Beat Strategy!

[benvan]

Lets get some thoughts on Beat Strategy! First lets paint a picture of the beat we will discuss.
Beat has two large runs with a slough in between them. One run is close to a boat ramp, the other is more middle of the river. A shoal is the upper beat boundary. The tail of the two runs, has a large rock in the middle marking lower beat boundary. The runs, average 3-4ft deep, with the slough being roughly 2ft deep and sloped on either side. The far side of river has another small run that feeds in which creates a nice steady paced flow about 20ft wide. The Slough has sporadic risers, but it is the only place surface activity is taking place.(sound familiar to some, it should, it marks beat 3 of the Hooch Mini Series.)

How would you approach this water to fish it effectively in 1.5hrs.
Start with how you would rig your flies in relation to point and anchor, fishing technique, and where you would start, how much time you would spend, and how you would wrap up the session to have the greatest chance of securing a great finish?

[watkins]

Got 1-1/2 hrs, fish all areas of it slower than "hub cap boy";). Think, don't walk on fish you need to catch. :cheers: TRW

[2fly]

I'd wait till the stocking truck came and fish by the boat ramp for 1.5 hours and throw just about anything cause they are stupid stockers.:D Seriously, I'd start with my anchor fly in the middle and a small fly on point. flies would be 24"s apart. I'd start at the downstream section of the beat and fish the inner part of the first run, working my rig to the middle and then outside. I'd work across river working the "A" water and the "B" water. I'd spend 15 to 20 casts on each run. I'd change flies if I had no action within 20 minutes. I'd approach the deepest run from the across river side and work the "B" water on the far side first, then I'd change to a heavier point fly with it on the bottom and add a smaller fly in the middle. I might add a 3rd fly depending on the depth of the run. I'd work it from downstream to upstream focusing on close in nymphing. I'd backtrack to downstream and work out with a little long line nymphing(about 15' away). I would then change to a dry/dropper rig if there was still some surface activity and work the slow slack water and the shallow water on the far side. If I still had time, I'd work downstream while fast fishing every pocket( 5 casts per pocket) and then I'd cross near the lower beat marker and move up to fish the near side(boat ramp side) deeper run to short line and long line nymph it from that side. Hopefully, I'd have caught enough to win the session.:cheers: