Dirty water isn't always as bad as you may think

 I didn't go fishing for the most of the summer. There were hiking trips, orienteering competitions, family holidays and other things. So this is my last fishing weekend in the summer. Also, we have trout season closure in Poland from 1st of September. 

The conditions were not the best. Raba is dirty, water clarity is 40 cm or so. Level at Dobczyce 251 cm, flow 10,2 cm3/s. The water wasn't very high, actually im very comfortable with 250-260 cm. I don't like when it's below 230, because river is too skinny, and gravel starting to cover with nasty sludge in shallow places.

I started in one of my favourite locations, where I got earlier biggest trout on Raba in this year.  

Deep places didn't produce anything. But I got small chub and couple of brown trout near the bank, in shallow water.

I was sceptical about today because of the weather and water conditions. But, already went out of zero.

Both fish on small brown nymph with hot orange head. There were no bites at all on popular silicone worm nymph, or "parkinson". 

Light rain started to pour, but it didn't change anything. I caught 2 brown trout, chub and grayling. All were small. Not really exciting.

I drove to another location, 15 km upstream. There's big, wide run with deep part near the far bank.

I concentrated on the shallows, where water is knee-deep or so. I believe that in dirty water, it's more chances to catch fish in the shallows than in the deepest pool. There's multiple reasons for that. First, these shallow lies near the bank became more safe for fish. In clear water, fish wouldn't stay there, because it's easy target for predatory birds. Second, the deeper water, the less clarity near the bottom or in the middle of the water column. Fish has better chance to see the fly in the shallow water. 

And third reason, during runoff, fish seeks for calm current, and it is often near the banks. 

I spent hour, or so, without single strike. I decided to leave the river, but first try "the last chance". 

A narrow channel between the small island, and the bank. It has variable speed current, slower in the middle and faster near the far bank. The depth is knee-deep, more-less. It looks perspective. 1-2-3-Baang! Fish on! on third cast. Finally, I got proper size brown trout. On small size 18 brown nymph with hot pink head.

This is a "proper" trout. Im happy! 

What' if there's more than one trout in this channel?  I continued . The second one hit the fly right under my rod tip, very close. Fish ran upstream, and I had a chance to play it longer. I netted it after short fight.

Nice one. Second fish in the same spot. 

It's getting better than in the morning. Two fish in such tight place. I was on the island, and both trout were caught in the right channel.  Maybe there's more?

  After few runs, I was tired and decided to leave the stream. But as always, before to leave, I convince myself - 10 last casts, ok? 

1,2,3,...... Bang! Fish on!   What? Do you still want to leave?    

This one was biggest and meanest fish of the day. Not the trophy, but it made me a bit nervous because it didn't give up quickly.

 Fishing is not that bad, huh? In such dirty water, yeah! 

3 fish in a row, in short period of time, in narrow channel. That's a win!

I was really excited. Dirty water and rain aren't always bad. Fish is there, and it's taking. It's just a matter of place, and fly selection.