Reading Water

[sinkingtip]

Hi Gods Country - good move coming in there and making the effort to 'restore' the thread with some interesting observations and comment.
Having posted earlier on this topic I don't really have anything further to add other than - benches and well trodden bits of bank. Benches - on most beats the placing of benches is not arbitrary. They are placed directly opposite major lies or at the head of a pool - now think about the water you fish or you have fished - yes ? no?.
Well trodden paths - speaks for itself. If you arrive on a new water with absolutely no guidance then look for evidence of previously charted footsteps. Simple.
Probably more to do with 'bank craft' than "reading water" but as Madeleine Bell would put it "what we need is a great big a' meltin pot" - sorry CLag couldn't resist it.
Please note : this post has not been 'anorak' led and it states the 'obvious' - but maybe not to a novice. Plinkety Plonk.

[elwyman]

Very good points there Sinkingtip. Certainly applies to river I fish.

Fishing huts and shelters are other man-made signs of good pools.

[castlikeaghille]

sinkingtip said:

Hi Gods Country - good move coming in there and making the effort to 'restore' the thread with some interesting observations and comment.
Having posted earlier on this topic I don't really have anything further to add other than - benches and well trodden bits of bank. Benches - on most beats the placing of benches is not arbitrary. They are placed directly opposite major lies or at the head of a pool - now think about the water you fish or you have fished - yes ? no?.
Well trodden paths - speaks for itself. If you arrive on a new water with absolutely no guidance then look for evidence of previously charted footsteps. Simple.
Probably more to do with 'bank craft' than "reading water" but as Madeleine Bell would put it "what we need is a great big a' meltin pot" - sorry CLag couldn't resist it.
Please note : this post has not been 'anorak' led and it states the 'obvious' - but maybe not to a novice. Plinkety Plonk.

Sinky - The addition of Bank Craft is an excellent point well made (I'd add the position of huts to your list) - It would take a book to try and list all the signs to read. I am very pleased other people on the forum are coming up with all sorts of excellent observations - this is part of what this forum is about IMO - good work fella - CLaG

[rpsalmon]

Reading water is a skill that can be learnt by anyone, to call it an art is an exaggeration, surely this article is about promoting Dr Philgood because it doesn’t actually give practical instruction on reading rivers.

CLAG writes about TBO’s (The Bleeding Obvious-way to fish) or what I have to describe as the average and stupid/unthinking angler we see today, using the down and across “simpleton” fly method on “fly water” which I would have to define as water likely to hold taking salmon and that doesn’t require skill to fish, as a basis to inflate Dr Philgood’s reputation. But an angler who plans the fishing of a pool, using specific tactics to catch salmon that will obviously exhibit a different behaviour/instinct depending on the part of the pool, is doing what I thought all intelligent anglers had been doing for over a hundred years and I am astonished that anyone would think this was a revelation.

[jones]

RPSalmon - it may not be a revelation to obviously such an expert fisherman as yourself, but what about those taking up the sport or who have never been taught who will gain a serious amount of help an advice from postings such as this. Perhaps the advice, even if it is bleeding obvious might just help someone catch their first fish - got to be a good thing.

Jones

[rpsalmon]

A point from the posting is that obviously I think you'd be better buying a book. Hugh Falkus's Salmon Fishing is a very good and solid practical guide, anyone following Hugh Falkus's advice definitely wouldn't be a stupid angler.

[rpsalmon]

Dear Springer
The strategy, approach and advice within Hugh's book is as valid today as it was in 1986, alright tackle has changed a bit, but that does not affect the quality advice of an experienced, intelligent and practical angler.

It is my firm belief that no intelligent angler could think Hugh's book is outdated.

[minitube]

RPsalmon,

A little while ago I believe you were also stating the need for a new and up to date book on salmon angling and started a thread for that purpose.

[greenbanks]

minitube said:

RPsalmon,

A little while ago I believe you were also stating the need for a new and up to date book on salmon angling and started a thread for that purpose.

You are right Robert he did amongst a blizzard of posts and criticisms eg everyones friendly T&S contributor Dr Phil Fairchild .
Perhaps he might go to T&S and /or find an angling magazine who need a part time editor ;)He has a lot of time at his disposal judging by the number of threads he posts,and i am sure the time spent aggravating fishers here could be spent more creatively.Wouldn't you agree?
Well must go for a kip early start on the water tomorrow with some keen and eager fishers hoping for a good day on Deeside,sure hope we have another good day with the big fish.

[juststartedagain]

Perhaps he might go to T&S and /or find an angling magazine who need a part time editor ;)He has a lot of time at his disposal judging by the number of threads he posts,and i am sure the time spent aggravating fishers here could be spent more creatively.Wouldn't you agree?

That would be good - then us simpleton, stupid and unthinking anglers can get on with exponentially increasing our knowledge without having to read (or skip over) vast amounts of drivel.

ClaG - great post - some new things for me to try next time out.

[rpsalmon]

The information in Hugh Falkus's book is as true today as it was then, of course there have been developments over time and certain sections could easily be expanded upon.