Stealth in Fishing
Some fish in certain rivers seem spookier than others. In some streams, you can barely approach the river’s edge before every fish dives for cover, while in other streams, it feels much easier to get close. This spookiness can be attributed to various factors, including water conditions, the type of river, the water levels, and the fish’s genetics.
Wherever you fish, it’s essential to be as stealthy as possible. Over the years, I’ve watched many anglers question their lack of success while making a ruckus in the river.
Tips for Wading
- Preparation: Make sure you are ready before you reach your fishing spot. Have your gear organized, your net positioned on your back, and your wading stick ready, with everything you need easily accessible. Do all this away from the water to minimize disturbance to the river.
- Take Your Time: Wade delicately and slowly. Everyone stumbles occasionally, but by slowing down, you’ll stumble less and create less disturbance.
- Wading Stick Awareness: Avoid dragging your wading stick behind you! This can certainly spook fish as the stick scraping along the rocks sends vibrations through the water. Fish are not very sensitive to external sounds but are highly sensitive to vibrations in the water.
- Be Cautious in Pools: When wading through slower-moving pools, be especially careful. It’s easy to create bow waves that alert fish in the pool to your presence.
Fishing from the Bank
When fishing from the bank, avoid silhouetting yourself against the skyline; this is a surefire way to spook fish. Stay low and approach stealthily, keeping your distance from the river’s edge. Casting from a kneeling position or with one knee on the ground can be very effective.
If you’re fishing in a keepered river, especially a chalk stream, the river keeper may leave a fringe of vegetation along the bank deliberately to help anglers remain concealed. Make the most of this advantage!
General Tips
- Minimize false casting and casting overall. While this can be challenging for beginners, as you improve your casting skills, you’ll find it easier to cast less. Aim to turn over the line and leader above the water so that it lands gently. When lifting the line off the water, do so slowly and gently to avoid creating disturbance.
- Avoid using shiny equipment such as reels or snips, as they can create a blinding glare in the sunlight. While the exact effect on fish is uncertain, it’s best to err on the side of caution.
- If you’re fishing near trees and vegetation, wear drab-colored clothing to blend in and disguise your movements. In open areas, since the background may be the sky, saltwater anglers often wear sky blue clothing while fishing.
What Happens If I Spook the Fish?
It’s common to spook fish occasionally, and this can make fishing both challenging and fun. The impact of spooking fish can vary depending on the river. In some rivers, once a pool is spooked, it’s best to leave it and walk to the next pool or riffle. In others, if I spook a fish, I can move a few paces upstream and continue fishing with little effect. As a general rule, if you spook fish and they stop rising, sit down for five minutes, stop casting and often, they will come back on the feed and give you another shot.
When fish are disturbed, they may dart to a hiding spot out of sight or sink to the bottom and stop feeding. The latter is particularly frustrating, as you can still see them but they ignore you. At least if they bolt, you have a clear idea of their position!
