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Drifting lands guide5/17/2023 Every river is different, and although getting food and finding protective shelter are the primary concerns when fishing big rivers, you won't know where the food is and what cover they prefer without some trial and error. Fish will be found in very discrete places. The reality is that you have to look at big swaths of river before you can figure out where to get your waders wet. You don't waste 20 minutes on either end of your trip dealing with put-ins and takeouts, thumbs in your wader belt as the guide waits his turn at the boat ramp. You don't see as much of the big picture, but you get to revel in the details. You don't see as much scenery when you walk a big river, but you get a better look at streamside wildlife, like frogs and snakes and turtles and warblers. Walking and wading is the hard way to fish a big river, but it also may be the most satisfying way to get to know it on more intimate terms. If you're into racking up the numbers on your fishing trip, get a talented guide on the oars who makes sure every cast lands in prime water. And in states with restrictive access laws like Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah (duh, guys, do you ever wonder why Montana gets more fishing tourists?) where public access on foot can be completely and legally eliminated, drift boats can float through private water and fish -as long as they don't anchor up. You see dramatic changes in scenery around every bend, and you get cracks at fish in places that wading fly fishers could never reach. You get to drift slowly through miles of tasty runs and riffles, and quickly float past the frog water. I also understand why many clients prefer to float. But when you search a big river on foot, you earn every trout, and often find great satisfaction. A Float trip is easier, and may help you catch more fish with less effort.
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