Pocket Water

There are some areas within a stream or river in which boulders, rocks, logs, and other obstructions impede the flow of the current. These obstructions create swirling and reverse currents that form hydraulic pockets of water. These areas are perfect places for holding fish both behind and in front of the obstructions because of the hydraulic cushions created. Around these obstructions there are also other important hydraulic cushions to fish. Pocket waters are prime lies, and it will pay to use the right technique to fish them. This type of water can be fished by casting upstream while staying behind, but also by executing up and across presentations when there is broken water in which fish are less prone to spook.

A cast that creates vertical drop is needed to achieve the desired depth in these moving waters, and then it is important to quickly hold the sighter off the water. Holding the sighter at the right elevation will allow you to control how deep the flies get. This prevents the flies from continually snagging or touching the bottom and provides more control and improved strike detection. In pockets, eddies, or any other heavy water in which the current is chaotic, you must put some tension on the leader to avoid the kind of turbulence that affects the sighter. Adding more tension on the leader will result in fewer quality dead drifts and create some drag, but that is preferable to not being able to detect strikes. In addition to holding the sighter, the use of extra weight also reduces the influence of the current on the flies, thereby increasing the angler’s control over them. This extra weight also creates the effect of slowing down the drift, providing the fish more time to detect the flies. In general, pocket waters are small spots, so the drifts are short. The need to hold the flies and the short drifts require agile slack management, and the easiest way to control it is by raising the rod.

Strikes in pocket water often occur before the flies reach the bottom, and for this reason the angler must be ready to set the hook as soon as the flies hit the water. If the currents are complicated and the sighter is moving too much for accurate visual strike detection, there is a trick to consider in these “blind” situations. Just set the hook a few seconds after the flies have touched the water. If you find no immediate success doing this, you can try waiting a few seconds after each cast, varying the exact waiting time with each attempt.

Another complication with pocket water arises when there is turbulence and several currents are moving in different directions. There is a risk in this situation of flies landing in different currents, which affects the rig and prevents a good drift. Flies can go in opposite directions, pulling towards each other and generating drag. This negative effect is increased if the flies have the same weight, while rigs with a heavier fly at the point will work better. It is better to make upstream presentations in these waters to minimize this effect and to get the flies and the tippet falling into the same current. Even upstream casts will create instant drag if the currents are complicated, and in that case it’s preferable to use only one fly for optimal drift and control. All you have to do is remove one of the flies. You can very easily put it back on again after you have finished fishing the pocket, before moving on to the next zone. If the weight of just one nymph isn’t enough, it is time for a fly change.