Fishing both bank and wading when necessary in a couple small creeks I got to wondering if it matters moving up or down stream.

Does the sound of walking or splashing travel more one direction than the other? Can fish smell or taste someone up stream of them?

And does either scare or spook them from biting?

I usually like fishing with the current. Seems I get better play with the bait. Also fish seem to wait down current for food to come by. As for wading the less noise and splashing you make the better the chances of catching bigger fish. This has been my experience.

If you have ever had the chance to observe fish in a running current, you may notice that fish that appear to be in search of a meal almost always face upstream. That tells you volumes. Banker, as usual, is dead on.

Rudy

I understand both lanes of thought but I'm looking for more info. Let me help you envision what I mean.

Walking down stream is easier, quieter and less splashing. I wade knee deep and lower and walk the bank if it gets deeper than mid thigh. Stand in the ripples and cast into the pools. Active fish (sunfishes and bass) should be in the upstream half of the pools facing upstream. The problem is my lure is coming from behind them that way. Also, anything I've kicked up mud and debris wise is now in front of me and might be in their face as well. So, does walking down stream make the fish wary due to noise, smells, and tastes getting to them before I do?

Going upstream is harder walking and more splashing in the short water. Casting from ripples up stream though if I can reach the upper part of the pool and cast into the current I have to retrieve fast enough to keep my line tight. I'm afraid my lure might just rush right by them especially clear up at the head waters where the current is faster. So more noise albeit from downstream of them and farther away but no debris smells and tastes in their face. More natural presentation coming downstream but harder to fish since I'm tossing lures.

The spot I have in mind has a nice walking trail in a county park (but not close enough to walk it and fish and only accessible at the ends) and it's about 1 1/2 miles from road to road. I've only fished parts of it though because I've had to walk the creek both directions and the return trip is not productive at all. What I'd like to do is park at one end and either fish the whole thing and walk the trail back or walk to the other end and fish back to the truck. That way I can get the whole length with basically the same effort.

There, more info. I know I can try it both directions but I was just wondering what your thoughts were. I always fish the pools thoroughly of course from both ends and the middle too. Never been skunked there although after the flooding central Texas has had this year it isn't as good as it was.

Thanks for listening and sorry for the long post.

If you are able to move along the sides of a spot you want to drop your line then move upstream, downstream can potentially wash debris and what not through where the fish are. At the same time if it is tough going walking upstream you might not get to cover as many spots... so less fish. If you can't effectively fish from the side of a hole and have to stand either above or below then do what allows you to have the best presentation. Use your judgement, splashing won't matter too much as long as you try to minimize it and don't get too close.

Thanks for the help guys.

I guess ultimately I will try going both directions on that stretch and see which produces more!