Reading Water

fishskipper · 09-24-2008, 08:00 PM

I may bore you with this, but I was fortunate growing up as a kid to learn a little about reading water. I grew up in the mountains of Virginia fishing creeks, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. Creeks, nothing more than smaller streams and rivers. Rivers with slow moving pools nothing more than ponds or lakes. They all have movement and being able to read this movement has made me a better fisherman. In my early teens a older gentleman explained to me why this was so important, mainly food, nutrients and oxygen.Although fish sometimes lay dormant, knowing that they are actually there is a plus.As we all know fishing for fish that are not there is just a waste of time. You can put out the best lures, colors you have, but if they are not there, then your just not going to catch them. Now, as far as the dormant fish, that's another story.
I have also been fortunate enough to relate reading water in the mountains to the ocean.Not to say that I'm the best fisherman in the world, because I'm not, but to read water is helpful.I know a lot of you guys on here are a lot better at it than I, but I just wanted to share this with those who are trying to be the best they can be.
Being able to fish hand in hand and beside,with what I call legends. I have seen Captains that can read the water and it can make all the difference in the world.
Next time out, make sure to check out any little change you can detect. Those temp changes, color changes are the easiest to detect, but there are also other changes, like currents, mid water and bottom changes. I can go on and on about this and I told you I would probably bore you, but how about some input here.What's your favorite type of water to fish?

hubris 1 · 09-24-2008, 08:19 PM

i used to trout fish, loved it. you could wade upstream, casting that fly to anything that looked productive. it just said, here! trout rose to the occasion. when i fish offshore, i like a temp change. but ill take weeds, and a rip over that any day. oh yea, and im coming down to make sandwiches.........that gets em bitin!

clt_capt · 09-24-2008, 08:31 PM

I spent much of my college years teaching canoeing and working as a raft guide. Reading whitewater is a lot like reading the ocean. Looking for little rips or boils - maybe subtle stuff has saved me many a day.

Of course I love a good weed/debris line with a temp break on one side and ripping current on the other...

But some days you just can't find that.

fishskipper · 09-24-2008, 08:32 PM

Allie I hate Ronnie, but I'll let it go this time.

Gotcha on the samwiches... aways the way to get the strike or when the mate goes to the HEAD...........HEEEYYYYY where are you damit

Patudo · 09-25-2008, 08:32 AM

I like fishing when it's nice and calm as it's easier to spot any signs of life, which as have been mentioned can often be pretty subtle. It also gives you the greatest freedom to work any structure in whichever direction, instead of having to adjust my runs to the seas, and fish any types of lures instead of being limited to rough water baits. Fighting fish is also much easier when you don't have to contend with rough seas. Some areas though just seem to need a bit of wind/current/sea to get the bite going and calm conditions can mean some unusual atmospheric or current condition that may affect the bite. Flat calm is fine (it never gets too calm to scare me) but ideally just a little wind to keep it cooler and make just a little ripple on the surface. Add a moderate current and run of tide so that things aren't too quiet, and the stage is set.

Honey Hole · 09-25-2008, 10:35 AM

Fishskipper - You're right, this is a topic that can go a LOOOONG ways. From reading the water with regard to the fish... and with regard to bait presentation, and boat positioning, and speed... yep, a lot to talk about.

WAHOONBOX · 09-25-2008, 12:40 PM

BUT I FINALLY REALIZED MY NUMBERS LOCK WAS ON WITH MY LAPTOP...I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I HAD ONE

THIS TOPIC BY 'SKIPPER MAKES ME WANT TO MATE FOR HIM ONE DAY.....READING THE WATER......
SCREW A BUNCH OF FANCY LURES AND SQUIDS....LEARN TO READ DA WATER AND IF THEY ARE THERE ....THEY WILL EAT THE PACKAGING THE LURES CAME IN....

BORE US? DUDE........ARE YOU KIDDING? I JUST READ A COOL STORY HERE ...A SIDE OF YOU I DIDN'T KNOW

BRING IT ON! I AM ON THE ROAD PICKIN MY BRO UP AT RALIEGH AIRORT AT 2:30 AND BACK TO MHC FOR THE ARRIVAL OF MY NEW GREAT NEICE, HARLEY......SO CAPPIE KEEP THIS THREAD ALIVE!

fishskipper · 09-25-2008, 01:37 PM

Thanx Box and would love to have you fish with me some day.Reading water is my biggest asset. Some of you have brought up other interesting things to consider and I'm with Patudo here, I prefer it calm. It is easier to see these changes we all need to be looking for when its calm. But as he says these subtle changes are the ones to look for on those calm days. Sometimes I want to see some type of change so bad I seem to hallucinate, thinking I'm seeing something just ahead.

How about when you see pods of dolphin moving about. I always think they are a lot smarter and better fishers than I. Not always, but sometimes they are on some type of change.

The other thing I think about when I do find a change is that its moving... Always moving ....staying with productive water can be challenging..... I can't tell you how many times I've been wammed by the tunas and never be able to get back to the water I was fishing in by the time we get them gaffed.

Any how my favorite water is about a ten degree change from green to blue water. I know some of you have fished on this type of change.I get excited just writing about it. How many of you have seen a change like this with fog on the warm side? Sure makes it easy to fish. Zing ... pow..... clips popping everywhere... drags screeching ....
Oh well have to stop now the wind just died and the sun popped out. Got to get back to the boat!!!!

BTH284 · 09-25-2008, 04:13 PM

Will take me a long time to learn the experience of the guys talking and writing. But the hallucination thing got my attention. I think " I see things" out there all the time. Especially when a cloud is moving in. Looks like a nice change of some sort.

Always like to see dolphins in the area that I am fishing. Tells me there is something to it as far as food. Usually mark the same. The little changes are sometimes the best. The slicks, the slight edges with a just a bit of flotsam or grass on it. The foamy rips that eventually lead to a whirlpool at the end of them. That tells me to steer away from the current and find the water that could be wrapping the slack tide side.

One thing I have been looking for several years now is an upwelling. I saw and fished one 8-10 years ago that was like nothing I have seen since. It was on a ledge from 138-719 Ft.
Limited on gaffers and my buddy released a white. It surfaced mid morning and stayed around till about 430 pm. Then POOF! gone.

fishskipper · 09-26-2008, 10:06 AM

Very interesting on the upwelling. I'm interested to know how many on SFC have ever seen one? It a phenomenon in my mind. Just to describe it, its when the cooler water from the bottom surfaces due to wind and its really rich in nutrients.Usually birds and ocean life respond in a frenzy. Kind of like a lake turning over.

Wind definitely impacts our fishing as it has the last few days here. I'm now wondering what change all this NE wind will have once we get back out? And another thing to think about is when you have wind from two different directions colliding.

All these changes I've been talking about are ideal when you have your targeted fish in the area. Find the bait and you'll find the fish some say. I add to that, if you find the bait on the change you'll have much better luck!

09-24-2008, 08:19 PM	#2
hubris 1 I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: limnos island, greece Posts: 2,405 Boat: scout 170 costa flats boat Home Port: alexandroupolis, greece...where we tip our riggers to ya Best Catch: my girlfriend, she loves me, I love her. Occupation: NOPE, hoping obama FAILS, first in my class, Kamikaze University. Im waiting for my first job	ronnie....... i used to trout fish, loved it. you could wade upstream, casting that fly to anything that looked productive. it just said, here! trout rose to the occasion. when i fish offshore, i like a temp change. but ill take weeds, and a rip over that any day. oh yea, and im coming down to make sandwiches.........that gets em bitin!

09-25-2008, 08:32 AM	#5
Patudo Sit down Shut up And fish Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 536	I like fishing when it's nice and calm as it's easier to spot any signs of life, which as have been mentioned can often be pretty subtle. It also gives you the greatest freedom to work any structure in whichever direction, instead of having to adjust my runs to the seas, and fish any types of lures instead of being limited to rough water baits. Fighting fish is also much easier when you don't have to contend with rough seas. Some areas though just seem to need a bit of wind/current/sea to get the bite going and calm conditions can mean some unusual atmospheric or current condition that may affect the bite. Flat calm is fine (it never gets too calm to scare me) but ideally just a little wind to keep it cooler and make just a little ripple on the surface. Add a moderate current and run of tide so that things aren't too quiet, and the stage is set. Last edited by Patudo; 09-25-2008 at 08:34 AM.

09-25-2008, 12:40 PM	#7
WAHOONBOX NOW BOOKING RUN-OFF Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MOREHEAD CITY NC 28557 Posts: 19,259 Boat: WILD GOOSE - RUN-OFF- SEA SPLENDOUR Home Port: MOREHEAD CITY, NC Best Catch: PONEYTAIL Occupation: OFFSHORE MATE VIDEOGRAPHER	I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO POST WHILE UP AT DA FARM... BUT I FINALLY REALIZED MY NUMBERS LOCK WAS ON WITH MY LAPTOP...I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I HAD ONE THIS TOPIC BY 'SKIPPER MAKES ME WANT TO MATE FOR HIM ONE DAY.....READING THE WATER...... SCREW A BUNCH OF FANCY LURES AND SQUIDS....LEARN TO READ DA WATER AND IF THEY ARE THERE ....THEY WILL EAT THE PACKAGING THE LURES CAME IN.... BORE US? DUDE........ARE YOU KIDDING? I JUST READ A COOL STORY HERE ...A SIDE OF YOU I DIDN'T KNOW BRING IT ON! I AM ON THE ROAD PICKIN MY BRO UP AT RALIEGH AIRORT AT 2:30 AND BACK TO MHC FOR THE ARRIVAL OF MY NEW GREAT NEICE, HARLEY......SO CAPPIE KEEP THIS THREAD ALIVE! __________________ ADVERTISE now on SportFishermen.com - BANNER ADS

09-25-2008, 04:13 PM	#9
BTH284 I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Inshore Posts: 3,115 Boat: 23 shortbus Home Port: Morehead City Occupation: Working smarter...not harder	Will take me a long time to learn the experience of the guys talking and writing. But the hallucination thing got my attention. I think " I see things" out there all the time. Especially when a cloud is moving in. Looks like a nice change of some sort. Always like to see dolphins in the area that I am fishing. Tells me there is something to it as far as food. Usually mark the same. The little changes are sometimes the best. The slicks, the slight edges with a just a bit of flotsam or grass on it. The foamy rips that eventually lead to a whirlpool at the end of them. That tells me to steer away from the current and find the water that could be wrapping the slack tide side. One thing I have been looking for several years now is an upwelling. I saw and fished one 8-10 years ago that was like nothing I have seen since. It was on a ledge from 138-719 Ft. Limited on gaffers and my buddy released a white. It surfaced mid morning and stayed around till about 430 pm. Then POOF! gone. Last edited by BTH284; 09-25-2008 at 04:19 PM.

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09-24-2008, 08:31 PM	#3
clt_capt If Ignorance is bliss, Why aren't more people happy? Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Raleigh, MHC Posts: 6,749 Boat: Luhrs 36 Home Port: MHC Occupation: Supporting my Tackle habit	I spent much of my college years teaching canoeing and working as a raft guide. Reading whitewater is a lot like reading the ocean. Looking for little rips or boils - maybe subtle stuff has saved me many a day. Of course I love a good weed/debris line with a temp break on one side and ripping current on the other... But some days you just can't find that.

09-24-2008, 08:32 PM	#4
fishskipper I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kill Devil Hills ,N.C. Posts: 1,261 Boat: Custom Carolina Home Port: Oregon Inlet,N.C. Best Catch: Still Looking Occupation: Charter Capt.	Allie I hate Ronnie, but I'll let it go this time. Gotcha on the samwiches... aways the way to get the strike or when the mate goes to the HEAD...........HEEEYYYYY where are you damit

09-25-2008, 10:35 AM	#6
Honey Hole Sit down Shut up And fish Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 493	Fishskipper - You're right, this is a topic that can go a LOOOONG ways. From reading the water with regard to the fish... and with regard to bait presentation, and boat positioning, and speed... yep, a lot to talk about.

09-25-2008, 01:37 PM	#8
fishskipper I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kill Devil Hills ,N.C. Posts: 1,261 Boat: Custom Carolina Home Port: Oregon Inlet,N.C. Best Catch: Still Looking Occupation: Charter Capt.	Thanx Box and would love to have you fish with me some day.Reading water is my biggest asset. Some of you have brought up other interesting things to consider and I'm with Patudo here, I prefer it calm. It is easier to see these changes we all need to be looking for when its calm. But as he says these subtle changes are the ones to look for on those calm days. Sometimes I want to see some type of change so bad I seem to hallucinate, thinking I'm seeing something just ahead. How about when you see pods of dolphin moving about. I always think they are a lot smarter and better fishers than I. Not always, but sometimes they are on some type of change. The other thing I think about when I do find a change is that its moving... Always moving ....staying with productive water can be challenging..... I can't tell you how many times I've been wammed by the tunas and never be able to get back to the water I was fishing in by the time we get them gaffed. Any how my favorite water is about a ten degree change from green to blue water. I know some of you have fished on this type of change.I get excited just writing about it. How many of you have seen a change like this with fog on the warm side? Sure makes it easy to fish. Zing ... pow..... clips popping everywhere... drags screeching .... Oh well have to stop now the wind just died and the sun popped out. Got to get back to the boat!!!!

09-26-2008, 10:06 AM	#10
fishskipper I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kill Devil Hills ,N.C. Posts: 1,261 Boat: Custom Carolina Home Port: Oregon Inlet,N.C. Best Catch: Still Looking Occupation: Charter Capt.	Very interesting on the upwelling. I'm interested to know how many on SFC have ever seen one? It a phenomenon in my mind. Just to describe it, its when the cooler water from the bottom surfaces due to wind and its really rich in nutrients.Usually birds and ocean life respond in a frenzy. Kind of like a lake turning over. Wind definitely impacts our fishing as it has the last few days here. I'm now wondering what change all this NE wind will have once we get back out? And another thing to think about is when you have wind from two different directions colliding. All these changes I've been talking about are ideal when you have your targeted fish in the area. Find the bait and you'll find the fish some say. I add to that, if you find the bait on the change you'll have much better luck!