Suck it up, and FIIISH!

Angler- "I really like fish out west. The rivers have more current. My palsa indicator wtih a midge has only moved 10 feet down river in the last minute."

Angler- "Wow look at that huge brown trout we just spooked in this low water. It sure would be nice to be able to put a fly in front of one without having to wear a guilly suit and make 90 foot casts into a dixie cup."

Most heard Angler quote- "When is the best time to hook a big brown?"

I hear some sort of these statements quite often during low water periods. Anglers like: 1. current, 2. legitmate shots at large fish with more forgiving circumstances, and 3. sharing a river with less anglers per river mile.

The time is now. Just like 2008, we should have larger than average flows all the way until September. Many anglers believe that the only way to catch a trout on the White River is with a palsa strike indicator and a midge, but the higher flows lend towards many different and more interesting ways of skinning a cat in a single fishing day.

DRIES

One of the biggest misconceptions with bigger flows is that it will put down any hatch work that might have happened. FALSE!!!! Large flows will delay hatches as the temps will lower causing the hatch to take off 2-4 weeks later than on a normal year. The spots, and how fish will eat dries also changes. Fish will not rise river wide, yet certain bug funnels will concentrate fish and bugs into certain areas making for the best "head shooting" in the US.

Big bugs opportunities (terrestrials) peak during these conditions as well. When the flows reach up to the grassy and bushy banks where these land based morsels live make them even more succeptible to the fish that key in on them.

When we've got a 1 in 13 year Cicada hatch to condition or fish to look up early this summer, there is no doubt that the foam and rubber leg fury will be less this year (if not more) than on any other great hopper year.

STREAMERS

Big flows= success with big flies. My favorite time to throw streamers is in the 16,oo0- 24,000 cfs range. During the summer, light values will still play an important role. But it is a lot easier for the stars to align when big flows happen EVERY DAY. Instead of once every few weeks. Spring will be more prime than summer as we should have more over cast days than in July.

NYMPHING

Nymphing is always prevelant on the tailwater systems. We'll have a huge surge of worms for the first few weeks, but will steady out to scuds, sowbugs, and even midges for droppers. Big flows equal a clean river bottom, great growth rates and huge trout. Bobbern' big browns is easy livin' all summer long for those wanting to catch five million trout....and quite a few hogs.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO WADE

There are plenty of places to wade fish all the way up to peak 8 units (+24,000 cfs), you just need a boat to get to them. In fact, I catch more big fish wading at these flows as all the motor boats will push some leviathon fish onto some really skinny flats where they can't go. There's literally no excuse for any angler not to fish during this year on the White system.

Myth: MOTOR BOATS OUT PRODUCE DRIFT BOATS ON HIGH WATER YEARS

HORSE $@!#!!!!!

I've got both types of boats but always prefer fishing from a drift boat. Drift boats are stealthy, more efficient at "crack and crevice" fishing, and easier to handle on foam lines and streamer banks without putting fish "down". Both boats are great during high water, but one is not better than the other. Motor boats are great for repeating bobber runs with 5 million rainbows on them, whereas drift boats are better at covering the "off water" efficiently and effectively.

In a nutshell what I'm trying to say is "The fishing is going to be absolutely epic this summer, just suck it up and pack the 4 weights and size 22's away."