Lets talk briefly about covering water.

[Chris Topmiller]

What do I mean by covering water?   Well, how long should a spot be nymphed over before one decides to move on?  I'm of two minds about this.  Ocassionally I just cast and step.   Or I will do Polish/czech/spanish and then step.  One can cover a run fairly quickly doing this. 

There's a disadvantage though.  The water doesn't get covered as thoroughly, and if I'm trying to grid off a section of water and cover it quickly, I don't really like to change flies.   

If on the other hand, I stay in a spot or just move a few feet, I can really work the water over thoroughly and experiment with different flies and different weights.   

What's your preference and why?  This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately.  How long should I stay on a given run?

[Dejon Hamann]

This is a great topic that's briefly also discussed here:
http://troutlegend.com/forum/fips-mouche-tech-talk-37/how-much-time/

and here:
http://troutlegend.com/forum/fips-mouche-tech-talk-37/beat-strat-when-the-fishcond-are-super-tough/

and a slight variant:
http://troutlegend.com/forum/fips-mouche-tech-talk-37/beat-stategy/

and another:
http://troutlegend.com/forum/nymph-fishing-techniques/what-is-your-decision-process/

Definitely worthy of another go around. Just setting up some background.

[Chris Topmiller]

Thanks for the link.  I thought I had looked at everything before asking but I guess I missed one.   Good stuff in there.  

One facet of covering water to consider is the availability of other water.  This time of year I typically fish a heavily pressured tailwater with great public access.  If I nymph through and move on, I have to find another open spot, which can be a challenge.  On the other hand, finding some marginal water that no one else is fishing provides a lot of teachable moments.   So its a dilemma.  

Edit:  I see you added some other links.  I will review those and modify my questions as needed.  thanks. 

[Chris Puchniak]

I don't think there is a black and white answer.  Some waters are more worth fishing longer and harder because it 'should' hold fish - some waters have less potential to hold fish, so less time should be spent.  Some are bigger runs, some smaller, etc... Water temperatures and air pressures also affect how much fish will move to feed, meaning that "good" fishing weather will make the fish more probable to chase your fly (meaning you likely don't have to be as thorough).  So quality, temperature and size certainly come into play in how long I'd want to fish a strech of river/lake.  But if I want to be thorough, I am trying to cover every 6 inch x 6 inch block of the run at least once with my fly (and like you, I don't like changing flies often - personally I think it is far less important than your presentation).

It also depends on if I am fishing resident fish or migratory fish - which will be moving through the system moreso, suggesting that going back and forth to vairous pools might be an advantage.

It also depends for me on whether I have the river to myself, or there are other anglers wishing to fish.  If no one else is around, I might be inclined to NOT move on for quite a while and fish a stretch very thoroughly, just to see how many fish you might hook up.  The last fish should be harder than the first fish, making for a good challenge.

I guess pesonally I couldn't place a precise time on anything.  It all depends if I'm catching or not!  Probably moving on after 5-8 minutes (30-50 casts) if I don't get a hook up or see a sign of a feeding fish at all.  But if I just caught 6 fish in 10 casts, I might stay there longer to work the stretch better.  But those are very vague generalizations that will go out the door depending on the stretch of river.

[Dejon Hamann]

That's what's great about this type of question.  There really is no answer, but there are still things to be learned in the asking.

As ChrisP. stated there are just SO many variables that go into play here.  Not only conditions, but the goal of the fisherman on that particular day too.  6 out of 10 times I'm out to "practice" so I'll pick a section of stream and stay within that for 3 hours no matter how good or bad the catching is.  3 out of 10 times I'm out just "whoop" fish so I'm moving. I cover water at a nice pace and if the fishing sucks I pick up and drive to another spot... or another stream... and sometimes a whole other region. 1 out of 10 times I just like a leisurely fishing day and I'll usually take the Spey or Streamer outfit and just lazily 2 step somewhere.

When I'm in "practice" mode I'll usually let the fish dictate my pace.  Are they spread out?  Are they jammed up in deep pools? Are they tight lipped or willing to move?  Are the only players up in the riffles? Are they highly pressured wild fish living in the B water? Or maybe they're fresh pods of stockies and you just have to walk ti'll you find em?

[Chris Topmiller]

Definitely worthy of another go around. Just setting up some background.

Finally got a chance to read those links.  That was very informative.   Thanks a bunch. 

[Chris Topmiller]

bumped.   

My meeting this afternoon got canceled so I thought this would be a good opportunity to bump this thread and solicit some input. 

P.S. Thanks to Chris P. for the reply.  I went back and read your post again. Very informative.