Rob Snowhite: Fly Fishing Consultant
Podcasts
S01E12 Types of Water | Reading Water

	Series 01 Episode 12: Types of Water and Reading Water Audio Opens quick time audio stream in new window Itunes Structure Slow tailwater, enough to freeze Slow Water Tailwaters Water comes out of a dam (lake, reservoir etc.) Water coming out of the base of the dam is cold Water coming over the top of a dam (spillway) is warmer Access limited closer to dam for security reasons (dams that produce electricity) Fish congregate in section between dam and fishing area and may be pushed out during higher releases Fluctuating levels based on needs of power company, water level behind dam, recreational uses (kayaking/rafting) Water is crystal clear closer to dam, runoff and feeder streams contribute to water levels and loss of clarity down stream Year round fishing Water temperature is constant closer to dam and remains unfrozen in winter Water begins to freeze downstream from the dam in winter as the stream is cooled by ambient temperatures Plants and animals grow year round closer to dam = increases chances for huge trout Rocks and bottom tend to be slick as algae grows year round Some western reservoirs were stocked with shrimp to feed stocked fish. These highly nutritious shrimp are carried with the water release. The trout closest to the dam get first dibs and can grow to immense sizes and display a variety of bright colors Flooded valley and town with tailwater Recreational spring fed lake with tailwater A trout that feeds on shrimp: Dense SAV Pocket water and algae covered rocks Spring Creeks Grow in flat land such as valley floors and pastures/open fields. The stream will try to meander (S shape) through the topography to slow itself down trying to reach an equilibrium Water percolating out of the ground at a constant temperature year round Stream usually narrow toward originating spring with marshy area surrounding Stream width grows as more water enters from other springs and banks are eroded Water does not freeze in winter Allows plant and animal life to grow year round Water quality is very clear Less susceptible to flooding as stream is fed by springs, not runoff Stream bed and surrounding geologic structures made of limestone. The chemical properties of limestone buffer or lower the pH (acidity) of the water Few to little boulders or structure in the stream Allows for a variety of animal life that require specific pH of water, such as cress bugs, shrimp, mayflies, etc. Cut banks where trout can escape from predators and sunshine Soft bottom Overhanging plants Submerged aquatic vegetation grows very thick as it does not die back in winter Fish may congregate closer to spring sources in hot weather to keep cool Hot thunderstorm + cold water = fog Local buildings and structures (bridges, fences etc.) may be made of limestone Beavers inhabiting spring creek Stream opens up downstream from the source Freestone Stream fed by springs at headwaters and runoff throughout its course Size increases farther from source and may be tidal where meets ocean or bay Water colder closer to spring-fed sources Water levels and clarity fluctuate with precipitation Temperatures based on ambient temperatures Variety of stream bottoms from pebble-->rocks-->boulders More sources of structure to fish in, near, around (log jams, boulders, pools etc.) Fast loss of elevation creates waterfalls and plunge pools Fish species change from source to end based on water temperatures, tides, elevation etc. A stream starts from springs and runoff A stream starts as snow melt The stream grows in size as more water enters the system Cold, clear water with waterfalls as water heads from source downstream "Pocket water" forms when elevation drops and the water is broken up by exposed rocks. Plunging water (plunge pools) increase Oxygen levels. Plunge pool Stream begins to open up once it reaches lower elevations The body of water begins to broaden as it leaves elevation and encounters flatter land River gains size and depth when changes to tidal Brides on the East coast are typically built just above the fall line (interstate 95) This section of the Potomac was flooded. The right side of the image shows the bank. This section was about 10' deep now and dry two weeks later. Junk that flows down, now is structure Tidal Outgoing tide Flats

Series 01 Episode 12: Types of Water and Reading Water

Audio

Opens quick time audio stream in new window

Itunes

Structure

Slow tailwater, enough to freeze

Slow Water

Tailwaters

Water comes out of a dam (lake, reservoir etc.)

Water coming out of the base of the dam is cold

Water coming over the top of a dam (spillway) is warmer

Access limited closer to dam for security reasons (dams that produce electricity)

Fish congregate in section between dam and fishing area and may be pushed out during higher releases

Fluctuating levels based on needs of power company, water level behind dam, recreational uses (kayaking/rafting)

Water is crystal clear closer to dam, runoff and feeder streams contribute to water levels and loss of clarity down stream

Year round fishing

Water temperature is constant closer to dam and remains unfrozen in winter

Water begins to freeze downstream from the dam in winter as the stream is cooled by ambient temperatures

Plants and animals grow year round closer to dam = increases chances for huge trout

Rocks and bottom tend to be slick as algae grows year round

Some western reservoirs were stocked with shrimp to feed stocked fish. These highly nutritious shrimp are carried with the water release.

The trout closest to the dam get first dibs and can grow to immense sizes and display a variety of bright colors

Flooded valley and town with tailwater

Recreational spring fed lake with tailwater

A trout that feeds on shrimp:

Dense SAV

Pocket water and algae covered rocks

Spring Creeks

Grow in flat land such as valley floors and pastures/open fields. The stream will try to meander (S shape) through the topography to slow itself down trying to reach an equilibrium

Water percolating out of the ground at a constant temperature year round

Stream usually narrow toward originating spring with marshy area surrounding

Stream width grows as more water enters from other springs and banks are eroded

Water does not freeze in winter

Allows plant and animal life to grow year round

Water quality is very clear

Less susceptible to flooding as stream is fed by springs, not runoff

Stream bed and surrounding geologic structures made of limestone. The chemical properties of limestone buffer or lower the pH (acidity) of the water

Few to little boulders or structure in the stream

Allows for a variety of animal life that require specific pH of water, such as cress bugs, shrimp, mayflies, etc.

Cut banks where trout can escape from predators and sunshine

Soft bottom

Overhanging plants

Submerged aquatic vegetation grows very thick as it does not die back in winter

Fish may congregate closer to spring sources in hot weather to keep cool



Hot thunderstorm + cold water = fog

Local buildings and structures (bridges, fences etc.) may be made of limestone


Beavers inhabiting spring creek

Stream opens up downstream from the source

Freestone

Stream fed by springs at headwaters and runoff throughout its course

Size increases farther from source and may be tidal where meets ocean or bay

Water colder closer to spring-fed sources

Water levels and clarity fluctuate with precipitation

Temperatures based on ambient temperatures

Variety of stream bottoms from pebble-->rocks-->boulders

More sources of structure to fish in, near, around (log jams, boulders, pools etc.)

Fast loss of elevation creates waterfalls and plunge pools

Fish species change from source to end based on water temperatures, tides, elevation etc.

A stream starts from springs and runoff

A stream starts as snow melt

The stream grows in size as more water enters the system

Cold, clear water with waterfalls as water heads from source downstream

"Pocket water" forms when elevation drops and the water is broken up by exposed rocks. Plunging water (plunge pools) increase Oxygen levels.

Plunge pool

Stream begins to open up once it reaches lower elevations

The body of water begins to broaden as it leaves elevation and encounters flatter land

River gains size and depth when changes to tidal

Brides on the East coast are typically built just above the fall line (interstate 95)

This section of the Potomac was flooded. The right side of the image shows the bank.
This section was about 10' deep now and dry two weeks later.

Junk that flows down, now is structure

Tidal

Outgoing tide

Flats

Rob Snowhite: Fly Fishing Consultant Podcasts S01E12 Types of Water | Reading Water

Series 01 Episode 12: Types of Water and Reading Water

Audio

Structure

Freestone

Tidal

Flats

Rob Snowhite: Fly Fishing Consultant
Podcasts
S01E12 Types of Water | Reading Water