The Places We Miss

I took two clients on the Cold River this week and although we hit several sizable holes and longer runs, most of what we fished was pocket water.  Spots that hold trout are sometimes overlooked until we get out of the car and into the river.  It's not until we wade our way upstream that the small ribbons of dark water are seen along cut banks, that the slightly deeper swirling eddies behind rocks are noticed, and that the foamy small pools where food collects are realized.  The two fly fishers I was guiding were surprised by the productivity of the pocket water I took them to as they caught mostly brook trout on both wet and dry flies.