookies sometimes)

[@marisamontgomery7340]

more clips of you explaining pls

[@serenitygardenscompany]

How big of streamers do you fish high water, 8wt? Big streamers bigger rod?

[@hardmanfishing]

I don’t necessarily go overly large, just a lot of sex dungeons or just flies that push water (deer hair heads, stuff like that)

[@paulmanzone8373]

Hey John, weird question, wanted to give and try your area, want to spend a day making dinner extra cash, just be me! I lotve in Indiana and will make the drive to where ever you say, been fishing most of my life and won't be a burden at all, I'll probably surprise you actually Please let me know Paul

[@Stevensfishingreel]

High water sucks but can make good streamer fishing

[@hardmanfishing]

No doubt! Thanks for watching

[@bernie5970]

Coworker??? I thought all you did was fish ....😊😊😊

[@vernenfelcher6442]

😚 Promo_SM