Fly Fishing Spring Runoff

March 16, 2026

Every year in New Hampshire there’s a stretch of time when winter refuses to let go, but spring is knocking on the door. Snow starts melting in the mountains, temperatures bounce around, and rivers swell with cold runoff. For anglers, this time of year can look intimidating. High, off-colored water and strong current often scare people away from the river. But the truth is, some excellent fishing can happen during snowmelt if you know where and how to look.

Understanding What the Fish Are Doing

When snowmelt pushes water levels up, trout don’t disappear. Instead, they move to areas where they can conserve energy and stay out of the heaviest current.

In high water conditions, trout are usually holding in:

• Soft edges along the bank

• Behind large rocks or structure

• Inside bends where the current slows

• Log jams or submerged wood

• Slow pools below fast riffles

Think of it like this: trout are lazy and want food to come to them, but they don’t want to fight the current all day to get it.

Adjusting Your Approach

Fishing high water means slowing down and being methodical. Instead of covering lots of water quickly, focus on the softer seams and pockets where fish are likely to stack up.

A few tips that help during runoff:

• Fish closer to the bank than you normally would

• Focus on current seams where fast and slow water meet

• Make short, controlled drifts

• Don’t overlook shallow water — trout often move there when flows are high

Sometimes the best holding water during runoff is only a foot or two deep.

Fly Selection for Snowmelt Conditions

During snowmelt, rivers are often colder and slightly stained. Fish rely more on silhouette and movement than tiny details.

Some patterns that work well this time of year include:

• Midge patterns (sizes 22–18)

• Egg patterns

• Worm patterns

• Stonefly patterns (Pheasant Tail, Copper John) sizes 18-14

• Natural colored Wooly Buggers (black, olive/green, brown, white in sizes 10–6)

Wooly buggers in particular can be deadly in high water. Dead drifting them through softer pockets or slowly stripping them across a seam often triggers aggressive strikes.

Presentation Matters

Even with the right fly, presentation is everything. High water can make natural drifts harder, so focus on getting your fly down in the water column quickly.

Adding a little extra weight or adjusting your indicator can help get your flies into the strike zone faster. Trout hugging the bottom during snowmelt won’t move far to eat.

Don’t Let High Water Keep You Home

A lot of anglers see high water and assume fishing will be slow. In reality, it can be one of the most productive times of the early season. Trout are hungry after winter, and the increased flows push food into the system. If you slow down, read the water carefully, and fish the softer structure, you might be surprised at how many fish are willing to eat.

Spring in New Hampshire is unpredictable, but that’s part of what makes it exciting. One day you’re dealing with snowmelt and high water, and the next day the river settles into perfect conditions.

Either way, the fish are there.

You just have to find them.