Fishing Up Or Downstream

[brownieman]

Just curious as to your preference and why.

I have always had much more success fishing upstream...give my reasoning later, just thought it might make for a good discussion.

bm

[John Berry]

Since trout feed facing up stream it is better to fish up stream. That way you will be less easily detected because you will be behind them.

[JobyKSU]

In general I am an upstream fisher. When nymphing with an indicator (or large dry) I'll most often switch to downstream.

Nymphing downstream allows me to fish all of the water without fear of lining a fish, it allows one to put drag on to the line to bring the nymph up in the water column, and finally it allows for stack mends which gives you some of the extremely long drifts that perform so well on lots of the water I fish.

[Chief Grey Bear]

When wading I prefer to walk upstream.

When floating, I prefer to go downstream.

Haven't noticed a big difference in catch numbers.

Both do offer different fishing opportunities and styles

[brownieman]

I hear ya Chief, not much on paddling upstream myself, lol

I have a few buddies that like to fish downstream, say they have better luck...we've always talked about it and I guess it varies depending on the species you're after.

bm

[Danoinark]

When fishing soft hackles I tend to fish downstream. I find it easier to cast quarterly downstream to rising fish or to where I see fish holding, or even likely holding places.

Dano

[trout fanatic]

As a general rule, I prefer to fish and wade upstream (alerts fewer fish to my presence) unless I am swinging streamers or wets. Here in missouri however, it is usually the crowds that dictate how and where I fish and not the fish themselves.

[Paola Cat]

This is a real mixed bag for me. From a fly fishing perspective, it depends on what I'm throwing, how crowded it is, and the current. I tend to fish streamers, leeches, SHs, and cracklebacks quartering downstream. I most normally fish nymphs directly upstream. Everything else I pretty much fish quartering upstream. I've made the mistake (many times)of wading downstream for a long way and then had to wade upstream all the way back (duh!). Once, I saw some guys on the Osage Fork of the Gasconade actually put their canoe in at a downstream takeout and watched them paddle upstream to the next take out. PC

[Gavin]

In an uncrowded setting I prefer to approach from downstream, cast up, and make my first cast count. If your in an environment were the fish are surrounded by anglers most of the time I dont think it really matters that much. Cheers.

[hank franklin]

I like to fish upstream if possible.