The Other Water

YOU'VE SEEN IT

Now Fish It

less pressure = better catching

DISTRIBUTARY CHANNEL ON NOTELLUM RIVER

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.. Scuttlebutt. tradition, local wisdom, expert opinion, and whispered tips combine to dictate fishing patterns on oceans, rivers, streams, and lakes.
..  Of course there are other places to fish but fishers tend to walk, run, or row right past them. Too small. Too dirty. Too tangled. Too far. There are many excuses but few reasons for avoiding the other water.
.. A pair of river features that are very often neglected, (even on the glory waters of Yellowstone National Park,) are the "SIDE CHANNEL," and "DISTRIBUTARY CHANNEL."

FULL OF FISH, LOTS OF COVER,

 FULL OF NUTRIENTS,
DEVOID OF FISHERS - YUM

.. Rivers, (should they be able to express themselves,) want to flow in a straight line.
.. Side channels and distributary channels are the manifest efforts of rivers and streams to maintain as straight of a course as possible.

.. Obstructions in  rivers thwart only the momentary conditions of a less linear course. Of course  fish enjoy the funnel effect of concentrated food in the narrow channel, especially with heavy bankside cover.

.. These are good places for catching. Notice that the side channels, (in the images above,) are geomorphically maintained and enhanced by the fallen trees.
.. The rivers will eventually, (without additional intervention,) erode the small island on the right, (in the top image,) and become as straight as the bedrock allows.
.. Given enough time these portions of the NOTELLUM RIVER in Yellowstone National Park will even straighten their course in the bedrock. Of course, we won't be around to see it.

.. Just a passing suggestion from those of us that seem unable to fish the same old holes on the same old rivers and lakes, in the same old ways - successful and conventional though they may be.
.. Yes, Nancy, the other water  does hold fish in abundance. It also holds fewer fishers as well.

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.. We're taking another brief respite from our catching to enjoy the "OLD TIN HATCH" in West Yellowstone, Montana. It could be 400 strong this year.

Orange Hooded, Rubber Footed, Detroiter, (dumped variety.)