Off Color Water Tacticts

When the water turns and river clarity drops you have to change tactics. In my neck of the woods the water will turn when the Shandaken tunnel on the Esopus Creek in the Catskills starts spewing chocolate milk colored water. Got a few tips to redirect your efforts. First, try to head downstream where the clarity might improve. Second, work the edges of seams and shorelines where the fish might find rest from high water and easier avenues for food. I like to bring two riods, one streamer rod (Sage R8 with Abel SDF reel) with a short 6’ 6lbs leader and one nymph or wet fly rod. Work a weighted streamer aling banks, rock walls, drop offs, and seams where the obvious food lanes are. Change over to a nymph rig using a weighted fly with a good silhouette and trail it with a similar wet fly with a larger profile to induce a quick hit. I’ve found both of these methods effective when the water is up and off color. Good luck.