“Stream ecologists and hydrologists use the term ‘thalweg’ to describe the deepest part of the channel that runs through a pool, which usually hosts the fastest current and carries the most debris- and food. Anglers call this the ‘bubble line’ because you can trace its passage as it winds through a pool by the line of bubbles or foam that betrays its progress. Because most small streams have relatively slow currents compared to bigger rivers, and their food supply is also sparse, finding this line in one of the most important tools in learning to read the water.”

From the Orvis Guide to Small Stream Fishing, Tom Rosenbauer, 2011.

I got blanked recently, on a small stream. Skunked. Crushed. Ego Shattered. My buddy Phil, caught 3 beautiful trout, including one that could have won an award for high jumping. Of course I want to blame it on the fact that I was out of 7x tippet, and we were using the same flies, same area, but he had 7x and I had 6x. Yep. The fish, in this fly fish only stream section, are that wary.

Well, I keep telling myself that.....

As we become more deeply immersed in the fishing season, I am looking to sharpen those skills. I came across this book. As I read thru it I realized this book is chock full of great stuff I didn’t know......like what the hell a Thalweg is.

It also made me want to start finding more small streams, that aren’t so heavily pressured.....

Check it out.