TB, I tried to show that in post #8. I didn't have a location way up in the headwaters. But even so, it shows the general trend clearly. Everything happens upstream FIRST. It's not really upstream/downstream, it's based mostly on the total size of the watershed above you, which, for freestoners, correlates to stream size. Even then, there are other variables. If that watershed is developed with lots of storm drains, it rises and falls much quicker than other streams it's size. If the watershed has a whole lot of pine, it rises and falls slower.
But, as the small streams rise fast, the big streams remain largely unaffected. By the time the big stream blows out, the small streams are already fishable again.
What it means: Generally, if I'm fishing DURING a rain event, or immediately following, I try to do it on bigger water, as there is a delay before it sees many of the effects.
When it does start to show, I flip and head for the headwaters. Generally (there are exceptions), the best fishing is after the rain event. Not chocolate milk and raging, but still solid flows with some color. The pink region in one of the earlier posts is around the start of these conditions. These conditions may only last a day or less in any one spot. But it happens first on the small streams, and progresses to larger waters. And you can follow it, progressing to larger and larger waters, and keep in the prime conditions for 4 or 5 days straight.
If you get a real soaker that lasts multiple days, well, everything is generally blown out. Cept tailwaters, which will be low, as these are the conditions where they're trying to prevent flooding downstream. And tailwaters generally fish best when low IMO.
Something is nearly ALWAYS in very good shape. Find em.
