Fish Camp's Trout Foundations: Where Trout Live

Editor’s Note: Fly Fisherman will be posting videos weekly produced by our friends at Fish Camp, which offers online fly fishing education anchored in conservation, etiquette, and stewardship, from veteran professional fly-fishing instructors. Check back each Wednesday for a new exclusive video.

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Riffles, eddies, troughs and more...These are all prime areas of rivers that can hold trout. Instructor Mike Dawes breaks down the different types of moving water that fly anglers should target when chasing trout.

Dawes is the managing partner at Westbank Anglers and a lifelong fly fisherman with over 45 years of experience on the water. His passion for fishing began early and deepened after a life-changing medical event, inspiring him to dedicate his life to the sport.

Fish Camps’s Trout Foundations course breaks down the fundamentals of fly fishing in a way that is easy to follow, approachable, and fun. You'll learn what fly fishing is, how to get started, and the essential techniques and knowledge needed to be successful on the water.

Topics include gear selection, basic knots, introductory entomology (understanding what fish eat), how to read water to find fish, casting techniques, and how to properly fight and land fish. Plus, Mike will share valuable insights on river etiquette to help you fish respectfully and confidently. Whether you're completely new to fly fishing or looking to sharpen your foundational skills, Foundations: Trout is designed to set you up for success on the water.

For more content like this, head over to fishcamp.life to subscribe!

Truncated transcript: 

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:46:02: Reading the water is a learned art. The more you fish, the more you start to pick up the subtle characteristics of rivers and fish in water. Fish aren't much different than us. Their instincts are driven by the need for food and safety from predators. For this reason, beginner fly fishermen should look for areas in the river where current brings food to fish and they can eat their food in safety.

00:00:46:05 - 00:01:18:04: Areas where this occurs are around and behind. Logjams. Undercut banks. The back side of shelves and riffles. Deep holes in both and back in front of boulders. And of course, deep troughs.

00:01:18:06 - 00:01:47:17: The best and only way to sharpen your water reading skills is to get out there and fish...