By Jeff Konst
No matter where I’m fishing, or how many fish I’m catching currently, there are always more fish over there. Wherever that may be, the promise of the unknown is an allure that few fishermen are strong enough to withstand. My brother and I coined the term “Far Shore Fever” to describe this sensation we both suffer from.
The unfortunate realization we’ve come to, time and time again, is that once you finally reach this tantalizing place you’ve been staring at for 30 minutes, you’re probably standing in the middle of your best piece of water trying to get at that one fish you just KNOW is laying up under that rhododendron bush. I’m here to remind you that most, not all, of the fish we are chasing this fall, especially those delayed harvest fish, are going to be right where you expect them in the middle of the hole. Yes, there is that odd fish tucked up underneath that rhododendron bush that you could probably get to eat if you could just sneak your fly right under the leaves, but is it worth spooking 20 other fish to get there?
I find this problem occurs much more prevalently with beginners. They are focused on casting further instead of casting accurately. As my friend John Zimmerman once said “They’re at your feet, dude”. It is a short, but completely accurate, statement that I paraphrase with each client when they struggle to find fish. Trout are generally exactly where you expect them to be, the majority of them will be near the middle of the current because that is where the food is coming through. If you go out seeking to catch that hard to reach fish, I will applaud you when it happens, but I bet I will release a few fish before you get a presentable cast off.
Happy fishing and tight lines!
Jeffrey Konst is the full time operator/guide/rod-builder/fly-tier for Upper Creek Angler located in Morganton, NC.
