Reading water has gotten complicated with all the fancy electronics and mapping apps flying around. As someone who caught fish for years before I could afford a fish finder, I learned everything there is to know about reading the surface to figure out what is happening underneath. Today, I will share it all with you.
Current Breaks
Fish avoid fighting current constantly. They tuck behind rocks, logs, bridge pilings — anywhere that creates slack water. The edges where fast and slow water meet are feeding lanes. Fish wait there for food to drift by. I have caught more fish on current seams than anywhere else in a river.
Depth Changes
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Drop-offs concentrate fish like nothing else. Fish can quickly move shallow to feed or deep for safety. Points, humps, and ledges are magnets. Learn to spot depth changes by water color — darker water is usually deeper. That subtle color shift is a neon sign saying “fish here.”
Structure vs Cover
Structure is the shape of the bottom — contours, channels, flats. Cover is stuff on the bottom — weeds, rocks, wood. Fish use both but differently. Structure positions them in an area; cover gives them specific hiding spots. That’s what makes reading water endearing to us observant anglers — once you see the distinction, you fish smarter everywhere.
Wind Effects
Wind pushes baitfish toward windward shores. Predators follow. A wind-blown point or bank often fishes better than the protected calm side. Current created by wind also positions fish predictably. I always check the windy side first.
Shade and Light
Most fish prefer shade during bright conditions. Docks, overhanging trees, deep water — anywhere that blocks direct sun holds fish midday. Early and late, fish roam more freely and shade matters less.
Foam Lines and Seams
Where currents meet, debris and foam collect in visible lines on the surface. Food collects there too. Fish know this and patrol these seams. Cast parallel to foam lines rather than across them for a natural drift through the strike zone.
Temperature Layers
Fish are cold-blooded and seek comfortable temperatures. In summer, that often means deeper water. In spring and fall, shallows warm faster and attract fish. Thermoclines trap fish at specific depths — if you are not fishing the right depth, you might as well be fishing a swimming pool.
