How to Fish Riffles and Runs for Brook Trout

Mountain trout streams provide some of the best fly fishing opportunities for native brook trout in the Appalachian Mountains.

Mountain trout streams are made up of three primary types of water: riffles, runs, and pools. Most fly anglers naturally focus on fishing the pools for brook trout, and with good reason. Pools often contain several feeding stations where trout can hold while conserving energy and waiting for drifting food. As you fish upstream, target the lip, tailout, middle section, head, corners, and any back eddy within the pool. Not every pool contains all of these feeding lanes, but most eastern mountain brook trout pools will feature at least three or four productive holding areas. However, two highly overlooked trout feeding zones between the pools are the riffles and runs.

Fishing the Riffles

Riffles are the broken, choppy sections of water created by rocks, ledges, gravel, and uneven stream bottoms between pools. These areas create faster currents that naturally funnel aquatic insects and drifting food directly to waiting trout. While the surface current in a riffle appears fast and turbulent, the current near the stream bottom, slows considerably because of the rocks and structure. This creates an ideal brook trout holding area where fish can feed efficiently without expending excessive energy. The broken surface also provides excellent cover from predators while helping conceal the trout from anglers.

Although fishing dry flies in riffles can be challenging because of the rough surface current, high-floating and highly visible flies often perform exceptionally well. Productive patterns for mountain trout streams include the Hares Ear Mr. Rapidan Parachute, Mr. Rapidan Ant, and foam ant patterns that stay visible and buoyant in turbulent water.

Fishing the Runs

Runs are the smoother, glassy sections of water located between pools and riffles. Like riffles, runs also concentrate drifting food because of their steady current flow, making them highly productive trout holding water. The major advantage of fishing runs is visibility. Because the water surface is smoother and less broken, anglers can track a dry fly much more easily and detect subtle trout rises. Runs are often slightly deeper than riffles, providing brook trout with additional security and protection while still delivering a steady food supply. Depending on the stream, runs and riffles may range from only a few feet long to extended sections of highly productive trout water.

On your next fly fishing trip to the Appalachian Mountain or Allegheny Mountain Brook Trout streams, spend extra time fishing the riffles and runs between the pools. Many anglers overlook these sections entirely, yet they frequently hold aggressive feeding trout. By targeting these overlooked areas with the right presentation and dry fly patterns, you can often catch brook trout in water that receives very little fishing pressure.