TIP OF THE WEEK // FISH UP THE RUN

Fish Up the Run: How to Effectively Cover Water on Foot

When you're fishing a river on foot—especially small side channels, tributaries, or tighter sections of the Yakima system—how you approach the water matters. One of the best and most overlooked tactics is simply this: fish your way upstream.

This strategy not only positions you behind fish (where you’re less likely to spook them), but it also gives you a natural drift and better presentation in most currents. But it’s not just about direction—it’s about how you move through the run.

Start at the Tail and Fish Lane by Lane

Begin at the bottom of the run (the tailout), and cast into the first feeding lane or seam. Make 2-3 solid, well-placed casts in each lane. Focus on quality over quantity. Trout in the summer are either feeding or they’re not—and they don’t often change their mind.

After a few casts, move upstream, shift over a step or two, and target the next lane. Think of the river as a set of conveyor belts delivering food. If there’s a trout on one of them, you’ll usually know pretty quickly.

Don’t Camp on Dead Water

The biggest mistake we see on guided walk-and-wade trips is anglers spending too much time in one spot, hoping a fish will appear. In summer, trout behavior is often binary: on the feed, or not home at all. If a lane isn’t producing, don’t take it personally—just move on.

Stay Mobile, Fish with Intention

Keep moving. Stay alert. Read the water as you go. Summer conditions often mean lower flows, clearer water, and spooky fish. That means presentation, angle, and foot placement matter even more.

If you're methodical, deliberate, and willing to cover water, you'll fish more effectively—and find those eager summer trout waiting in all the right spots.

Want to learn more about fishing these techniques this season? Join us for a course this season and let our team help you sharpen these essential skills. 

Stay tuned for more summer fly fishing insights, and get ready for some exciting days ahead! We teach these techniques and more through our various courses in our University of Fly Fishing.

UPCOMING COURSES TO HIGHLIGHT 

There are a ton of offerings currently and our stillwaters both warm and cold are on fire!   All of these offerings can be accessed in the course calendar. 

• Friday, July 25th, Tributary Fishalong 
• Saturday, July 26th, Fly Fishing 101 9am
• Saturday, July 26th, Women's Divide and Conquer 10am
• Sunday, July 27th , Fly Fishing 201, 12pm
• Sunday, July 27th, Tributary Fishalong, 1pm
• Tuesday, July 29th, Boat Rowing Lesson, 10am
• Thursday, July 31st, Trout Taxi (Upper River) 11am
  

ENTIRE COURSE CALENDAR HERE 

Our University of Fly Fishing is the most unique, comprehensive fly fishing education available.