Do you even bother floating the river in bluebird skies, when the water is ultra low and clear?

[Ohioguy25]

I floated Thursday and it was painful, I could see clear to the bottom in 5 feet of water. Oppressively bright sun and not a cloud in the sky.  I have to imagine every fish saw me coming well before I got close enough to cast at them.  Caught plenty of dinks, but I would think the mature fish are wise enough not to bite with minimal cover/shade.  

The few fish over 12” I did find came from shade, but I still couldn’t seem to produce a big bite.  Do larger (17+) fish just sort of shut down or become wary in these conditions, or do they just see me coming? Do you even bother going out with no cloud cover or when the water is so low you can see everything?

[you]

Catching "plenty of dinks" while floating a clear river on a beautiful day sounds. . . great?

 

I tend to catch bigger fish in worse (mainly windy) weather. This certainly held for river smallies back when I lived in MI.

[VolFan]

Yeah they range less when the water is clear and the sun is high. They get big by eating and not being eaten so they’ll tuck in under boulders and tight to sweepers when you have those conditions. You have to really put it close in some tight places usually. Much better at dawn and dusk in those circumstances, and in faster water. 

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, you said:

Catching "plenty of dinks" while floating a clear river on a beautiful day sounds. . . great?

Always nice to be on the water, but when you’re trophy hunting it’s frustrating.

41 minutes ago, VolFan said:

Yeah they range less when the water is clear and the sun is high. They get big by eating and not being eaten so they’ll tuck in under boulders and tight to sweepers when you have those conditions. You have to really put it close in some tight places usually. Much better at dawn and dusk in those circumstances, and in faster water. 

Eaten by birds mostly or shovels/pike/muskie?

[VolFan]

In a shallow river after a certain size, mostly birds - herons, ospreys, eagles,hawks.

[TnRiver46]

Absolutely 

[GaryH]

Sure do… Better than sitting in the house or working.

[Susky River Rat]

Yes. They are still there. Check grass beds covers and the slightly deeper areas. Faster presentations work best. That way it’s eat or not. They won’t have the chance to look at it. Top water, spinner cranks just keep it moving. Cover water and you will find them. It is by no means trophy time conditions but, doesn’t mean you can’t get quality fish. 

[Standard]

This past weekend, I was getting mostly 12-15" fish.  Not bluebird skies, but slow fishing compared to the usual.  Plenty of fun on my 4wt rod, and then found this guy.  So yes, I keep fishing.

[gim]

No, because I cannot float in very low water.  My jon boat can make it through inches of water but this season even that does not exist because of drought.

[MIbassyaker]

I have very little choice about when I am able to float somewhere, so if that's the day I'm free, yes, I bother. 

 

Anyway, challenging conditions are good for you. Puts hair on your chest. (but don't tell @gimruis, or he'll make you shave it off)

[gim]

Just now, MIbassyaker said:

Anyway, challenging conditions are good for you. Puts hair on your chest. (but don't tell @gimruis, or he'll make you shave it off)

 

Lmao.  Good one.  I think I'll just stick to the hair on the head for Haircut Police.

[TnRiver46]

If I skipped bluebird calm days, I think I would have missed about 26 of the last 30

 

No way on earth I’m sitting out that many, fish can’t just stave themselves 75% of the time 

 

[flyfisher]

of course I am fishing.  All I hear is excuses on this post.  You don't get better by only going out when conditions are optimal.  You also answered your own question about what to do in those conditions and where they will be.

[Tennessee Boy]

I’m more concerned about bluebird skies than clear water. As long as the weather is not life threatening and the temperature is between 40 and 95 degrees,  fishing is not a bother.

[Blue Raider Bob]

Like most of the responses, yes I am fishing. We can't always control when our fishing opportunities appear, and we can't control the weather, so we go. Like a previous post explained....sure beats working!

[PaulVE64]

Yes, I fish a low and clear river in bright sunny conditions.

 

And I use hi vis braid to a mono leader that can be as short as 12".

 

 

Its risky I know.

[Ohioguy25]

12 hours ago, PaulVE64 said:

Yes, I fish a low and clear river in bright sunny conditions.

 

And I use hi vis braid to a mono leader that can be as short as 12".

 

 

Its risky I know.

Yeah I use at least 6’ and when it’s this clear I generally keept it around 8-10.

[PaulVE64]

I start off with a 6' leader (just a bit shorter than my rod) but retying, bite offs and snags shorten it up. Sometimes I end the day throwing st8 braid to topwater