When fly fishing, there are two primary techniques you can use to catch fish: prospecting and stalking. Your fishing day may involve one method or a combination of both.
Prospecting
Prospecting in a river means casting your fly into areas that you believe are likely to hold fish. Often, you may not have seen a fish rise, but you rely on your understanding of the river’s habitat to make an educated guess. Occasionally, a rise in the area can guide your decision on where to cast. Prospecting is commonly done in rain-fed rivers, where water color and conditions make it challenging to see fish.
When prospecting, anglers typically move every few casts. I personally make about three casts before taking a step to cover more ground.
You can use any fly fishing method for prospecting, but sub-surface flies like nymphs and wet flies are often used. However, don’t hesitate to use a dry fly; you may be surprised by how many fish you can attract to the surface when conditions are favorable.
Stalking
Stalking involves identifying an individual fish, either by spotting it in the river or noticing the disturbance it makes when rising.
Once you’ve located a fish, you move into position to cast your fly to it. Stalking is especially effective in clear streams, where water clarity allows anglers to see fish more easily. In rain-fed rivers, you may cast toward a disturbance in the water rather than a visible fish, as the riverbed’s color can camouflage trout very effectively.
While dry fly fishing is common during stalking, you can also use a wet fly over a fish you’ve observed. In very clear streams, where fish are feeding near the streambed, you can even stalk with a nymph.
Being stealthy is crucial when stalking, much like hunting. You should approach your target quietly, minimizing movement and disturbance to the water. Keep low and avoid silhouetting yourself against the skyline, as trout in clear water can be very skittish and will quickly disappear if disturbed.
Polarized sunglasses and a peaked cap are valuable tools for stalking, as they reduce glare on the water, making it easier to see fish below the surface.
Many anglers will switch between these two approaches throughout the day, prospecting in likely areas before targeting individual fish as they become visible.
